Prayer Letters
Here are our prayer letters that we write every three months. If you are not on our email list and would like to receive these letters, please sign up today. Enjoy reading!
March 9, 2004
Dear Friends and Family,
We had been going from school to school all morning. We had talked with many directors and secretaries as we worked out the details of helping certain children who come from very needy homes with scholarships so that they could study. However, we had run into a little bit of a confusing situation at one particular school where neither of the children was listed. Jose Thomas, my boyfriend, had been helping me all morning since he knew the schools as well as many of the families who were receiving scholarships. As we left that one school a bit perplexed as to why these two boys were not even enrolled, Thomas suggested that we go to their home and find out.
Walking up to the boy’s house, I realized how glad I was to have Thomas with me. We walked into a very cleanly swept dirt patio where two teenage guys were just hanging out. We asked for Miguel or his mother, both of whom were in the house. The mother came out quickly and invited us to come inside and sit down. It was a very simple wooden home with hard-packed dirt floors. There were a couple of pictures hanging on the wall, one wooden table and a couple of plastic chairs. Sitting down I explained the reason why we were there. She then explained to me that her youngest son was studying in a different school and that she did not have the money to send her oldest son to school. Miguel came out from the back room to join us, and I soon learned that for an 18 year-old in his second year of high-school it is often hard to get into many of the schools because of his age. We decided, however, to go right then and there and try the local Christian school where we had been earlier. Miguel quickly went to change his clothes to go with us to the school, and in less than 15 minutes he was signed up for classes and was to begin the next day.
I can honestly say that if it had not been for that scholarship fund started by some wonderful folks in State College, PA, then Miguel would not be studying this year. Instead he would most likely be working odd jobs when he could get them and for the most part hanging out on the streets with his buddies who are in similar situations. Many thanks to each and every one who made this scholarship fund possible!
After being in Nicaragua for almost two years now, I have to admit that I am still learning. It’s amazing to look back and realize all that God has taught me, but equally amazing to realize that there is still so much more to learn. It is hard to get a real sense of reality of the tough choices many people have to make in this society. It is hard for me to imagine a mom choosing which of her children she will send to school that year. It is equally hard to think of a parent being forced to keep their teenager at home because they cannot afford to have them in school whether it be for lack of resources or because someone needs to be at home at all times. We hope that this scholarship program will be something that we can continue in the years to come. So far we have been able to give scholarships to 120 kids with the hope of giving out 60-80 more.
I have a new companion! For those of you who have been concerned for my safety
when I go out running, you will be happy to hear that I now have a 3-month
old Rottweiler named Benz who is super protective.
As for the SportsCenter – things are kind of slow right now. We are still trying to raise funds for the project and are waiting for the rainy season to put in the soccer field because of the lack of water in this area.
Seeking Him for life,
Amanda Van Deman
"dale una luz a los que aman tanto vivir en Nicaragua."
~ Guardabarranco (Nicaraguan duo)