"I imagined boys with wide eyes learning about Moses and Job and Isaiah."

The El Rosario Christian Academy For Boys

Our team has been praying about the possibility of establishing a Christian Academy for boys.  We believe one of the greatest challenges in El Rosario and among small villages all over Guatemala is that fathers leave their families.  We have seen it happen right in front of our eyes.  Mothers are left to raise kids with little or no income and boys are left with no positive male role models.  They are all left scrambling just to survive.  I know that sounds melodramatic.  It's not.  

God has put the boys and single moms of El Rosario on our hearts. 

We have been praying for favor with the principal who we met with yesterday.  Just before we went into the meeting, our team prayed that God would open doors.  We prayed that He would not just open doors but that He would blow the doors wide open.

“Sr. Rosales, we would like to bring the abandoned school below, back to life.  We know it has been abandoned for 15 years and it’s in poor shape.  We know it will be expensive to remodel.” 

Mr. Rosales, the principal of the only school in El Rosario, just listened.  I couldn’t tell if he was smiling or if he was thinking about the 350 kids yelling on the playground right outside the door, so I continued.

“We would like to teach a group of young boys about the bible.  About Jesus.  We want to equip them for potential jobs by teaching them English.  We want to feed them every day we meet.  Once a month we want them to participate in a service project in El Rosario.  We want them to give back to their community.”

Long pause.  I continued.

“We want you to know that we do not have money for this.  Not a single Quetzal.  It would be our goal to begin the academy in July, here at your school, until we raised the money to remodel the school below.  We understand that the Guatemalan government owns the land and the building."

And then…the BIG question that was begging to get out. 

“Do you think this is possible?”

I don’t know how long Mr. Rosales waited before he spoke but it was not for effect.  He was clearly choosing his words. 

“I have been at this school for many years.  I have wanted to do so many things to make a difference in this school and in the community but I have not had the help needed.  It makes me happy to hear about the things you want to do and I’m glad that I am still here to be able to see them happen.  I have a meeting with the Guatemalan government on Thursday.  I will have a definitive answer for you on Friday but I can't see any reason you won't be able to remodel the school to teach English and teach the bible.”

He said, “I will organize a group of volunteers to completely clean up the school below….this Saturday.”

I clarified, “We don’t have the money to remodel the school YET but we are praying about it.” 

“The school below will be cleaned up and ready.  Also, do you need a key to one of the classrooms of THIS school?  I’ll make a key for you if you need a room to begin in July.  If you need five rooms, I’ll make five keys for you.”

That's what it looks like when God opens doors!

I left the meeting imagining what it would look like to have classrooms of the new school filled with boys, learning about a Father who would never leave them, A Father who would never forsake them.  I imagined boys with wide eyes learning about Moses and Job and Isaiah.  I imagined boys wanting to grow up, not just learning about Jesus, but LIVING FOR Jesus.

It was a good day. 

If you would like to be a part of our support team Click here.  If you want to email us, we would love to hear from you! georgesisneros@gmail.com or vondasisneros@gmail.com.  You can call us any time from the States at 970-449-9449.

We would love to have you visit!  Have you always wanted to go on a short term mission trip but didn't know where to start?  We can host up to four people and have spots available in September and October.  We can also add you to our calendar for 2014.  

 Follow our journey at GodCalledUs.com. 

Just like that, Silvia is now a single mother of four

Guest Blog by Lindsey Owens

Lyndsey and David Owens are part of our ministry team in El Rosario and we could not be more fortunate to spend our days with them.  Please go to their blog at www.OwensInGuatemala.com and pray for them.  If God puts it on your heart, please consider supporting what God is doing through them in Guatemala.  Click here.

I’m 25 years old.

I grew up in a loving home with a mom and a dad.

I married my first boyfriend and love of my life.

I am blessed.

This morning as I sat on a porch in El Rosario, I had to hold myself back from weeping. My heart was broken and I had no words to express.  Only tears.

I was with Silvia, a mother of four beautiful children, who I have become pretty good friends over the past few months. I’ve had the opportunity to play with her children, to spend time chatting with her, and even was blessed to be able to go to the doctor with her and watch as God used medicine to heal her.

Last night, Silvia found out that her husband had two other families and was leaving her.

Just like that, Silvia is now a single mother of four.

Because of Silvia’s medical condition, she hasn’t been able to work. Four months ago she moved to El Rosario to live with her mother. She needed help taking care of her baby while she got better. A few weeks ago, when we went to the doctor, we prayed that God would use this to heal her so that she could go back to the city to live with her husband. She loves her husband. She missed him so much and couldn’t wait to get back.

Her husband had also been helping her with about $20 a month. This is not much, but it’s the only income the family has had.

Silvia is now without her husband and the money he had been sending her.

Silvia’s heart is broken. My heart is broken for her.

As we were sitting there… I had no words of comfort to speak to her. I had no great testimony from my own life to be able to tell her it would all be ok. Who am I to be able to speak anything into her life? I know nothing of this type of pain and struggle.

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” –Deuteronomy 31:8

I told her what I do know...

“God is enough. That if we have Jesus then we have all we need.”

I held her hand.  “God has a purpose for her life and that he was in control of everything, big and small.”

I had to take deep breaths to keep from crying uncontrollably.

“God is our strength and He will never leave us.”

We cried.

As I sat there… crying with Silvia and trying to shine the light of Christ on that porch. God asked me if I truly believed what I was telling her. Like I said, I am blessed. I don’t worry about not having food to eat. I have never feared David leaving me. I don’t know what it’s like to live in poverty or to be left by my husband.

But as I spoke words of comfort to Silvia…. I knew they were true.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” –James 1:12 

This trial will be Silvia’s crown. God will not leave her. He will provide for her and her family. And He will do the same for you and for me. Each trial that we face is a test of our faith. Those who continue to honor God will receive the crown of life that is promised to all those who love the Lord.

“Adversity is the testing ground of our faith.” –Lynn Austin

When my faith is tested, I pray that I cling to God’s promise that He will never leave me or forsake me. He is my light in the midst of the darkness in this world. My prayer is that when the trials and adversity come, and it will come, that I continue to rejoice in the Lord through my tears. Knowing that His promises are as true today as they will be tomorrow.

Please join me in praying for Silvia as she perseveres under trial.