I remember the first day of the boys academy. I had sixty 1^st through 4^th graders for an entire semester. It was like herding cats. Seriously. Think about that for a minute. Imagine trying to get 60 cats to sit quietly.

 

The next year we rented a small block home so we could get the boys into a less distracting environment. I had to cut sixty boys down to 15-20. I couldn’t do it. There were too many boys who loved to study the bible and loved learning English. I decided to invite just the 3^rd and 4^th graders, about 30 boys. The 1^st and 2^nd graders would have to wait their turn.

 

 

Last year more boys wanted to study with us so I taught forty 3^rd and 4^th graders plus I worked with five 5^th graders once a week. You could see the tide begin to change. The boys were improving in every area. More boys wanted to come to the academy and we were bursting at the seams.

This year we have seventy-five 3^rd through 6^th graders! I now have seven discipleship boys who are learning what it means to live out the great commission in their own village. Lives are being changed!

 

 

Three years ago we purchased a piece of land just down the winding dirt road from the small house we rent. I’m not gonna lie, it’s beautiful. We hired a contractor to help us design the future academy and to begin the first phase of construction. By the end of the year all the engineering was complete, the dirt work was done and a security wall stood watch over the future academy.

 

 

Six months ago we began the second phase of construction, which includes two classrooms, a dining/multi-purpose room, a kitchen and indoor bathroom. An indoor bathroom might sound like a small detail; let me assure you, it’s not.

 

 

As I write this update, we are days away from finishing the second phase. We’re waiting for the municipality to install an electric post to give us light and there are a few details left on a short punch-list.

 

The challenge before us is this; we still need to raise $18,000  Now $9,000!

We understand it’s a big mountain to cross. We’ve prayed about it and we’ve decided not to move into the new academy until we’re debt free.

We’re excited about the years ahead. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. But we have a long way to go.

Thank you for believing in this ministry. Thank you for believing in our call to Guatemala to raise boys to be men of G-d. Thank you for praying for us and with us. There’s a good chance we (you and I) may not see the fruit of our labor. We may not see Carlos  graduate from university and get married. We may not be at his kids baptism. We may not see him lead his family to follow Christ. I hope so but that’s not what G-d promised.

We’ve been promised the opportunity to plant seeds. We’ve been promised the opportunity to cultivate the land and to prepare the harvest. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see the fruit.

But let me assure you. There Will Be Fruit. And you’re a part of that. We can’t do this without you.

We’re looking for 18  9  more people who will give $1,000 (or commit to raising $1,000) by the end of March. Will you pray about that?

We’ll open the doors of the academy under the new name of The El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys. In His perfect timing. We’re excited about the opportunities in front of us. But we’re patient. We have plenty of work to do.

If you are one of the 18 please go HERE to donate and then send us a message to letting us know that you’ve partnered with us!

As King David was preparing for his son Solomon to build the temple he said this: “But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!  We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.”

May you be covered in His dust,

George and Vonda

PS – More photos of little Cora!