I have been able to spend some time working with a wonderful organization called Arms of Jesus, (Brazos de Jesus in spanish). They run a school in Parramos, a small town near Antigua, for children who can’t afford to pay the registration fees of the public schools.
This is a chicken bus. It is our transportation to Parramos. aka the Guatemalan death bus….
The school is run by the provision of sponsorships for each child by people in the USA or in Canada. The $30 a month pays for school costs through high school and food bags for the families of the sponsored children once a month.
There are over 120 unsponsored children, who will be starting school next year. Visit www.armsofjesus.org to learn more about child sponsorship and this great organization.
They have recently begun to collect books in spanish for a library. The kids LOVE to read. They come in during recess and choose books to read, and read them out loud. They can’t get enough of the books! This is the only library in Parramos.
This is the first grade classroom where we have been teaching English.
Kara and Steph teaching first graders. I believe they are working on the days of the week here…
The Kindergarden classroom.
“Como se di se en Ingles?” “Car!”
At recess…
Arms of Jesus also builds houses for the people of Parramos who can’t afford it. These are all the parts of a house.
The family is responsible for building their foundation to their home before Arms of Jesus will build the house. This is a family who received the panels for their house, standing on their foundation. They were so excited to get the pieces for their home.
Steph and I were able to paint this house that had been built and blessed by a previous team that came to work with Arms of Jesus. The homes these Guatemalans lived in before this were smoky, cornstalk homes with tin roofs. The rain leaks in and turns their dirt floor into a giant mud puddle. The concrete floor and solid walls are satisfying, welcome changes for the people of Parramos.
(This is Steve, Assistant Director of Arms of Jesus)
We will continue to work with Arms of Jesus during our last week here in Antigua. Read more at the www.armsofjesus.org, or at www.thetharakans.blogspot.com (the blog of the Assistant Director and Education Director).
