Three years ago, Chris and I were walking through the village on a morning when most of the children were in school. The village was quiet. The mothers were resting after doing their morning chores of gathering wood, making tortillas, washing clothes on the rocks in the river and getting the children off to school. Chris and I were here on a vision trip. We had no idea what the Lord was asking us to do next. We were praying for wisdom from the Lord as we decided on future projects. There were many needs but we trusted that the Lord would lead us in his will for those he had sent us to serve. We did not speak the language nor did we know the most pressing needs of the village and how we could help them in a way that would have the most impact. But as we walked through the village talking about the next step, we could not have imagined what the Lord was about to reveal to us and how he would use it to change so many lives.
Veronica, is a beautiful and intelligent young lady. She is bright and her dream is to go to school and become a doctor. She is now in the 9th grade at Liberty College here at Hope of Life. But three years ago, Veronica sat on her front porch and was not in school because she had completed the 6th grade and her family did not have the money for her to continue. Here in Guatemala education is free through the sixth grade except for uniforms and school supplies but after that the families must pay tuition for their children to continue. So many of the children stop school and try to find jobs in a country where good jobs without an education are scarce and menial jobs barely pay enough to put food on the table and are often temporary.
After hearing her story and her great desire to continue her education, Chris and I knew that God was showing us what his next plan was for this village. Carlos Vargas, the founder of Hope of Life International, often says that He does not hear the voice of God telling him what to do next, He sees a need and believes that God is calling Him to meet that need. That is what Chris and I believed God did that day. When we heard her story and her great desire to continue school, we knew God was asking us to help. He was giving us our next assignment in this village. The next day Chris and I went to Carlos with our vision to start a child sponsorship program in the village and send the children to Liberty College on the campus at HOL. He loved the idea! Chris and I knew the Lord would have to provide for this project “abundantly and beyond all that we could imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). And honestly, we couldn’t wait to see how He was going to do it!!
This was the beginning of the child sponsorship program through Mt. Comfort Guatemala Missions in partnership with Hope of Life International. It would also be the beginning of an opportunity for these children to continue their education and graduate from high school. That next January, we had over 30 children sponsored and Veronica along with 3 other children started the 7thgrade. (The school year starts in January in Guatemala). Three years later, we have 18 children continuing their education and next year that number will be 23!
Praise the Lord that the children want to continue in school. However, our sponsorship fund cannot cover all the costs to send all the children in the village to school after the 6th grade. When we started this program, we struggled to find four children that wanted to continue. Many of them wanted to go to work. But we are seeing that mindset change. A generation is changing before our eyes and they are seeing the importance of education. Many of the parents want their children to go to school and they are making the sacrifices so they can continue. Parents are always telling us how thankful they are for all of those that donate and provide for their children to go to school and what a blessing it is for them. But they need help!
For the last three years, God has provided abundantly and beyond all we could have imagined and we are so grateful for all the people he uses to help us to keep making this sponsorship program a success! We know God will provide again this year. In this we have no doubt. Maybe He will use you!
There are many ways you can help. Most importantly, please pray for Mount Comfort Guatemala Missions, for Hope of Life International and for the children and families of our village! Also, next week, July 29 at 1:30, we will be having our 6th Annual Mount Comfort Guatemala Missions golf tournament at Falling River Country Club in Appomattox, VA. If you live in the area and would like to play or if you would like to sponsor a hole to advertise your business, honor a friend or family member, please contact us on our contact page. We will send you this information.
If you would like to make a donation, you can make a monthly donation to the ministry by check or credit card. If you would like to make a credit card donation, you can make a one time donation or a recurring donation through the support tab on this page. Please comment child sponsorship, or if you would like to donate by check, please contact us through our contact page for more information.
If you would like to sponsor a child and bless them with your love, please contact us and we will help you find a child that is the perfect fit for you and your family. You can make such a difference in a child’s life through sponsorship and building a relationship with them through writing letters and sending gifts. You can also give your child a birthday cake on their birthday to show them that they are special and celebrated! Your encouragement and love means so much to them. We have children that do not have sponsors and they are always asking us if they have a sponsor yet. We would love to tell them that you have decided to sponsor them!!
Please remember, no amount is too big or too small. We started this fundraiser about a month ago and we are seeing God use so many people to provide. It is not any one person giving it all, it is many, many people that have a heart for these children. You are giving these children a hand up, not a hand out. They must do the hard work, have determination and make the sacrifices to graduate. To these children, life once seemed so limited. They were imprisoned, trapped with no way out of their impoverished lives. This opportunity for them is tremendous. Most in Guatemala are not afforded this incredible opportunity.
The children love school. They have dreams of a brighter future. They have hope. Would you help to continue to give them hope? God is writing an amazing story in their lives. Please prayerfully consider being a part of that story.
God bless you and thank you, Chris and Paula passion4guatemala@aol.com