Tierra Santa Home Growth

2006 End of the Year Report

Mr. Santiago Martinez wrote to us of the past year, “The children went above and beyond their goals for this year, obtaining good grades in the school K-6 and the high school. One of our students that attends college in Columbia came to visit us and show the other children the possibilities of the future. Rosita, one of our little girls, went through surgery due to a deformation of her left foot. The operation was undertaken in the capital, Tegucigalpa, and was a complete success; she can now use shoes, which beforehad was not possible.”

Our priority is to transform our educational system, including the addition of technical skills. We are looking for support for many things including: sending the children to INFOP in Honduras to learn technical skills, activites of recreation and camping with other children's homes, recreational toys for the boy's yard, a computer room, training our personnel to fill the vacant jobs we have and improve the work quality for our administration.

In 2007 we will continue with the agricultural project and establish the first agricultural class for 20 children. We have seen that this will fulfill many expectations for us.

2006 Children Giving to Children

The Jintae Shin family and the Tai-Seale family recently made a summer project of collecting items for the children at the Tierra Santa Home. Clothing items, toys, and other things, along with ten dollars in cash, were sent in a box. The children who compiled this gift offer their sweet words in letters to the children of the home: “These clothes are not special by price or quantity but by the heart-felt meaning sent along with them. Keep faith, love, friends, family and God close and please always know that there is a God and other friends like us praying for one another. We don't know you personally but we are all part of the same family . . . In an attempt to think outside the box, we decided to put things inside the box and we send our love, happiness and clothes in here. We hope that when you open and select each article of clothing, you feel the warmth of our love resonating from our home and hearts to yours.” What sweet love comes from Seaon, age 15, Hayon Shin, age 13, Arin Tai-Seal, age 9 and Sahar Tai-Seale, youth!

Tierra Santa Home Agriculture Project

Since the beginning of the year students of Tierra Santa Home have made amazing advances in the area of agriculture. Skills learned include planting techniques for basic grains, and 16 youth have already planted the first crops. Techniques for raising animals are being studied. New animals raised include pigs and goats and raising St. Peter’s fish. More than 90 pounds of fish were raised in the first season, and goals now include enough to eat and sell. More than 60 pataste tress have been planted. Pataste is similar to potato but grows quickly on trees. Morocas are like plantains and are also being harvested.

As we see this home quickly developing the ability to provide for its food, other goals include a tool shed, land for vegetables, rabbit breeding, dairy cows, and bull. Youth are learning to farm and breed animals, receiving skilled training in sound techniques. These are exciting develpments for this amazing children's home.

In 2007 we will continue with the agricultural project and establish the first agricultural class for 20 children. We have seen that this will fulfill many expectations for us.

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2004 Clothing Drive

Each of the years that Mukilteo Montessori has been a sister school to the Tierra Santa Home, the parent group has organized a clothing collection for the Honduran children. This activity has always been interesting for the students in Mukilteo, a suburb of Seattle, because it is difficult for them to imagine children without parents who are all living together as a group with several adults caring for them. By becoming involved during a geography study of the world, it enlarges their world view.

This year, the drive was spearheaded by one parent, Becky Weilick. She and her husband had adopted two little girls from orphanages in China, so they have a real affinity for children who are left without parents. Becky took this project to heart and ran it for the school. Parents were extremely generous and shared new as well as ‘gently used’ clothing, toys, shoes, and toiletries. Both of the Weilick girls now attend Mukilteo Montessori. It took Becky many caring hours to collect, sort, wash, organize into 17 boxes and mail all these items. She certainly has helped to brighten the lives of many children who have so little.

2002-3 Sister Schools

For three years, the Mukilteo Montessori School in Washington, USA has continued to send clothing, toys, blankets and other livingly prepared and donated a collection of clothing, toys, shoes and toiletries to send to the school. There is a wonderful bond that has grown between the Mukilteo families and the children in Honduras.

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