Making a Difference

This last group worked on building a classroom in the community of Presbeteriana Britania.  This small community is pretty remote – a 35 minute drive off of the main road – and separated from all things modern.  There are 35 families living in the community that was built around the Presbyterian church.   Pastor Mateo and his family live in the community and are the town leaders.  They are the ones looking for help from the outside so that their children have the opportunity to learn.  They came to us, at Mission2Guatemala to ask if we might be able to help build a classroom for their children. 

There are just over 50 kids in the current school room.  They are in 6 different grades with only one teacher.  The building itself is pretty rough with wooden plank walls and dirt floor and there are not enough desks or chairs for all of the students.  When Pastor Mateo asked the Ministry of Education for help, they told him that if he had 60 children and another classroom, they would send out a second teacher.  Coming up with the extra kids is never a problem in Guatemala, but the classroom…now that’s another story. 

And, that is exactly where the Lord stepped in.  God touched the hearts of the team from Xenia, Ohio and they came with the money to build the second classroom, and to build it right.  Their new classroom has concrete walls and a cement floor, along with two flushable toilets (the only ones in the entire community).  God loves these kids and wants the very best for them. 

It makes such a difference for the children of Presbeteriana to have a healthy, clean environment to learn in.  To be able to focus on the tasks at hand and not be distracted.  The goal, although, is not just education in and of itself.  The ultimate goal is to provide education for children so they can read God’s Word for themselves, and meet their creator.  If they are going to develop a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they not only need to be presented with the Gospel, but they need to be able to read His Word for themselves, to be able to meditate on the scripture and allow it to do its work within them.  That is the ultimate goal of education and why providing an education for even the poorest child is so important.

We look forward to a continuing relationship with this community and are excited to see how the Lord will build His Kingdom as we, His people, work together for a common cause.