From Patricia:
Dear Friends,
I have completed my part of the Camino! I walked 115 plus kilometers, walked into Santiago de Compostela, and received my official recognition of the completed pilgrimage. All is well.
Part of my motivation for the walk was to think about the children in Nicaragua, especially those I have worked with at La Escuelita, a program run by Building New Hope in Granada, Nicaragua. As many of you have heard me rave, this is a great, great program that offers the individual attention that all of our children so need in order to succeed in school. The teachers are serious, committed, and very focused on each child that comes to them. The atmosphere in the school is respectful, creative, and joyfully colorful! The children beat us, the adults, to the door every morning, all set to work! It is really amazing.
For those of you who have already sent a donation to Building New Hope, thank you. The children of the Escuelita also thank you. Donna Tabor, the director of Building New Hope in Nicaragua, is keeping them up to date on my walk. I hope to share it with them in stories and pictures next time I go to volunteer. Perhaps I'll work on a little curriculum around it for them!
Please send whatever you feel appropriate in support of my walk. I so appreciate it. You can go on line to learn more about Building New Hope, read DonnaÂīs blog to get updates, and learn about the great programs for children, animals, and others in Nicaragua assisted by Building New Hope. It is a Pennsylvania based organization (Pittsburgh), by the way.
You can send your donation to Building New Hope on line, through Pay Pal. You can also send them a check, noting in the Memo that it is support of my walk. Or send checks to me, made out to Building New Hope, at my home in Philadelphia, 311 S. 20th Street, Apartment 32, Philadelphia, PA 19103. I will mail them in with my check. Please know all of your money goes to Building New Hope and the great little school run by them. Please also know that your money does not get lost in some large fund. A donation of $100 pays a teacher's salary for a month. With their four teachers, some utilities costs, and supplies, perhaps we can support the school for a month or two. I would so love that.
Peace to All of You and Those Around You,
Patricia
An update from Patricia in Spain:
I am walking on El Camino de Santiago in Spain. There are several routes. I am on the French one, and am walking from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. It is a very beautiful pilgrims trail. I am staying in Albuergues for Pilgrims in the night. Tonight there are about 40 people on a series of bunk beds in one large room. It has a very pilgrim feel.
The reasons for my walk are many. A key one is to honor the children of Nicaragua. As you know, Nicaragua is very dear to me and I have returned now several times to volunteer for a great organization, Building New Hope. I work there in their Little School (Escuelita) which provides great individualized attention to the children who attend before and or after their regular school days. Nicaragua is trying very hard to educate its children but money is tight and the schools are very crowded. The Building New Hope Escuelita gives each child individual attention and makes sure their students are on the path to succeed. It is a great place full of life, learning, and hope.
Building New Hope has other programs, including an animal clinic, a library program, a music program, and programs I donīt even know. Donna Tabor, a former Peace Corps volunteer to Nicaragua (and a fellow Pennsylvanian!) is the director there. She is amazing. By the way, I donīt know their budget but I do know that we can support a teacher for a month at the school for $100.00. So please know, your money will be very well spent.
My walk is 115 to 120 kilometers (depending on whether we count the in and out of towns part) and I have pledged dollars for every kilometer I walk. I waited until I got at least 70 kilometers under my feet before asking you. I ask now with confidence that I will complete this walk! You can check out the Building New Hope web site for more information. From there, you can go to Donnaīs blog and learn even more about the organization and this undertaking.
You can send a check or credit card payment directly to Building New Hope (check web site for details). You can mark it to support my walk and you will get a Thank You from me. You can also send a check to my address but make it out to Building New Hope. I will forward it with mine. You will also get the same Thank You note and gift if you send your contribution to Philadelphia!
Patricia H. Dervish
311 S. 20th Street
Apartment 32
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Peace and Blessings to all of you. You are in my thoughts. Pass the word about this effort to those around you. Thanks so very much.
Patricia
I really, really appreciate any donations to the wonderful Esquelita.
An invitation to friends of Building New Hope, from Patricia Dervish:
We share an admiration and commitment to the wonderful work of Building New Hope in Nicaragua. I have visited several of its projects in Granada, Nicaragua, and have been a volunteer teacher at the Escuelita for several years. The truism is true: I received more than I gave in the fun and friendship with the children, the feeling of community with the other teachers, and the joy of a sense of solidarity with the people of Nicaragua.
This October I am walking the final 100 kilometers of El Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This ancient pilgrims route honors St. James, the patron saint of several important professions and places, including Nicaragua. I want to dedicate this walk to the children of Nicaragua, specifically to the children served by Building New Hope.
Will you join me in honoring our children? How wonderful it would be if you can commit a small monetary donation for every kilometer I walk. I will be carrying the official credencial so my miles will be confirmed when I arrive in Santiago de Compostela, hopefully by October 14. I would really appreciate your support for the journey.
Peace to all of you. I hope to meet you in Granada sometime in the near future!
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