It seems during last October and early November, I spent a lot of time sitting in graduation exercises. This is a small price to pay to acknowledge the hard work done by these guys who work with us. We praise God that in a country where 47% of the population is illiterate, these young peole are continuing with their education to develop the skills needed for them to be able to serve their people.
Cesar, who lived with us last year while studying in Antigua and helps out "on-call" as a companion-caregiver graduated from Carera (12th grade) and is preparing to attend the University in January to pursue his goal of becoming a PE teacher. He will be in the first class of "professional" teachers who, under an new law in Guatemala, will need college was well as high school to receive their teaching licenses. He has been coaching a soccer team of younger boys for more than a year now, and has a real gift for working with children through sports and using this medium to share the love of God with them. He also is one of Dick Rutger's main interpreters and great mechanic.
Even Fidel got to go to Cesar's graduation, though I have to admit the car was just a little bit crowded.
Kevin has helped us as an on-call caregiver and lived with us for six weeks while he was completing his practicum as a dental assistant. He, like Cesar, graduated from 12th grade and is ready to begin the University. He is planning on beginning his studies to become a dentist in January.
Marcos who works with us as a companion-caregiver graduated from 3rd Basico (9th grade). While he struggles with academics, he has a wonderful heart for his people and for the disabled. He was honored to receive a special award at graduation as the student who had shown the most academic improvement during this three years of high school. He is still investigating his options for school in January, but would like to continue his studies in either tourism or mechanics. His ultimate dream is to become and attorney. Both of Marcos' parents have died and he is living with older siblings, but is having to put himself through school this coming year.
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| Elder, Fernando, and Esbin on a recent trip with Dick to distribute wheelchairs. |
Esbin. who is one of Dick's guys and a good friend of ours, also graduated from 3rd Basico. He would like to continue his studies in tourism. Esbin is one of the hardest workers I know.
Fernando has completed 3rd Basico and would like to continue to prepare for a career in the medical field during his last years in high school. He lived with us last year while studying here in Antigua and is like my "Guatemalan son." He truly is on his own, since his mother moved to the US when he was 3, he does not know who his father is, and has been shuffled from relative to relative to live. He is very intelligent and I believe committed to finishing his education. One of his great desires is to expose his classmates, often from wealthier families (at least by Guatemalan standards) to the poverty faced by many of the Guatemalans, and challenging them to serve their fellow countrymen. Fernando is a wonderful interpreter, having taught me much of what I know about translating, and has a deep love for God, his people, and his country. We just received word that Fernando's sponsor will no longer be able to support his education. If you would be interested in helping Fernando succeed in school and life, please email me or Dick Rutgers, and we will explain to you how you can help. We need to raise about $100 a month to keep him in school this year in his chosen field.
Elder, one of the youngest of Dick's boys, has finished sixth grade and will be starting Basico in January. He is one of our best students, and works hard to keep his grades up. He loves nothing better than to go out "mechanic-ing" with Dick.
Gustavo, whose father had a stroke and is unable to work, is one of the students we are directly sponsoring. He will complete his last year of Carera in 2015 and is studying computer technology. He will then become the primary wage-earner for his family who is struggling to keep him in school.
Carlitos is ten years old and will begin second grade in January. Carlitos faces many challenges due to his cerebral palsy, but works hard to keep up with his classmates. His grades were excellent and he especially loves math.
Maybelin is a 14 year old young lady with cognitive disabilities who dreamed of being able to go to school. We were able to help her begin her studies in a private school in Santa Rosa where she is happily learning to ready. Tania is another child in Santa Rosa who would like to begin going to school in 2015. Both of these young ladies are from one of the poorest areas of Guatemala and would not be able to go to school without your help.
We are so proud of the progress that these students have made, and admire their dedication to their education when finding the funds to go to school is difficult to impossible for them and their families. All of the students I have written about are sponsored either through Dick Rutgers or through our ministry general fund. If you would like to become part of their futures by helping support their education, please email me and I'll give you more information on how you can do so.
We are grateful to those of you who contribute to our ministry and enable us to give these students the opportunity to pursue their God-given purposes in life.
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