Guatemala (MNN) ― The Good Shepherd Baptist School in Santiago, Guatemala is just beginning the second week of ministry in their first school year.
They have partnered with Orphan Outreach to reach 130 children with the Gospel as well as with a quality education. The student body comes from an area that was devastated by a mudslide in 2005.
A neighbor to Santiago, Punabaj is still recovering from Hurricane Stan's torrential rains and mudslides. Over 1,000 people died, and the village was buried under volcanic mud, rock and debris.
Most of the people live in temporary housing in a field adjacent to the village as it is slowly being rebuilt. The hospital, school and police station were destroyed. The families are still struggling even after almost three years, and many children are not going to school.
In the midst of this tragedy, a Baptist pastor who grew up in this community has taken a leadership role in helping minister to those affected by the crisis. Pastor Diego is working with Orphan Outreach to create a private Christian school in his church to meet the needs of many of the children who do not have access to education.
A recent distribution of school supplies brought not only blessing, but hope. Says Gloria Caceres, the Guatemala Coordinator for Orphan Outreach, "Several mothers approached us to thank us for the help. Some of them were crying and said they were very touched by us because they never thought they would be able to send their children to a private Christian school. The teachers were anxious to see the computers and to distribute the school supplies to their children."
Pray for the funding necessary to sustain the project, as well as to provide scholarships to 30 children. Pray that the Gospel continues its transformational work there.
