yw The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, June 6, 2001 3 + Back Mountain helps ® give an angel her wings By HEATHER B. JONES Post Staff SHAVERTOWN - A 13-year- old girl sits in a wheelchair half a world away. She has never played with a doll, never went to school and was unwanted by her biological father. About five months ago, Mama Cula arrived at Our Lady of Fati- ma Rehabilitation Village of Monrovia, Liberia. There, a frail but spirited 76-year-old, legally blind Bernardine Franciscan nun with spinal arthritis took her in and gave her a new life. These are just two of the peo- ple being helped by Sister Spon- sa Beltran, the daughter of a coal miner, who was born and raised in Wilkes-Barre. At 19 years old, she entered the Franciscans because she felt a bond with the poor coming from an extremely impoverished but very loving and religious home herself. In the 1960s she attended College Misericordia, w Dallas, where she earned a bachelor's degree in nursing. But it wasn’t until 1986 when Sister Sponsa found her true calling. A 10-year-old girl named Eliza was brought to Sister Sponsa with extended legs, dropped feet, painful joints and a severe calci- um deficiency. Sister Sponsa gave the child intensive daily therapy for nine months. Eliza began to be able to bend her knees and was enrolled in school. And then came the next handicapped child. “From 1970 to 1986, I didn’t even know there were handi- capped in Liberia,” said Sister Sponsa. She explains that in Liberia handicapped children are believed to be ‘witched.’ When someone has a child who cannot walk or hear, the people believe someone did not like them and put a curse on the family. So the children are aban- doned and there is no govern- ment help. Sister Sponsa is the only hope the children have in Liberia. She admits at first, she almost felt people might be right about Qc. children. But she decided to give them something they “The part we play in Sister Sponsa’s work is so small, but Sister makes you feel like you have accomplished the world | Maureen Albrecht Dinner organizer never had before - a chance. “I am trying to give people who are ‘witched’ a chance to prove themselves,” she said. “They are just like other chil- dren,” said Sister Sponsa. They like to play soccer, they like to learn about the world and they have dreams for the future. On 13.5 acres she and 100 children, 77 of whom are handi- capped, have begun to construct themselves a city. They have built buildings, raised their own food and are learning about elec- tronics. They have a piggery, make soap and tie-dye clothing. But most of all, the children learn and they pray. “We have existed on prayer,” said Sister Sponsa. “We are committed to prayer and God hears us.” She remembers when she first started, and the children were sleeping on the floor. “No one gave us money, we prayed,” she said. Soon they received beds donated from an old age home and the children no longer slept on the floor. Today, the children sleep at least two in each bed, but they do not complain. Sister Sponsa said they just do not have enough room for all the children who need help. She tells people they have to wait until there is more room, but when she looks into the eyes of a child she can- not turn them away. “I tell the children to pray, even though there is no room at the inn. If we build, they will come.” She is certain of that fact. Sister Sponsa has enlist- ed the support and help of her sister, Angie Cebulski, and fel- low Misericordia graduate Eileen CRYSTAL VISION CENTER ® | Dr. Marc Pensak & Associates FREE EYE EXAM with the purchase of any contact lens or eyeglass package /\Crystal Vision 1/2 PRICE ALL FRAMES IN STOCK INCLUDING ALL DESIGNERS Hilfiger, Fenal, Gucci, Coach Guess and More FREE EYE EXAM /\Crystal Vision CONTACTS TORIC PKG. 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Offer expires 6/30/01 = Most Insurances Accepted www.crystalvisioncenter.com Country Club Shopping Ctr ¢ Dallas * 675.8888 Mesko Plaza * Wilkes-Barre * 826.1700 WY LOAVEVANY (TT Tl OCR ATV 111 TAS A | Sister Sponsa Beltran is shown at the mission village in Liberia where she provides care for handicapped children and adults who would otherwise be abandoned by their families. Her work is sup- ported by many people in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the parishioners of St. Therese’s Church in Shavertown. Website gives view of Sr. Sponsa’s work To hear the angel voices of the children singing or to learn more about Sister Sponsa and her work visit WWW. Epix. net/ ~krock/ olofrehab.htm. Rockensies of Shavertown. These three women are on a mission to help the children. Angie and Eileen spend their time raising the funds for Sister Sponsa and the children. The parishioners of St. There- se’'s Church, Shavertown, have embraced Sister Sponsa’s chil- dren, Eileen said. For the past three years, the parishioners have held spaghetti dinners with all proceeds going to the chil- dren. When Maureen Albrecht, orga- nizer of the dinners, heard of Sister Sponsa and the children Drive 1Exponwibly SAE wad care, in Liberia she said, “It touched me, and I wanted to help her.” She said the church raises any- where from $1,500 to $2,000 at each spaghetti dinner. St. Therese’s also contributes to St. Sponsa’s work on a weekly basis. Each week a part of the collection is designated for Sister Sponsa’s children. “The fruits of our endeavor are so wonderful and it’s all worth- while,” said Maureen. “The part we play in Sister Sponsa’s work is so small, but Sister makes you feel like you have accom- plished the world.” YDIE Monthly Access Per Phone. Weekend Airtime 2 0 0 Minutes +250 ine’ 2250 2 lo] 1] Total Monthly Airtime Minutes Nationwide Long Distance Included & Free Activation AVOCA DICKSON CITY MILL HALL 1400 Spruce Street Viewmont Mall Wal-Mart (adjacent to the airport) Scranton-Carbondale Hwy 167 Hogan Place (570) 38348830 (570) 207-2969 MUNCY 4K NEW LOCATION FRACKVILLE Lycoming Mall OPEN ON SUNDAYS! Schuylkill Mall 300 Lycoming Mall Circle - 570) 546-8437 BLOOMSBURG Route 61 & 1-81 (570) 1901 Columbia Blvd. (570) 874-4072 SCRANTON (in the Blockbuster plaza) HAZLETON Steamtown Mall (570) 387-7840 Laurel Mall (570) 941-0944 180 Laurel Mall (570) 454-9857 Library Auction Corner Volunteers are hard at work collecting items for the 55th annual The Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction. The life of the library is a year-to-year proposition, and the auc- tion is crucial to its operation. Twenty percent of the annual bud- get comes from the auction. Any and all donations of cash or saleable items can help assure the continued fine service of the library to our communities. For more information, call the library at 675-1182. These Audubon plates, will be among the hun- dreds of antique items sold over the block. A Sampler of New Goods 30 assorted gift baskets, Country Traditions and The Cot- tage 5-piece wrought iron outdoor furni- ture set Q.I'll help the Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction Name Phone Address City State Zip QO | have an item to donate. Call me for details. Value $ 0 Here's a cash donation of $ to help the library. Mail or bring to: Back Mountain Memorial Library 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas PA 18612 Call 675-1182 if you have questions. Donations are tax-deductible. This message donated as a public service by The Dallas Post Donate good used items to the Auction In addition to antique items and new goods, the Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction committee is always on the lookout for good used items that can be sold to support the library. If you have something you think may be of interest, call the li- brary at 675-1182 and let someone know abaout it. Pickup is available for larger items, and you'll be given a receipt for your do- nation, if requested. Send the Post to a friend call 675-5211 BUY ONE | PHONE | AT $19.99 | GET ONE | PHONE | FREE AM mMoTorRoLA \ verizonNvireless NEW LOCATION STATE COLLEGE WILKES BARRE SELINSGROVE Nittany Mall Wyoming Valley Mall Susquehanna Valley Mall (814) 234-2163 73 Wyoming Valley Mall Route 11 &15 STROUDSBURG (570) 829-1482 (at Bon-Ton entrance) Stroud Mall (570) 3746777 Route 611 WILL AMSPORT STATE COLLEGE (570) 426.7254 1931 East Third Street 1500 N. 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Subject to terms and conditions of Cellular Service Agreement and price plan. $175 early termination fee applies. Requires credit approval. Not available in all Verizon Wireless markets. Cannot be combined with other offers. Included Long Distance on domestic calls originating from local toll-free calling area. Usage rounded to next full minute. Unused allowances lost. Requires tri-mode CDMA phone with current Verizon Wireless software. Digital service not available in all areas. 2000 weekend airtime minute promotion continues only as long as you remain on rate plan selected upon activation. The 2000 weekend airtime minute promotion is available on select local digital plans $29.99 and above. If you add the weekend airtime minute promotion, your monthly allowance minutes may apply to weekday airtime use only. If your weekend airtime usage exceeds the 2000 weekend airtime minute promotion, airtime charges will apply, even if there are minutes unused in the monthly allowance. Not available on Family SharePlans. Additional minutes billed at standard airtime rates. Weekend hours are 12:00 am Sat - 11:59 pm Sun. Phone offer may vary by location. See your sales representative for more information. Limited time offer. Network claim is based upon industry reports of carrier operated covered population. Motorola and the stylized M logo are registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc. ® Reg. US Pat. & TM off. © Motorola, Inc. All rights reserved. ©2001 Verizon Wireless. VPRO10
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