A Bittersweet Goodbye

It is a bittersweet time as Jesica, who has worked with me since August, is leaving to take a new job as Director of the Women's Office at the municipality! It is a wonderful opportunity, and she will do very well and is excited to make changes.


As God always has a plan, Lester, Jesica's brother will take over some of her classes and will begin new tutoring higher level math. Please pray for these transitions, and classes as they have begun this week! More photos to come!

School Supplies 2016

These are the students who are sponsored in their classes and are getting ready to begin the 2016 school year! Pray God's provision over each one of them as they begin.

 

 

Samuel said that he is ready to start this school year in his new school.

 

 

Fernando is Samuel's brother. His Mom explained that he was beginning in a new school also, in what is called Primero Basico (like middle school) and wasn't going to be able to go because she could not afford his supplies. He is a very polite and hard working student.

 

 

David has grown in the past few months! He is also excited to begin his school year.

 

 

Melisa is well known at CUMC for her kind spirit and determination. She is also extremely intelligent. Melisa's Mom has been sick for the past few months and through prayers and the support of CUMC through Doctor's visits and medicine, she is doing much better.

 

 

Maria and Daniel are from Steps of Hope in Santa Maria. Maria took 10 days of classes in 2015 but had to drop out. So this is their first year going to school! Pray that these school supplies encourage them in their classes and that they enjoy learning and their parents are encouraged to send them each day.

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!