Steps of Hope Christmas Celebration

On Saturday, we celebrated Christmas at the SOH Center. The children wanted to do a pageant, and The Grinch was chosen. (Which was quite entertaining, I must say!) The children (and Ana and Jesica) worked so hard to memorize the lines, put together the costumes and set, and rehearse. After there was time for ponche, which is a typical hot fruit drink, and snacks with the families of the students who participated and families of the project. There was no better way to finish the 2015 school year!

Greetings from Guatemala!

 

It is good to be back in Guatemala. I was missing all of the children from Steps of Hope and it helps to be with them while I'm still thinking of my family! Things are slowing down for the year. The students have already been on vacation from public school for about a month now and don't return until January, so they are really mentally on vacation! We have been doing some review of what each student has been studying in English classes but mostly games and even a movie (on a DVD player that was donated from someone at CUMC!) There will be no official classes until January but we will still be open as many of them still come.
There will be two students (apart from those with sponsorships) who will be receiving school supplies because they are now registered for the first time to begin in public school in January! They have not been able to in the past because of lack of funds.
I cannot express how incredible it was being able to talk with everyone face to face because it makes me feel like everyone has more of a personal connection to Steps of Hope. And I thank each one of you who are supporting in so many ways, I can never thank you enough.

The Beauty of Fall

 

Happy Fall! I am home and it is by far one of my favorite seasons. I think I write that every time it is the fall or winter, because it is the truth. I'm home and am enchanted by the cold and the leaves; even the Christmas music and lights that have begun to make it feel like the most magical time of the year. There is so much peace in my heart.

I went to church this morning and saw so many faces that I love to see when I am home, and am now here watching a Christmas movie with my sister with a fire in the fireplace. As much as Guatemala and it's people have my heart and it feels like home, there are no replacing moments, places, and people like this.

I am fortunate to have Jesica at Steps of Hope to run classes and the office as I am gone. I don't know what I would have done without her! I had a meeting with the Director of another school that is for students with special needs before I left. Her students have more severe disabilities and many needs. Many families go to her for help and with the desire for the students to study at her school. At this moment, they are essentially full and some of the students (for various reasons) don't qualify. So I made referral documents so those families can come to SOH for tutoring help. Some of the student in need of help have failed due to one class, many times math, and have to repeat the school year. It is my hope that those parents will come and register their children to be part of the tutoring program, where we will work with them one-on-one to meet all of their specific needs. Please pray during these months that the Lord will send the families our direction.

I hope to see all of you when I am here, but if I do not please know how much I appreciate your encouragement and support, always.

Graduation 2015

These are the two students who graduated from Basico, what is the equivalent of Middle School and are continuing their education in Diversificado, High School. It is very exciting and I am so proud of the hard work. This is all thanks to Catonsville United Methodist Church, whose support of these students in the two and three years they have had sponsorships have made this possible! You all should be proud as well!

 Samuel, sponsored by Tim and Linda Pyle and the CUMC evening service.

Melisa, sponsored by the CUMC bible study group.

They will both be registering in High Schools in Antigua, and I am certain God has plans for the next for years of these students. Pray that they will continue in their education but also continue to know who the Lord is in their lives.

New Teachers, New Classes

It is a privilege to have Ana and Jesica as the new teachers at Steps of Hope! Ana has added a new tutoring class. Jesica as also added a tutoring class and weekend English classes for those who cannot study during the weekday. She has also been added full-time to help in the office, and is starting her own side program called Without Borders to work with the elderly in the community. I feel very blessed that God has provided these two women to be part of the project! 

 

Ana with her new students.

 

 

 

Nancy, one of the students whose education is solely coming from the project, as she is not studying in public school. 

 

Jesica preparing for her English classes. She planned her own curriculum!

 

 

SOH Library Center

Welcome to the Steps of Hope Library Center! The students have a chance to come for free play and use the center to spend time with their friends and family members. 

 

 

 

First Weeks of Classes

Enjoy the photos of the first 3 weeks of classes! There are English classes from students ranging from 8-9, 10-13, and youth. There is also the tutoring program for the students who are ages 4-10. Many of them (those little ones from the tutoring classes) are not in school, and are simply learning the basics-letters and numbers. Some of their parents simply aren't sending them to school.  These students have grabbed my heart and I thank God for this opportunity to be working with these beautiful children.

 

 The tree being painted is for the library room that is in progress, a room for free learning time with books, games, puzzles, and toys.

 

The English class ages 8-9. 

 

A few of the English students ages 10-13.

 

The older English students doing groupwork.

 Tutoring with the little ones!

 

 Enjoying some free time.

Registration

The Steps of Hope project has finally begun registering students! The more the community finds out about
the project, the more they stop by for information. I am collecting student information and school schedules to put together my own schedule for the students. I am now advertising for English classes, but have come across some children that could benefit from Spanish and Math tutoring...some students who are older and are just now learning to read and write. I fall in love with the community more and more each time I am there, and with the people. Guatemala has such beautiful people. The house has now been painted, thanks to the owner and his family, and looks fresh. 

I wanted to thank the CUMC Vacation Bible School program for this year for choosing Steps of Hope as one of their projects! They raised money each day of the week. I am so grateful. Thank you! 

Steps of Hope Education Center...Work in Progress!

I am very encouraged and believe that God's hand is leading the Steps of Hope Center. I just wanted to give an update and show some photos of the almost rented space in Santa Maria. It is a beautiful house that has a large hallway space in the middle as well as 3 rooms on the side. Upstairs is another room, bathroom and patio. I am in the process of figuring out how I am going to use the spaces. That will come in time! I also was able to purchase 38 desks for students...at only $4 each! God provides. 

This week or next the contract on the house will be signed and the family currently living there is finding another place to live. Lord willing, within the next few months I can start to make schedules for classes and have students register with their families. I thank all of you for your support in all ways and for being a part of this educuation center along with me!

Now Back Home in Guatemala

It didn't have much of a chance to write while I was home, but also spent a lot of time enjoying being with my

family! As I mentioned before, my Mom had serious hip surgery and up until the last month was not even able to leave the house without help, as my house has two stairs. It was so great to be home with her, I admire her patience and courage. I know it is not easy and it has cost her a lot of energy to continue on each day and stay positive. I cannot imagine being in her shoes. Again it was great to be home with her as well as meet my new nephew, Henry. He is absolutely beautiful and feels like one of the family even at a month and a half! The only word I can think of is blessed. How blessed I am to be part of my family.

Now back to work! These past few days in being back home in Guatemala I have been visiting with my students and schools, and have begun looking for a project space to rent in Santa Maria de Jesus. I feel so alive with this new Education Center and am certain that God's hand is working in it already. Once I have found the space, I am preparing to set up the classroom and have a week registration week where I can meet the families and students and give them schedules for English classes and Math and Spanish classes. Education is very important, I believe with my whole heart that through education, these children and teenager´s lives can be changed. I pray that they have their eyes opened to the world and see that their future can be all that they hope it will be. Please pray with me and I will give you the udpate as soon as I have chosen a space and begin renting. Thank you all for your support and encouragement always.

Home in Maryland

It is great to be home, especially after all of the issues my Mom has had with her hip. I can see it has been stressful to say the least on both her and my Dad, who has taken care of her as well as my siblings and continued to work full-time. But it gives my Mom and I a chance to catch up as she can't leave the house or we go places together! It has also been so nice to meet my new nephew and spend time with him and my sister, who is off work during the next few months. I am incredibly fortunate to have my family and spend each day with them.

I am also in the process of making some changes. All good ones! God is leading me down a different road. I will no longer be working with Small Change 4 Big Change, as student sponsorships are not a program that will be offered. I will continue with the 6 students I have now who have been sponsored to go to school, but will be working separately. Lord willing, I will begin a new

education program in a town called Santa Maria de Jesus. The focus will be on education (English classes and math and literacy tutoring) as this community has very little and has the highest illiteracy rate in the department of Sacatepéquez. Through education, it will also be a means to reach out to these families and children and help them understand that there is a God who loves them and sees their needs and wants to be a part of their lives. Before I came home, I began looking for spaces to rent and making a "plan." As I'm home, my goal is to find the funds needed for this program. (A space to rent, desks, a large whiteboard for the classroom, English books, materials for the classroom). I believe that God has Santa Maria in mind and will be alongside these new steps!

Please join me in prayer for this new chapter and that God will specifically put the people that He wants involved in my path. I thank you always for your support and look forward to giving more details and updating everyone as time goes on!