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It is hard to imagine what life was like just one year ago for the children in the little village of Bonanza in the mountains of northern Guatemala. There was no education, no church, no hope. With your help, we have been able to change life for these precious people. Here is a timeline to update you of what we have together been able to accomplish for the town of Bonanza.

August 2007: Launched the feeding program with 54 sponsors and 100 children.

From August-December 2007: Distributed large bags of food and supplies to each family in Bonanza that was sufficient food for one month for the entire family.

January 2008: God amazingly orchestrated a process towards education for Bonanza and a new and improved structure for our feeding program.

In October, a high school senior Jordan “Kahuna” Kemp (who was also one of our sponsors) had a passion to provide backpacks for the children of Bonanza that had touched his life on the mission trips he had taken to the area in summers past. He did not know at the time that there was no schooling in the village for 2 reasons – no teachers and no supplies. As he began to raise funds and supplies for the backpacks for Guatemala, the project went far better than expected. Once we realized that the project would be in vain without finding teachers, we began to pray about who God would have to fill this void.

Before the idea of the project was born, there was a trip planned for the first week in January 2008. The timing began to line up just right for this project to be carried out during this particular mission trip. We knew we could deliver the backpacks and supplies, but didn’t know when they would actually be able to use them, since there were still no teachers and no school plans in place. During the process, “Kahuna’s” father was tragically killed in a car accident. However, in stead of knocking him down, it only inspired more people to get involved and the funds raised were enough to build a kitchen and cafeteria in Bonanza in addition to all of the backpacks and school supplies. This also allowed the entire Kemp family to be able to go on the mission trip and see firsthand how God was going to use this tragic experience for His glory.

Just before the trip in January, the missionary in Guatemala called and informed us that the government had approved the little village of Bonanza for 3 teachers to be sent and begin the much needed school there. And…they would begin the second week in January (only one week following our visit)! He did not know of the project that we were working on and mentioned the need for supplies and backpacks. Again, we were able to see how God had already gone before and provided for that need.

Through this orchestrated process, we were able to organize a new structure for the feeding program where the children would actually be rewarded for their attendance in school and receive free daily meals as a result. This was much more in line with our goals to teach the children the importance of education and steer them away from the risk of creating a beggar mentality. Now, the program is thriving, the children are well-fed and well-educated, and the entire community is stepping up to make improvements in the area.

January 2008 – present: We have been able to send in 6 different mission teams to address various needs of the community.

January 1-8: Backpacks and school supplies

April 9-16: Medical, dental, and vision care

June 16-23: Teen Programs (AWANA)

June 23-30: Children’s Programs (VBS)

July 1-7: Evangelism and church strengthening

July 23-30: Discipleship follow-up with Jesus film showings and 450 Bibles distributed.

As you can see, there have been a lot of efforts in addition to the feeding program that have been made to change the community of Bonanza. But it is working! I would like to encourage you to be even more involved than you have been up until this point. We had 16 out of the 54 sponsors actually go and visit their children this year and make that personal connection that can never be made through letters or prayers. It really has been amazing.

So now what? We have been able to learn a lot about the area during this first “trial” year. Most of what we have done is working flawlessly, but there are a few things that we would like to change.

1. Since their calendar school year in Guatemala runs from January – November, we would like to have as many sponsors as possible commit to a “school year” rather than a normal calendar year. If you began your sponsorship last August, we would ask that you continue through December, then decide whether you would like to continue for another “school year” at that time.

2. We did not anticipate as much movement in and out of the community when we first began the program. In addition to keeping up with the children through the school teachers, we will be taking annual trips each January to re-evaluate our enrolled children and update our list of those who have moved as well as those who remain in need of sponsors. If your child does move from Bonanza, we will inform you immediately and allow you to sponsor a different child.

3. Please continue to share the word about what you are doing to change the children of Bonanza and encourage others to get involved. As of July, our sponsor number has slightly dropped to only 50. This has been a true test of faith since it costs every penny of the $30/month to operate the program. God has always provided, but we want others to step up and get involved. If each of you would take on the task of finding just one person to sponsor a child, we would be able to do even more for the people of Bonanza.

I will be sending out a follow-up email to each of you to update you of your balance and what you have paid since the beginning of your sponsorship. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or blessings that you have experienced throughout your sponsorship journey. Thank you for being faithful in your support and prayers. Can’t wait for another great year!

Going All Out,

      Melinda Hill, Project 127, Inc.

More photos will be posted to the Project 127 Flickr page later this week.  Thanks again for your prayers while we were away.

Pray for us as we travel to Antigua tonight. More pictures will be posted tomorrow. 

Daniel

Thank you so much for your prayers while we are away. e know that God has great things in store for the people of Guatemala as well as the entire team here. 

Below are just a few pictures from the day.

I received an email from a friend of mine today.  He said he had an idea of how he could help and wanted to know what I thought.

To see that idea, check out this link.

What a great idea!  You see everybody brings something different to the table.  Some are great at construction.  Others at speaking or singing.  Others  just love people. 

What can you do to help?  I’d love to hear your answers. 

If you want to find out more about what we are doing and have done in the past, go to our website www.project127.org.  And check back often to see where you might fit in to our call to Build Eternity…One Child at a Time.”