Critical Needs

As part of Amistad Foundation's ongoing outreach and ministry to the people of Guatemala we have identified ten critical, immediate needs. Serving the people by meeting these needs enables us to share the "Good News" of the love of Jesus and bring hope and light into area where darkness and desperation have ruled for too long. Come join the "light brigade" by sharing the blessings God has poured out on us to meet these needs:

Feed the families in Santa Cruz: Recent crop failures followed by economic downturns have resulted in loss of income for most of the people in this village where the average wage is less than $4.00 a day in the best of times.  In the normal cycle the people anticipate and plan for income variations.  However, because of the current, ongoing economic situation, many families are near starvation and the near future looks bleak. For $100.00 per month 150 pounds of corn, 60 pounds of beans, 1 gallon of cooking oil and 25 pounds of sugar can be provided to a family.  Additionally, each family receives an allotment of chicken once a week.  No funds are given to families, only food. Hugo and Susanna Rosales, the missionary couple living in the village, identify families with the greatest need and oversee all distribution.

Funds to complete School #2 in La Limonada: La Limonade is a ghetto in the center of Guatemala City. Almost 3 years ago we cam alongside Tita Evertsz, a Guatemalan woman who began working there 14 years ago. Living conditions in the ghetto are impossible to convey in words; a ravine above the river of sewage about a mile long and a quarter mile wide where 60,000 people live stacked on top of one another in squalor, threatened by the violence endangered by the hopelessness of generational poverty.

Tita opened  a school where the children are shown the love of God and given hope that their lives can be changed. School #1 serves 230 children.  In 2008 God led us to another area within the ghetto and provided an opportunity to begin a second school. A building has been purchased and renovations are underway. About 60 children are already being loved and encouraged even as construction goes on all around them.  The building will accommodate about 300 when complete. We have exhausted available funds and need your help to finish the work God has placed before us.

Medical care in Santa Cruz, Baja Vera Paz: Children are dying from the lack of simple medical care! A doctor has been identified who will come to the area 4 days each month for the cost of $250.00 per month. Simple preventive measures that we take for granted not only save lives but changes lives forever, allowing children to learn and develop to their highest capacity without the handicap of early, ongoing health problems.

Medicines & nutrition: Preventative medicine at a cost of $.50 per pill administered once a month can help stop the cycle of serious illness. Additionally, a nutritional supplement (Incaparina) can be provided once a day for $2.00 per month. Students suffering from a critical level of poor nutrition cannot perform to their capacity. These two seemingly small changes can make a difference forever!

Emergency needs in La Limonada: The schools in La Limonada provide far more than instruction for children. they serve the needs of the entire family. As the ministry expands the need grows. God brings opportunities in the form of families in crisis. The ability to meet emergency needs for food, school supplies, personal hygiene items. medicines, etc. allow the teachers at the schools to demonstrate the love of God and expand His kingdom.

Financial Support for Hugo & Susanna Rosales: This couple moved to the village of Santa Cruz, Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala, to serve the people of the area. They choose to live in a very isolated area under primitive conditions as beacons of light in a dark area. We become acquainted with them in 2007 and have grown to love and appreciate them and have witnessed first hand their love for the people and the love and respect they have earned from the people.

Public school in the village only went through elementary level. They opened a Christian middle school and also present Bible lessons in several locations on weekends.  They have ongoing need for additional financial support. $500.00 per month would allow them to continue the good work they have begun and expand their efforts into surrounding villages.

The Lord's Kitchen: This ministry is located in the center of Guatemala City and provides a hot meal for "street people" five nights a week. Approximately 550 meals are served each day Monday through Friday evening.  Those who come are fed not only bread for the body but the Bread of Life through preaching, music and prayer. We have visited and taken teams from our area many times to serve and pray with the people who come for what is often their only meal of the day. It costs approximately $300 per night to feed these forgotten people.

Celebrate Recovery Ministry: We were blessed to introduce this ministry in Guatemala City in March, 2009. Celebrate Recovery leaders from this area have trained leaders there to carry on this ministry to those with "hurts, habits and hang-ups." The program has been joyously received and is already helping many hurting people in Guatemala. This program is opening the way for the establishment of new churches and encouraging existing churches. Funding to provide ongoing training and materials is needed to expand this outreach.

Small business development: With the goal of providing a hand up, not just a hand out, we are considering several small business opportunities that could transform the lives of those involved as well as their communities. Assistance is needed to help develop those small business and in the preparation of business plans. Funding will be needed to help develop those small business and in the preparation of business plans. Funding will be needed in the form of initial investments or micro-lending programs.

Soccer programs: Sports provides a wonderful outreach to young people and soccer is the sport of Guatemala. We are partnering with Global Soccer Ministries (GSM) in Guatemala to help reach out to areas of need. Children are offered an opportunity to learn and compete in soccer while being taught Bible stories and principals. Children play, families come to watch, the community is served and the kingdom of god increases. You can help with donations of soccer equipment (new and used) and funds to expand this effort.

God placed the people of Guatemala on our hearts and has continues to bless our efforts there. We have had the privilege of personally introducing over 100 people to the work there and seen God touch the hearts of many others who have not been there to be a part of expanding his kingdom. Jesus is at the center of everything we do. Help us be His hands and feet, His face and His arms to reach out to the "least of these."