Christmas Break in November –
In the United States, people seem to fall into either the no-tree-until-after-Thanksgiving or the is-July-too-early-to-start-decorating-for-Christmas categories, but in Latin America, by the end of October, Christmas décor is the norm. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the break from the end of the school year to the start of the next (from November through January) is referred to as Christmas break.
Although classes are not in session at ROHI during the break, the staff do not want the students to be unattended at home while parents work or up on the dump working with them, so they remain open. Students participate in crafts, Christmas Bible teachings, games and activities, rehearsals for the Christmas program, reinforcement of mathematics and Spanish and a lot of fellowship.
In Honduras, they do not celebrate Thanksgiving. However, the ROHI staff chose to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with the students as a way to thank God for “how he always shows himself good and faithful to the entire population of the Tegucigalpa municipal garbage dump that belongs to the ROHI project. Glory to God and thanks to every donor for making this happen.” The students got to try pumpkin pie, but despite loving sweets, declared it was very sweet.
Also in November, students ages 12 and older participated in a two-day camp titled My Identity in Christ. They not only were given a chance to worship and learn about God in a different setting, but also had recreation time filled with games, obstacle courses, swimming, a bonfire and even a zipline. An overnight camp was a delight for them and a rare opportunity for students from the dump community to participate in such activities. The time and effort the teachers put into planning the camp was evident in everything from the schedule to the handmade little sheep nametags on each bunk with each student’s name and Psalm 23:1, the ROHI verse.
The three ROHI students graduated last month from their intensive year-long cosmetology course. Besaí, Debora, and Michelle were nervious with all they had to do for their exams and demonstrating their skills on live models, but all successfully completed the course. In addition to studying cosmetology this year, they all also volunteered at ROHI and helped with the younger students. ROHI Project will celebrate them along with other graduates at the graduation ceremony in December.
ROHI staff held the ROHI 2023 THANKSGIVING BAZAAR for all the program families from the municipal garbage dump. It was made possible largely in part by a woman who unites others to donate and sends huge boxes of clothing, accessories, baby utensils, shoes and more. Each family benefitted from the donation and shopped for items they needed and wanted.
ROHI was blessed with a donation from the American School in Tegucigalpa as well. The ROHI staff are deeply grateful to the school for surprising them each year with the donation of shoes at Christmas time. Students collect and donate shoes they no longer wear and donate them to share with the ROHI students.
From the ROHI staff:
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DONATE SO THAT THIS PROJECT CAN CONTINUES MOVING FORWARD BY THE HAND OF GOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS EVERY DAY. GOD BLESS YOUR LIVES ALWAYS.
Prayer Requests from ROHI for:
*The Lord to work through the devotional each week
*God to direct all the December activities and hold the staff’s hand
*God to take care of each family in the dump, looking after their lives and their jobs
* The health and protection for each student and staff member
* Dario, a ROHI student, who is recuperating at home after surgery for a broken femur that was the result of an accident in PE class
* Blessings on every donor who with their huge hearts made possible a Christmas party and gifts for the children
* The lives of each donor who makes it possible for the children to have their breakfast and lunch
* Trash Mountain Project staff—Lord, take care of and give health to each of them and their families
Copyright © 2023 Trash Mountain Project, All rights reserved. 
Our mailing address is:
Trash Mountain Project – ROHI Project
4110 NW 62nd St Ste B
Topeka, KS 66618-3012
|
