Hope to the hopeless

This last two weeks have been a blessing to me. Let me share a little: 

 

Want to share with you something that moves my heart to prayer: In these areas education isn't important to the  families as much as it should be, which makes support from the parents to help their kids to be discipline on education harder; some of the parents don't even know how to write or read, some of them refuse to help them with homework, some of them appeal to verbal or physical violence and some of them don't even care. This is a huge obstacle to the kid's improvement. Home is always the essential key in this improvement, is the environment the children spent most of their time at and it's the foundation of society. 

As for me, this ain't a "huge" obstacle, I am determined to not give up on this situation, on the parents and specially on the kids. I know this program might be the only hope these children have to dream of a better future. Of course it's something that makes my heart ache but I declare and believe that my God is greater and capable of touching lives and move mountains. 

"However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -the things God has prepared for those who love Him". 1 Cor 2:9

I embrace this verse and declare it over the kids of the program, I believe that their are the ones who love Him and He has prepared great things for them.

The progress on the children is slow, which is being a challenge for me as I've never taught this before and I don't remember it being that long of a process to learn, but I have an open heart and mind, and I do my best on loving on the kids. I know God is training me day by day, giving me his grace and filling me with his love, patience and favor every day to spend a great time with the kids!!! 

This evening (Thursday) I have my first meeting to update on the program to the teachers and parents, all gather at a same place. Please pray for wisdom to speak the right words and specially to be a light to their lives.

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Here at El Faro, this week we are hosting the Surgical Medical Trip (25, doctors and staff) that is doing amazing surgeries at the children's hospital, on cleft palates and lips, burns, removal of cysts and many more amazing things. If you are on facebook you should check on Mision El Faro page and look for the pictures, they are speechless. 

I can see how God is working in this community and how He's using our different gifts to be part of His perfect plan. 

My roommate Mayra is officially "settled".  I'm excited to have her as a roommate, I have now someone who to talk to before going to bed about the day, about challenges and things that mark my life. She is truly a blessing; you know I'm someone who needs to be around of people....my room was starting to feel a little lonely (not really haha...but it's good to have her here).

Next week I get to go home for 5 days ( I have school on Saturdays, so I must get back on Friday), I'm looking forward to see family and friends and spend a good time with them. Planning on having an Oreo McFlury as treat for my good work (haha...a little too proud, but I do want ice cream)!! 

School is something new!! For those that don't know I'm studying Clinical Psychology. I'm liking it so so much and I really think is what I'm supposed to be studying. Finals are on June...(the day before my birthday) so prayers, yes since now, are accepted!! I'm glad to have the opportunity to relate what I do as my "job" with my school degree. 

Ok my friends, again thanks so so much for your prayers. They are vitamin to my spirit and soul. 

Love from El Faro,

Nelita Saravia.

P.S.: You can check the website at: www.misionelfaro.org
Facebook: Mision El Faro

"Challenge Accepted"

I'm being part of every second of my life-history!

It's been two months of so many challenges in my life, and a time that has taught me so much. I've had an open mind and heart to learn, to do and to willingly say "Challenge Accepted".

If you read on the lower post, I mentioned about the tutoring program and how the details were going to be written in the next post. So here they are: I created the structure of the program based on many advises from my parents, sister, friends, co-workers that know about this but specially guided by God's heart and his desire to help his people. The program is helping 15 kids from first, second and third grade; I work one hour per day with each group. The children were chosen by their teachers, and are the ones that struggle the most in school. The initial plan was to help them out with the classes, but as I started the program I learned that the 15 students can't write nor read, so I'm now starting from the bottom. I know it's going to be a long process but I believe is going to be fruitful. Something that I'm being challenged and blessed at the same time with is that some of kids have learning programs which requires me to understand them one by one, understand their needs as individuals and overall teach them with love, something they might not quite experience before. I'm so happy to be able to help them and specially to know that it was on God's plan that I was the one to teach to them from writing and reading to lead them on knowing themselves and their identity in God .
This is week is number 5 for the program and it has been a beautiful time to know every single one of the kids. The routine of the day is to come 20 or 30 minutes before class to play (on the playground), come into class, pray and give the best to learn the class of the day! I'm really interested on doing handcraft, and activities they don't normally do at school such as flashcards, activities with yarn, competitions, and some others; this is working because they like the class, they keep coming everyday and they're learning!
It has truly being a blessing for me, we've being learning for 2 weeks the vowels and today I can officially say that ALL of the students that are part of program have approve the vowels. I know that for some might be an easy thing but for these kids it is not. I'm so happy to see the advance on them and the reason why God has me here.

I'm working one hour everyday of the week with Jose (4 years), David and Zita's son. This has bless me so much not just because I get to spend more time with him but also because I learn more about the teaching area, to be patient and other things that I can apply at the tutoring program.

Every Sunday from 3 to 5pm we do a "Bible Club" in two villages: Punta de Palma (right outside of El Faro) and Santa María (10 min on car from El Faro). In the club, along with the staff and volunteers we share bible lessons, worship, games, snack and time with the kids that come. This is our "church" for us and for many of the kids.
I joined the worship team and I have the privilege of leading it at Santa María. Worship practice is on Monday and Thursday from 5 to 6pm. We are a beautiful worship team, I'm so happy to be part of it!!

Wednesday nights, we (the staff) have a Bible Study, based on Joseph (for now). Is a huge blessing to get to study the Bible with my new family, share and get to know each other more.
On Sunday nights we have a devotional time: worship and some Word sharing, by some one of the staff.

I will have a SPECIAL roommate for some time starting on this weekend. She's going to be working here for a while and I'm so looking forward to spend time with her. Her name is Mayra "Mayrita" and you will definitely hear a lot about her on this blog, so I better warn you now! I'm so happy to get to have a roommate!

There's many more things to share with you but for today I guess is enough...will write soon.

Again, THANK YOU for your prayers. Much love!

P.S.: You can check the website: www.misionelfaro.org
Facebook: Mision El Faro

New adventure.

Friends,


May this year already be filled with God's glory and his purposes for your life.


I want to share with you a new and exciting decision I took in my life, guided of course of God's will for my life. I'm serving full time and for the time God tells to my heart in Fundacion El Faro, "The Lighthouse" is a Guatemalan based interdenominational, charitable, Christian organization whose purpose is to express the Love, Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ to the people of Guatemala. We serve God's people either providing a place for camps, churches activities, social activities or giving social help, such as medical trips, English, computer, music classes, and others. For me is a privilege to be part of this family and be treated as one.

My work here is to help in what's needed, but also start a new project which is a  tutoring program for the children that want to advanced in the classes they have trouble the most. I'm still making the structure of the program, so there's not to many details on this. I know this is on God's plan so I'm sure it will be a great program. I'm excited and looking forward to it.

El Faro it located on the Atlantic coast, 5 hours away from Guatemala city (by car), most of the time is a warm weather, there's 27 acres of land  and the place is so beautiful, a beautiful beach and a dock from where the sunrise is just to breathtaking. I encourage you to take a time and come visit :)

I arrived to my new home on Sat. 21 of Jan.  alongside my parents and good friends. It was a good experience to have my parents with me to start this new season. I'm blessed to have a room for myself and living at the "neighborhood", an area design for the volunteers and staff here, we are 5 people (for the moment) and 2 are on the way to join us next month. I truly believe that God plans are perfect for our lives. To have the opportunity to live in USA on 2011 for 8 months gave me the experience on living separate from my family and grow up in many areas. Therefore I'm so looking forward to what this opportunity has for me. 

So, my parents left on Wednesday and it was a bittersweet moment. I had a few meetings the next day and went also with Montserrat, (a mexican staff who works in giving p.e. to the public school in the nearest village and also gives the English class to the children here at El Faro), to help her give the p.e. class for an hour. It was a great opportunity to get to meet the kids I will hopefully will be working with soon. 

The weekend was really great. On Saturday a family that I've known all my life came for visit, the Fares, and I really was blessed to have them here. They went back to the city today, again a bittersweet good-bye but I'm learning that I will see them all again sooner than what I think! Today, also, we hosted a wedding at El Faro and it was really beautiful, I got to help with some things that needed to be done. It was a very rainy and windy day...but still amazed of God's awesome creation. 

The director of this organization is David Vasquez, his wife Zita and their 3 adorable children Anita, 6, Jose, 3 and Juan David, 9 months. Is a blessing not just because Anita and I have become really good friends but also because they are my family now. The director of camps is Samuel Gomez and his wife, Karlita,  they're amazing and I love to spend time with them. The music teacher and his wife who is in charge of the volunteers are Luis Pedro and Meagan Rios, just married and an excellent couple, I'm looking forward to spend more time with them. One thing I love is that we all ENJOY playing board games...so there's not a chance for boredom here!! They're some of the staff here, there's many more that while I'm making history with them you will hear about them, their names and our adventures together.

Thanks for reading my blog and check on what God's doing in my life.  I will be writing again in a few days. Also thank you very much for your prayers, it's what keeps me here!

Nelita Saravia.

P.S.: You can check the website here: www.misionelfaro.org or on facebook Mision El Faro.