IN celebration of their 10th anniversary and the Christmas season, KKMP Radio donated over $10,000 to the Maturana Sisters on Wednesday.
Proceeds came from a golf tournament that KKMP hosted earlier this month at Laolao Bay Golf Course West in conjunction with the Refaluwasch Golf Association, Marianas Golf Association, Mount Carmel School, and Laolao Bay Golf Resort.
Gary and Rosemond Sword of KKMP Radio and Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, president of Mount Carmel School, presented the sisters with the funds.
They were joined by Father Jesse Reyes.
“That’s just a token of appreciation from our community to you for your service, for your work, for your continued prayers over us throughout the years,” said Gary Sword.
He added, “As we go through the Covid-19… we end it with a bang… We’re thankful that we are very safe where we are.”
Moreover, he emphasized that KKMP radio chose to donate to the sisters for their selfless service.
“These ladies left their homes. This is now their home. They have never gone back to where they came from. They stayed here so that they could educate the community and keep our community going. Now that they can’t work, they are here, just praying, and I think that needs to be recognized,” he said.
Father Reyes thanked the sisters for their prayers, and thanked the donors for their generous contribution to the sisters.
“The could have diverted the funds for their own needs, but instead, they were so generous [to give] to the sisters,” he said.
The priest noted that the donors have always prioritized the sisters, hosting community events to raise funds for the sisters.
Deleon Guerrero, for his part, also expressed his gratitude to the sisters for their service, noting that he was once their student, like Rosemond Sword and others before them.
“We all know that Mount Carmel School would not exist if it weren’t for the MMD sisters,” he said.
He added, “68 years ago and throughout the school’s history, you have continued to help us as teachers, as leaders, and in the past decade, with prayers. The school itself has survived major typhoons, economic disasters, and even this current pandemic, and we attribute that to the legacy that you have left behind.”
“It was an honor and a privilege for Mount Carmel School to participate in that way, given all of these restrictions. Our students were there to assist with the golf tournament, and they were just so happy to give back to the people that have given so much of their support.”
Rosemond Santos, for her part, also extended her gratitude to the sisters for their support.
“You guys have a very special place in my heart. All of you were teachers at one point in our lives, even our parents’ lives. This is not the first or the last [donation]. We will continue to support and give to the House of Prayer because I believe that the ministry is important and necessary.”
The sisters thanked the donors for their generosity, noting that although the sisters cannot contribute much, they pray for their people every day.
Ever since the sisters were informed of the golf tournament, they fervently prayed for the participants and all who were supporting the event.
They said that they continue to pray for them and their families, especially during these difficult times, for being open to reaching out and helping the House of Prayer.
The Maturana House of Prayer relies solely on contributions as their source of income.
The funds will go towards basic necessities such as utilities and their employees’ pay.
The Maturana Benefit Golf Tournament was sponsored by Governor Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Governor Arnold I. Palacios, House Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, House Vice Speaker Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero, House Floor Leader John Paul Sablan, Rep. Ivan Blanco, Rick Kautz, the Saipan Mayor’s Office, the CNMI Public School System, Mount Carmel School, the Northern Marianas College, Sound-Hires, Pacific Rim Construction, Joeten Enterprises, TSL Foundation, IT&E, Triple J Hole-in-One Car, Borja Funeral Home, Priority Care, CHCC Emergency Preparedness, DOC Census 2020, DPS Boating Safety, DCCA-DYS, Hyatt Regency, MARPAC, McDonald’s Saipan, DLNR Fish & Wildlife, Friends of the Paseo De Marianas, Kimpachi & Awadorri Dancers, RNV Construction, Marianas Ukulele, Team PDI, Friends of San Isidro, Marianas Golf Association, Refaluwasch Association, Refaluwasch Music Society, and Kiki Marciano and Her Elves.
The Sisters of Maturana received a generous Christmas donation on Wednesday at the Maturana House of Prayer.
