Let me tell you about Marta...

Marta is a 9 year old.  I met her for the first time in November when we visited her twin cousins, Yolanda and Carolina, at their grandmother's house.  Mission2Guatemala has been helping the twins for a couple of years, now.  They were abandoned by their mother shortly after birth and their grandma and auntie have raised them.

We had gone to the house to see their report cards from 2012 and to make sure they were going to attend school in January.  While there, we met Marta.  She would not stop talking - but we couldn't understand her. Marta excitedly told us in half Spanish and half Kekchi that she wanted to go to school, but to go to school, she needed her papers (birth certificate) from her mom and then she'd need school supplies and a uniform.  She repeated herself over and over and when she felt I wasn't listening to her, she gently turned my face towards her and said, "escuchame"..."listen to me." 

Like her cousins, she too had been left in the care of her grandma. Her mom lives in Tamarindo and is known as "crazy woman." She has a history of abusing Marta and at some point last year took Marta to her mom's, Marta's grandma, and left her there.
As we talked with the grandma and auntie about Yolanda and Carolina, making plans for the upcoming year, we felt we also needed to extend an oppotunity to Marta.  We agreed that if they were able to get her paperwork and register her in school, we'd help with her supplies and other needs.  Well, Marta wouldn't stop kissing us and thanking us and reminding us of all the things she would need. 
In January when we delivered the supplies for the twins, Marta was waiting for us.  We visited the school to discuss her situation with the principal and prospective teacher - Marta is 9 and has never been to school.  She also does not understand Spanish very well.  Two pretty huge obstacles.  None of us were sure she would be able to succeed in a school environment, but we agreed it was worth whatever effort it took to at least try. 
Two weeks later, we checked on Marta, talked to her teacher and principal, and, praise the Lord!, Marta was learning.  We took her out to buy a uniform and new shoes to celebrate. 
The opportunity for Marta to attend school will be a life-changing opportunity for her.  Without an education, she would never learn Spanish and would be illiterate and trapped in a cycle of poverty.  With an education and the ability to speak Spanish, read and write, she will have opportunities for a brighter future!  She will be able to pick up God's Word and read His love letter to her for herself!  How cool is that! 
Thank you, Lord, for giving Marta this chance!