Reading Writing and 'Rithmatic"

Yesterday we went out to Mactzul III for the second time since starting the ministry out there. We had a pretty modest turnout, but several new patients from outside the church, so not a complete bust. Sheri says she saw one lady listening in on a conversation between one of the promoters and a patient while discussing some spiritual issues and she later pulled him aside with some questions and requests for prayer. So, that was encouraging.

After clinic, Kemmel and I were invited out to Mactzul V to talk to the parents in the ABC program to introduce a tutoring program that will be started using the skills of a young woman who graduated from high school last year. This sounds great, but there is one of her (volunteering 2 hours a week) for 75 students. We sat around throwing around ideas for a while and listening to people's concerns. One of the comments that kept coming up, was the frustration that parents feel when their kids surpass their own education level, and they cannot help them with their homework. Another concern is the large student-to-teacher ratio and perceived lack of interest of the teachers in whether or not the children are learning. They lamented that many children "pass" 6th grade with very poor reading and math skills.

Arnoldo, Mynor and Diego Yacon-- 3 brothers in the ABC program

So, we are excited about being able to get our graduating scholarship students involved, but there are so few of them and so much need. We ask for your prayers for these kids, especially those of you who are child sponsors. Lets pray that God guides them and blesses them in their learning process.