by elfaro | Jul 3, 2013 | Bitácora, Blog, Sin Categoría
Jessica Roberts is a volunteer who arrived to El Faro on June 19th. A native of Oklahoma, she studies at Missouri State University where in December she will graduate in Exercise and Movement Science. She is a joy and blessing to be around and even in her short time here at El Faro she has done so much. We thank God for her life and what plans He has for the rest of her time at El Faro.
Today marks my first two weeks here at El Faro and what an incredible two weeks it has been. I arrived in Guatemala not really knowing what to expect but as soon as I met the El Faro staff I felt completely at home. I wasn’t sure how much I could contribute since I know very little spanish but by God’s grace he has given me opportunities to use my talents for His glory.
Right now with the help of a translator I am coaching four soccer teams, teaching PE classes, and leading a fitness class for the women of El Faro. I absolutely love the kids here and working with them has been a joy. Everyday no matter how exhausting it may be I feel so blessed to be here and little by little my spanish is getting better haha Day by day I see God at work in this place and day by day he proves His faithfulness. I can not wait to see what more God will do these next four weeks I am here. It’s going to be awesome! 🙂
by elfaro | Jun 12, 2013 | Bitácora, Blog
Anita Vasquez is an amazing young girl. She came to El Faro at only nine months old when her parents, David and Zita, became directors in 2005. At eight years-old she is a person all of us at El Faro learn from. It isn’t easy for a young girl to live so far from Guatemala City, but Anita has adjusted herself and she will definitely make her mark in the World through what she is learning at El Faro.
Q. What do you do at El Faro on a weekly basis?
A. Every morning I go to homeschool with teacher Karlita. I am in second grade and right now I am learning about multiplication and all the volcanoes that are in Guatemala. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to soccer practice with my friends with our coach Gavin. I also attend Bible Club every Sunday in the village of Santa Maria. In the afternoons I stay home and play with my two little brothers and my dog Jack.
Q. Do you like living at El Faro?
A. Yes. I like to swim in the Ocean and also be with my best friend Delmi who lives right up the road.
Q. What does El Faro do?
A. El Faro helps people that don’t feel good by bringing medicine and also by putting stitches to people who get hurt. El Faro also goes to schools to paint with teams that come from the USA. El Faro helps many people in villages that are very far.
Q. What do you want to be when you grow up?
A. I want to be a Veterinarian. I like being at El Faro because there are lots of animals for me to learn from.
by elfaro | Jun 2, 2013 | Bitácora, Blog
Today El Faro is having the combined Bible Club in the afternoon. ‘El Club Conjunto’’, as it is called in Spanish, is when all three clubs from the area come together to have a special day with special guests. It is a time to do something different from what is done each week in Club all the while still focusing on the Bible. Past ‘Club Conjunto’s’ have included a fair, a puppet and song show, magicians, and dance companies.
The Chldren’s Club has come along way and it makes us reflect on where it all started. David and Zita Vasquez had recently arrived to El Faro to serve as directors in 2006 when they had a desire to do a vacation bible school. It was a huge success and after the school ended they knew they needed to do something to help the kids grow spiritually.
We chatted with Zita Vasquez to know more about the Club.
Q. What is the mission of the club?
A. The mission of the club is that the children know more about the Word of God. That they know that God loves them and responds to their prayers.
Q. How has the club changed since it began in 2007?
A. One of the big changes is that it now has an official name-Exploradores. ‘Exploradores’ means Exploreres and each week the children are guided to explore the Bible and apply it to their lives through the different Bible characters and lessons. The club has also worked with different materials and we have created a year-long lesson plan that has to do with values. We have been able to share our material with other ministries and we are in the process of creating a new one.
Q. What are your dreams and plans for the Club?
A. Our dream for the club is to see the children become adults who transform their communities through lives filled with the presence of God and that this raises up a healthy community, one with many opportunites to grow. We also hope that families will be transfored through the power of the Word. The Club is growing and we pray that it can go to many more villages and that the children can know the Word of God in a nice and fun way.
Q. What have you learned through being a leader of the Club?
A. I have learned that many times you don’t see a fast change in the children, but the person who see the changes and growth is the Lord . He knows each one of them and knows when each one will shine. Sometimes it is hard for people to understand this, but with patience and prayer the children grow have come so far and we believe that they will be the transformers of their communities.
Club Exploradores meets every Sunday from 3-5 pm and we would love for you to pray for this growing ministry.
by elfaro | Apr 5, 2013 | Bitácora, Blog
To understand why my husband and I came to El Faro you’d first have to have a brief knowledge of our background. My husband, Osmar was born and raised in the Peruvian Amazon in the city of Iquitos. Like most Iquitanians, my husband was raised very poor and to this day he is still the only person in his family who has made it out of destitution. Even though my husband by the local standards is living a wealthy lifestyle, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from. Three years ago the desire in his heart to help others blossomed into a small gathering of kids in his mother’s humble bamboo and grass roofed home in the stricken community. It’s very simple, he went to love on them and they came. He started sharing the bible, teaching them to pray, played games and gave food and drink. Today our ministry, The Sunshine Kids Club, now has 160 members all children from 6 months of age to 16 years old.
What are 2 people to do with 160 kids?… that’s where El Faro comes in. Osmar and I heard about El Faro some time ago and that they were searching for people to come and work with the children of Punta de Palma and surrounding communities. At the time we didn’t feel God had told us to leave our ministry and our kids in Peru, but now our 13 yr olds are now 16 yr olds and so our ministry and the programs it offers also need to adapt to capture our older kids attention. So this year God made it possible for us to come on a “training expedition” if you will, to broaden our minds and our vision for our children home in Peru, and indeed we have truly been encouraged beyond measure. Upon arrival before stepping foot off the boat, El Faro is beautiful to behold. Not only externally is it a paradise on earth with its brightly colored tucans and palm trees but the family connection with the staff and teams is by far its greatest attribute. You will not go unappreciated, feel useless despite your talents or lack thereof, you simply feel at home among family and dear friends.
From my very first church service here I received an answer to one of my greatest cries. You see, we have been praying over this piece of real estate since ’09 for our kids ministry. This building is huge and as it has been sitting abandoned for some 20 years needs lots of repairs, but none the less it would be perfect. But to be honest a project of this magnitude is intimidating to undertake. And for the last 4 years I haven’t truly believed that God would give, or do something that big through me. And the more time went on the more I believed it was too late for our dreams, for this vision of ministry… BUT here God gave me a word. “IT’S NOT TOO LATE! AND IT’S NOT TOO BIG FOR ME!” Since this word we have new desires, plans, and visions seeping out from within. We can mirror the tutoring program, soccer academy and kids camp here at El Faro. We want to have a dance and drama club. We want to have a princess ball so girls know how their Daddy in heaven treasures them and self-defense classes for the men that don’t. We want to do all this and more. What a renewing of hope. And this word will stay with me until He has completed His good work through me! He will provide ALL we need, all we have to do is believe and obey. For me El Faro has inspired me to allow myself to be inspired more greatly by God.
Thank you David Vasquez and El Faro staff for housing and feeding us, for investing your time and prayers in us and for sharing the many many laughs. And thank you All For Him and Hearts In Motion for your love and our transportation.
Blessings
Nicole & Osmar
To see more of their amazing ministry in Peru, Sunshine Kids Club, go to their facebook HERE
by elfaro | Oct 8, 2012 | Bitácora, Blog
My name is Mayra Durán and I have been helping at El Faro with the children’s ministry for the last three years. I just finished my degree in psychology at the University and this year I started helping at the local village school as a counselor.
It came to my attention that there was important information that the kids and youth needed that they were not receiving from home or school. I knew that I needed to use my skills to give informative talks to these kids in elementary and middle school level. These talks included equality between boys and girls, techniques for studying, getting to know their body changes, motor skills, health, and others. In each talk I made time for the students to give questions about anything topic we were discussing . It was interesting to hear the doubts and questions that many of the youth had.
After doing these activities in the school I’ve realized that there is a lack of information from home, lack of resources for their study, lack of values at school such as responsibility, and above all, lack of love and interest from their parents. Lots of young people look for answers and love in wrong people or places. That’s why it is so important that the parents become the teachers and friends of their children so they can take the time to listen to their problems, doubts, feelings, etc.
I believe that what I am doing is something God tell us all to do in our daily lives: inspire and show the love of Jesus by using our skills and gifts.
by elfaro | Sep 3, 2012 | Bitácora, Blog
The Amazing Feet Program is a beautiful dream of a woman who has been a collaborator of El Faro for years. Mrs. Janice Ephraim began coming to El Faro in 2005 and has come back every year since sharing her time, talent, and love. We are so proud of the work she is doing with her Amazing Feet Project and we would like to share with you what it is all about.
The biggest inspiration for the Amazing Feet Program begins in 2004 when my son Scott was in a car accident with my nieces in Guatemala. El Faro was in the process of being built and Scott was there helping in the construction. I was shocked by the way the Guatemalan people, perfect strangers, jumped into action to take care of Scott and my nieces by getting them out of the car and making sure they were taken care of. Even more so, the hospital care that they received was first class. It was all truly amazing! Pardon the pun! I knew I had to do something to give back to these beautiful people who watched over my son and nieces.
The next year I came on a mission trip with Maranatha Chapel. I was hooked right away! I fell in love with everything about Guatemala: the food, the people, the culture, EVERYTHING!
The first donation of shoes was probably my own shoes on that very missions trip. A women came through triage during our medical clinic with no shoes. Her tiny feet were so small in my big size 8 shoes. She said “they felt like boats!” We shoved tissue in the toes and said she will get used to wearing them. Little did I know at the time, my niece’s future husband, Peter, captured that moment on film.
I still felt like I needed to do more. I brought home a big box of dirty shoes and cleaned them up. After all the washing and care, they looked brand new! My husband, Steve, made the statement, “that was an Amazing Feat!” Thus the name!
Amazing Feet is now collecting walkers, crutches, surgical shoes, and socks. The donations and bargains that have been coming in are a true blessing!
Recently The Cedar Vallet Soccer Association donated a storage room for Amazing Feet… Rent free! They have taken interest and want to donated soccer shoes and uniforms. The room is in my old church, 1st Baptist in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I always loved that church, nearly 100 years old, so it’s great to have it back in my life again!
I tell people, it took me nearly 50 years to find a passion, and now that I have found it, I’m going to chase it like it’s the last train out of the station!
Muchas Gracias to Phil, Nikki, and the Mision El Faro staff for all they do for the Guatemalan people…. You are an inspiration!
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