Do you know the story of how Chispas of Change began?
In November 2017, a 16-year-old street vendor named Manuel told Estuardo that he wanted to give up drugs and get back in school. With just an elementary education, Manuel’s only option was to attend night classes. The problem was, he worked at night and was only available during the day. Manuel really wanted to continue his education, as did some of his street vendor friends. And so, in January 2018, we enrolled five teenage boys into our homeschool program. Chispas of Change was born.
Our first class of five students in 2018
Our current class of 16 students in January 2021
Fast forward to November 2021. We will complete our fourth year of homeschooling in mid-December. Of the 16 students we enrolled in January, 13 are completing the school year. We have both boys and girls, ages 7 to 17. All of our students can read and write proficiently. Our two oldest female students will graduate from high school next year, a huge accomplishment for Guatemalan women. Three teenage boys just completed their second semester of electricity courses. All of our students receive two nutritious meals a day. These children and teens spend 35 hours a week in a safe, family-style environment here at our home.
However, as you probably know, Chispas of Change doesn’t exist only to provide academic education and wholesome nutrition to at-risk kids and teens. Chispas of Change exists because we believe that education is an excellent catalyst for Christian discipleship to take place.
Manuel studied with us for one year, and then returned to his pueblo to be closer to family. One year later he married Raquel. Raquel works as a Bible translator for the Guatemalan Bible Society, and Manuel now works for a Christian ministry that teaches single moms how to provide for their families through agriculture.
Manuel, January 2018
Manuel & Raquel, November 2021
This week, Manuel and Raquel came to visit us and we were amazed at their growth and commitment to sharing the Gospel in their pueblo. The seeds that were planted in Manuel’s heart during his year at Chispas have taken root and he is producing fruit. Praise the LORD!
Visiting with raquel & manuel in our home
Pray with us that the seeds of truth that have been planted in the hearts of our students would take root, and that they would produce fruit through sharing the Gospel with their friends and family, teaching the Bible to their younger siblings, and living a life overflowing with Jesus’ love and peace.
“Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop — some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Blessings to you this Thanksgiving week. Thank you for being part of the Chispas of Change family!
