Hector wants us to film him jumping on the back of the bus. It\u2019s the kind of thing any 13 year old would want to show off. As he climbs on the bus, he goes straight to the window seat in the fourth row from the back on the right side. That\u2019s his seat. Hector\u2019s hour-long commute to school has begun. Each day Hector travels to Antigua in order to continue his education. His parents aren\u2019t making him go. Most of his family has chosen to work at the local green bean farm instead of getting an education. Hector wants something different for his life.<\/p>\n
In March Mission Discovery filmed a short film series that highlighted Hector\u2019s story as well as the people in his life who are trying to help him achieve something different.<\/p>\n
The hope of a better life because of education is an idea that is being nurtured by the staff of the Jeremiah Project. Every child at the Jeremiah Project receives a hot lunch and tutoring services. As children at the Jeremiah Project make progress, directors Nancy and Josu\u00e9 Lemus are able to help place them in a school. Nancy and Josu\u00e9 are quick to say that their work is making a difference. The lives of about 60 kids are being impacted on a daily basis. Through a ministry of consistency, they are helping a new generation place value on education and encouraging them to trust Jesus Christ with their lives.<\/p>\n
In the next town over, Mayra Garcia gives a morning prayer at the Kairos School. Over 150 children from surrounding villages come to Kairos to receive a free education. After only 4 years this small school is practically overflowing. They will need to find a new facility soon. Hopefully they will find a new building that will allow them to have enough space for their current student population as well as the growing number of children they sadly turn away each semester.<\/p>\n
In poor and developing countries education is considered a luxury. This is the case in Guatemala. Most families can\u2019t afford to let their children go to school because it\u2019s too expensive and each family member, no matter how young, is a potential income earner. This mindset feeds a vicious cycle of poverty where the poor stay poor and do little to rise above their current status. Ministries like Kairos and the Jeremiah Project are helping to turn the tide. Their positive voice in the lives of these children are planting seeds of hope.<\/p>\n
Mission Discovery teams provide an influx of resources and enthusiasm to the Jeremiah Project and Kairos. Our weeklong mission trips help these organizations address emergency needs, make vital up grades to their facilities, and enhance their relationships with the families of the children they are serving. Participants see, first hand, the progress being made. At the end of every week, we challenge each person who goes to Guatemala to return home and tell the story of what God is doing through our ministry partners. If you want to be a part of the life changing work happening in Guatemala, why not join us on our next trip?<\/p>\n
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