Marjorie: Working hard for a brighter future

Originally posted December 7, 2015

*MARJORIE IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS!

By John Carson

Majorie is Erika’s daughter and a regular in my Sunday school class with her sister. She is quick to answer as the oldest in the class, and she certainly boosts my confidence with her attentiveness. I can always count on her to have a big smile in class. Having just finished 7th grade, she is our oldest kid in the education program, and she acts like it. I appreciate her responsibility with her siblings, and I can see that she does care about her future.

She moved from public school to private school this year and had almost no math skills. The first partial of the year she had a 57, but then she worked so hard to bring that up and finished the school year with an 87! She certainly wants to have a good education and a bright future. That is wonderful to see and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her. Please considering sponsoring this committed student for her Beach Christmas.

Rafa and Edwin: Our favorite bus drivers

Originally posted December 7, 2015

Above: Edwin (middle) and Rafa (right) playing with the kids at Beach Christmas last year. 

Group season for us can be really hectic. One thing that makes it slightly less hectic, though, is having bus drivers who know us well and are good at their jobs.

For most groups, we work through a transportation company called Honduras Traveling. We have worked with them so regularly, that we know nearly all of the drivers on a first-name basis if not on an even deeper level. When planning out our summer, we always try to get either Rafa or Edwin as much as possible for our groups. Rafa and Edwin know and love our ministry, are familiar with the areas in which we work, and are good at moving our groups safely and efficiently. Most return groups who have had one or the other typically request that same driver when they come back next year.

For our Beach Christmas trip, we will need two buses to carry everyone to Amapala and back. The bus company provides at least one bus for free and the other at a reduced rate. All they ask is that we take care of the drivers during the trip. Just like last year, Rafa and Edwin will be driving for us and joining us on the beach.

We are looking for a sponsor of $150 in order to take care of Rafa and Edwin’s food costs and give them some holiday spending money.  Please consider helping us bless these two drivers who do so much for us.

Rafa’s family: A family we love like our own

Originally posted December 7, 2015

By Courtney Sullivan

Rafa has been a wonderful driver for our mission groups for the past several years. And over those years, we have grown to know and love not only him, but his sweet family as well.

Rafa’s wife’s name is Any and together they raise two children, Jared and Matthew. Jared is a rambunctious boy who has just begun school and loves interacting with our U.S. groups. Matthew is as cute as can be, and we love to pass him around and hug his neck. Any has a beautiful smile and even more beautiful spirit. She also has Lupus which she works hard on a daily basis to manage. Her health costs and being in and out of worked leave the family pretty strapped financially at times as they try to provide for two boys. Rafa works hard throughout the year; however, there are seasons when tourism is low and he doesn’t have as much work.

Rafa, Any, Jared and Matthew have become like family to us. We love it when mission groups include them on excursions because it gives us a chance to see the way they interact as a family and the love and pure joy they share with one another. We would love to help this deserving family have a wonderful Christmas this year. Rafa will be the only member of the family attending the actual trip with us, but we would like to sponsor the whole family in order to give them some extra cash to celebrate the holidays.

Would you consider a $125 donation to sponsor this family who means so much to us?

Santoni: Laughing and overcoming

Originally posted December 7, 2015

*SANTONI IS NOW SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS

Above: Santoni (left) at a VBS in Guajire earlier this year

By John Carson

Santoni laughs. Plain and simple. He is almost always laughing and happily goes about his life. Sometimes they are uncomfortable laughs, like when he told me his dad was dead. When he first came to live with us, he was with us in the hope that his mother would come soon to take him to live with her. That has yet to happen after almost two years. Like anyone, he can be sad and down at times about his situation, but more than anyone he wants to make a good life for himself and do the right thing.

He has overcome and achieved so much just since he has been with us. We were so excited and amazed when his school told us that he was the best student with the best grades in the entire school. This is quite an accomplishment considering the struggles he has had. I am proud of who this hard-working, genuine, loving kid has become. I am excited to see what life brings this guy and to watch him smile and laugh through it with him.

Please consider helping him to have a wonderful Beach Christmas with us!

Allison: An amazing example of God’s healing

Originally posted December 7, 2015

*ALLISON IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2015!

By Courtney Sullivan

Little Allison has had quite the journey since we first met her and her family a few years ago.

Two years ago, due to the presence of a benign tumor pressing on her brain stem, Allison lost, almost entirely, her ability to walk, talk coherently, control of her bodily functions and use of one of her arms. After years and physical therapy treatment, Allison’s tumor has shrunk drastically to the point that it doesn’t affect her any more. She runs, laughs and studies like any other child.

This year, Allison was even sponsored to attend her first year of private school. We worried that her lowered immune system due to chemo treatments would interfere with her ability to learn. She just graduated preparatoria, though, after a wonderful year of growing academically and making friends. Allison’s confidence also soared through this experience.

This will be Allison’s first Beach Christmas with us. She and her family were invited last year but, due to her treatments, Allison’s mother feared she would be too sick to make the trip. So we are extra excited to have her along this year!

Please join us in praising God for Allison’s life and her incredible recovery. And please consider sponsoring her for her first Beach Christmas!

Henyi: Brightly moving forward

Originally posted December 7, 2015

*HENYI IS SPONSORED FOR BEACH CHRISTMAS 2015!

By Courtney Sullivan

Henyi and her family have been a part of our ministry for the past few years. She and her brother, Tobasque, are easy favorites among our visiting U.S. groups because of their big smiles and bubbly natures.

Henyi is also a very smart girl and has a love for learning. She gets tired and lazy sometimes like any preteen, but is always very excited to tell you when she does well in classes or completes projects. Henyi has a unique opportunity to break the cycle of poverty for her family. She is lucky that Martha, although a struggling single mom, has enough education to help Henyi with her homework and cares about her success in school. Henyi has been in private school for the last few years, and as long as she stays the course, will have the opportunity to go to college and open herself up to a wonderful career.

The next few years will be especially challenging for Henyi. Not only will her classes be more difficult as she enters middle school and high school, but she will also have to navigate the social pitfalls that plague so many young girls in Honduras. We pray that Henyi can continue to find her worth in God and that he will protect her and guide her as she seeks to make wise choices.

Please consider giving this girl another wonderful Beach Christmas with our BC family!