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 1, 2005
Dear Friends and Family,
Last year a church from St. Paul’s, PA decided to start a scholarship fund that would help families with the monthly costs of going to school or with a backpack and school supplies for the school year. They decided to continue that fund this year, and now another church and some individuals have caught on and given too. The school year here starts at the end of January, except this year the public school system was on strike for 3 weeks asking for a raise from their 1800 cordoba (about $110) salary. The government and the public education system finally came to an agreement in that they would pay each teacher an extra $50 in December for this year. What is not exactly clear is whether or not this $50 will continue as a salary increase into 2006. But schools have finally started, and that means that the scholarship program has too. So far this year the scholarship program has given out 188 back-to-school packs (backpacks with notebooks, pencils, sharpener, eraser, scissors, etc.) and is committed to paying school costs for about 120 kids with the hope to help over 200 kids.
For El Salero, the sports center, things are going up! In December we received a donation to start a community center. But this is not going to be any normal community center – we are doing it tropical style by building a Ranchon, a palm-leafed roof with half brick walls. Once the Ranchon is finished we plan to build 2 classrooms and a media center/library. In January I had a wonderful experience with a team from St. Paul’s, PA. They helped put up a wall next to where the volleyball court will be, dug a new water line and helped put together and distribute backpacks for the scholarship program. It was wonderful having such an enthusiastic group of folks here to work hard and to encourage the work that we are doing in developing the Sports Center and for me personally in developing the scholarship program.
And now to look back on December 2004 to a very special day that will forever be a highlight in my life. Thomas and I were happily married on December 18 th. It was a wonderful wedding ceremony with Thomas’ pastor, Uriel Gonzalez, doing the ceremony and my old boss and good friend, Alcides Fuentes, giving the message. The day was absolutely beautiful and we very much enjoyed celebrating with family, close friends and many people from Thomas’ church. We held the reception at the Sports Center and think that there were close to 350 guests. As for married life, after 2 months under our belt, I’m lovin’ it!!
Seeking Him for life,
Amanda Gutierrez
"dale una luz a los que aman tanto vivir en Nicaragua."
~ Guardabarranco (Nicaraguan duo)