What do you know about Honduras? The spectacular Mayan ruins in Copán? Magnificent coral reef diving off the sandy beaches in Roatán? You may have also heard that Honduras is a dangerous place. There are gangs, crime, and mass emigration. That, too is Honduras.
San Pedro Sula, a sprawling city of 1.5 million, is known most recently for its gang violence from which some are trying to escape. Smack dab in the middle of this metropolis, however, is a tranquil three-acre piece of land surrounded on all sides by a 14-foot yellow cinder block wall.
This is Our Little Roses Ministries, comprising a home for 60+ abandoned girls, Holy Family Bilingual School for the surrounding community, and nearby dental and medical clinics. Founded in 1988, Our Little Roses was the dream of Executive Director Diana Frade. At that time, she wanted to find a way to educate the girls she saw begging on the streets. While there were plenty of homes for boys, there was no option for girls. It started with a simple idea: Give girls a safe place to sleep, feed them, clothe them, educate them, and they will blossom into incredible women.
For the past 10 years, St. Mary’s By-the-Sea in Pacific Grove has supported Our Little Roses Ministries through fundraisers, weekly prayers, and visits. On five occasions, our parishioners have traveled to San Pedro Sula to live on the property for one week and volunteer in any capacity that is needed.
This past August, we hosted the inaugural English immersion “Our Little Roses Summer Camp” in the mountains. As we interact with the girls of Our Little Roses each day, we find new perspectives and make fast friends.
This coming July, we would like to set up summer camp again. Our trip is scheduled from July 26 – August 3, 2020. If you would like to join us, have an adventurous spirit, and can handle the heat, we would love to have you. We need story-readers, craft-makers, science teachers, and other adults who can lead classes. We also desire older children/young people to help facilitate all the games and challenges for the summer camp.
If this idea sounds good to you, please let Kirsten Matsumoto know as soon as possible. Your cost is $550 plus airfare (roughly $600). We need a minimum of 10 people signed up by January 31 to make the trip viable. Please email with any questions: yoyomatsumoto@yahoo.com
Kirsten Axell Matsumoto
Our Little Roses Ministries, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Parishioner, St. Mary’s By-the-Sea, Pacific Grove