Guatemala Construction Team

Good evening from Source of Hope School in Zapote.

We were up bright and early this morning, packing gear and materials for four days of work at Source Of Hope School (a remote town destination 1.5 hours from The Oasis). Initial plans are to build a variety of cabinets and shelving for school rooms, install cabinetry and sink in the missionary space and to build screens for the windows to keep the smaller critters outside! Possibly more important than the rest of the manual labor, we’re also photographing all of the school children to assist KAG/Galilea Church with fundraising needs for Source of Hope.

Yesterday I was touched by a discussion with one of the local missionaries. The conversation revolved around the term “Poverty” and the various meanings of that term. In the US, we tend to think of poverty in financial terms. Certainly, an inability to purchase the things desired or necessary for physical sustenance is an example of poverty…but poverty can be so much more than that. Poverty of opportunity, poverty of education, poverty of social connection, poverty of security… these “poverties” are often more sinister and more difficult to overcome than financial poverty alone. The town of Zapote and the kids at Source of Hope School represent the extremes of virtually all the above forms of poverty. Yet, in the midst of this poverty, God’s grace and his provision are truly on display. The Source of Hope School provides education these children would not otherwise have. Through the school the kids are provided quality learning along with two meals a day, vitamins, dental hygiene and medical care. Even more importantly, these kids are taught about the love of a Holy God. They are taught about salvation. They are taught the gospel story. They are taught that they matter and that they are loved….the hands and feet of Christ are on the move serving these kids and these kids are on the move teaching and modeling for their families throughout the surrounding town. After driving through the town of Zapote and then arriving at the Source of Hope School, you can see a difference in the kids that attend the school. They are healthier. They have bright smiles and positive attitudes. They have a gleam in their eyes that is not found around them.

Poverty comes in many forms….but poverty of faith in Christ is truly the greatest poverty. Here in Zapote, they’re on the visible front lines in this poverty battle. Please join us in praying not only for our efforts here in Zapote to be effective in serving KAG and Source of Hope, but more importantly for all of the missionaries, teachers, social workers and medical teams representing the hands and feet of Christ in this community.

Pray for the kids at Source of Hope that they would be able to overcome their poverties in all forms. Most of all, pray that God would be glorified here!

Chris Shedd

Early morning getting ready to leave for Zapote