Guatemala Mission Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers ... Erick Estuado Garcia Aguirre is 16 years old and still attends high school. While it is very common for 16 year-olds to be in school in Branford, and all developed countries, this is quite unusual in Erick’s country, Guatemala. Erick is an unusual Guatemalan teen, as only half of children in Guatemala graduate from elementary school. Most adults have only a 6th grade education; and one-third of the population lives on less than $2 per day. Guatemala is the second poorest country in the Americas, mired in self-propagating cycles of poverty passed from one generation to the next, driven by the limited opportunities afforded by a lack of education We have played a small, quiet, but palpably significant role in Erick’s life by making possible the uncommon, seemingly unreachable goal of obtaining a high school degree. We have been his sponsors through the not-for-profit, Common Hope, for the last eight years. Our sponsorship alleviates pressure on Erick, the eldest child in his household, to leave school and help his parents financially. If Erick completes high school (and we have every confidence that he will), he will double his earning potential and end the cycle of poverty in his family. Through this sponsorship we have improved Erick’s life, and the life of his parents and his siblings through education, health care and housing.
We met Erick for the first time this summer, joining a Common Hope Vision Team from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Erick told us that his passion is mathematics and soccer. He plans to continue with his education; and his studies will focus on becoming an accountant. The highlight of our week in Guatemala was the construction of a two-bedroom structure for a Common Hope sponsored family. Imagine working side by side with a family, building a home over a span of five days - a cement floor, waterproof walls, windows, doors and metal roofing. The finished project was celebrated at the end of our stay with a house blessing, cake, words of gratitude from the family, hugs and tears. We have been asked by Common Hope to spread the word of this important ministry, so that more Guatemalan families can be helped to raise themselves out of poverty. If you feel called to this important work, please consider sponsoring a child. We would be happy to discuss our experience, which we feel has given back to us immensely more than we have given. Funny how these things work out that way. |
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