Let’s have a mind and raise flowers.

This is Henry.

As you will soon read, my friend Henry is amazing in more ways than I can count. My birthday is coming up on January 25th — for presents I’d love for you to make a small donation to the orphanage described below, even just $5. Thanks ya’ll!! Love, jj.

“For those of you who don’t know; last year I decided to ride a bicycle from Boston to Guatemala and give my time to anyone who might need an extra hand. I’m always inspired by, and find that I can both learn and teach the most working with youngsters, so volunteering at an orphanage was a natural choice. Regardless of the nominal cultural differences, kids need the same things all over the world. Love, compassion, education, food, shelter, positive role models. Here in the states, it usually goes without saying these necessities will be available, but as I’m sure you all know, it’s not a given in many other places all over the world.

Once I got to Guatemala, I was lucky enough to come across and spend six months at Casa Guatemala, an orphanage on the Rio Dulce near the Caribbean coast. During my time there, I worked as an orientador, which means living with one group of children in their home, helping with anything from homework to patching up flesh wounds, and basically just keeping them all organized so they could keep to their daily routines.

My particular group of kids consisted of 32 adolescent aged boys, half of whom had family to go home to on the weekends, the other half of whom did not. There are also younger boys in the boys home, and adolescent and young ladies in the girls home. For these children without anywhere else to go, the Casa is the only home they have; while the local teachers, workers, and volunteers from all over the world are the only family that they know. That’s why, when I was recently informed that several of the boys and girls who are graduating right now from the orphanage’s school still don’t have funding to go on to the next step, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to do whatever I can. With the proper funding, each child who has graduated sixth grade will go on to a nearby boarding school for four more years of education, complete with room and board. Without funding, the same children will be left without options, without a home, and certainly without any further education.

This message is not meant to be a sad story. In fact; quite the contrary. Most of these children are more resilient than any I’ve met here in the states, and I’m sure I’ve learned more from them than they ever could from me. For instance; one thing that could be seen every day that never ceased to amaze me was that regardless of how little each of these kids had, whenever one would earn enough to buy themselves a treat, like a bag of chips (about twelve cents and just as many chips) they would freely share them with whomever happened to be in the area. Most times, without the other kids even asking! If you’ve been around children before, you’ll know that this is no small feat! With this type of inspiring and selfless generosity in mind, I’m asking everyone I know to donate ten bucks, or more if you’re feeling jovial. I know that not everyone has much of a disposable income right now, but I also think that we could all switch the next few lattes to drip coffee and feel like a philanthropist for doing it. I was recently inspired by Barack Obama’s campaign that reaffirmed how a lot of people can come together, give just a little bit, and come through to make a big difference.

I know most folks are tightening their belts right now, but I also know that none of us will go hungry, and none of our children are going to have to worry about getting a high school education. Let’s think about all the consumerism we take part in in our privileged country and all the money we’ve recently spent on presents that will soon lose their luster. And then figure that education is something sustainable, and self-less, compassionate giving goes from hand to hand inspiring everyone it touches to be a better person.

If you would like to learn more about any of the kids, the orphanage, the yearly prices for school and what they go to, or anything else you can think of, feel free to send me an e-mail at this address [hthoreen at gmail dot com]. I’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to donate, you can go to www.paypal.com and give to hthoreen at gmail dot com (if you don’t have a paypal account they’ll prompt you to make one, no sweat, if you want to go old school I’ll send you a street address), which goes to an account that I set up specifically for the kids. Unlike many “charitable” organizations, no money will get lost on the way to the education of these children. The money will go into an account that I manage here in the states, and will then go directly into the education accounts of each respective child. I’m paying any expenses to myself, and of course, I will be donating as well. Thanks so much for reading this. I know that both myself and everyone at Casa Guatemala appreciates it. Take care, everybody, and happy holidays.

(The pictures, in order, are the Achivi brothers. Jesus cheesin’. Jose flexin’. And Miguel bootin’ the fut. They’re three of the boys without parents who will graduate this year. All three have a ton of potential in their own unique ways, and I passionately hope that they will be nurtured into realizing it).”

This is Henry.