An “Ordinary” day at the Boys Academy 

The truth is, when I step back and watch the boys at the academy I sometimes wish I could be there…in their future. I have the very selfish feelings of wanting to watch them get married, get a job, have children, lead their families. The boys I’m teaching are between the ages of 8 and 12 and I don’t know where God will have me in 15 years or 20 years. I don’t know that I will truly see the fruit of our ministry.

As the boys finish up their homework for the day, they walk out of the small block home that we are renting and I hug each one of them. “I’ll see you on Monday. God bless you.” I speak to each of the 35 boys individually, every single day. “Gudbyyye Yorch!” they yell back at me, using the best English they have in them.

Last week I noticed two boys hanging around as I hugged and talked to each boy. I didn’t think anything of it until I saw them in line again. They had come back for another hug. It’s usually the most simple things that make the biggest difference.

On that day…God gave me a small taste of the fruit of our ministry. It was like pure sugar.

Empowering Single Moms

In the last update I told you about 3 women in El Rosario who are tying fly-fishing jigs for a company in Arkansas. The jigs can be purchased at Cabela’s among other, similar stores. That’s pretty cool! It’s providing enough income for the single moms to feed their families. Amazing Grace.

For the last 2 weeks Vonda has been teaching 2 single moms how to make knitted scarves. Yesterday we picked up the first scarf to be sold! The scarves are beautiful! And there are now two more moms in this little village who can sleep better at night knowing there will be food to cook in the morning.

To make this work, we need your help. If you would like to be a part of our ministry by purchasing a scarf, please let us know. Each scarf will come with the story of who made the scarf as well as a photo of the single mom so you can pray for her and her family. Scarves are $20 each plus $4 shipping. Reply to this email and we will reply with all the details.

Constructing the Vencedor Boys Academy! 

After months of searching for the right piece of land, after raising support to begin construction and after interviewing 4 different builders…dirt began to move at the future site of the academy. If there were ever a time to use the word surreal to describe something, it’s right here.

The security wall will be completed by the end of the month and the grading inside the walls will be done before the rain gets here. As I drive down the narrow dirt road, toward the future academy, I think about teaching there and living there and sometimes it just doesn’t seem real.

The rainy season begins at the end of April and lasts through most of October. That gives us six months to raise support for the next phase of construction, which includes a large classroom, a kitchen, a cafeteria and a computer center. The cost of phase 2 is $72,000. That’s such a big number to us. Honestly, we don’t know how it will happen. But we do know the Academy is God’s plan and so we continue to put our faith in Him.

If you would like to support the work God is doing through Vencedor Ministries CLICK HERE. 100% of your support goes directly to The Vencedor Boys Academy.

Would you pray about supporting Vonda and I personally in Guatemala? If you feel called to be a part of our support team, CLICK HERE. We could not do this without a few people praying and listening to God.

When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so that they would never be out of his sight, never be some place where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust.

May you be covered in His dust,

George and Vonda

PS – If you would like more information about the scarves, reply to this email. 🙂