ABC's

Many of you are familiar with the ABC program through Health Talents. This is a sponsorship program in our partner churches to help families keep their kids in school. In this country, school attendance is not obligatory and many families can't afford to educate their children, preferring to let them start working once they get to be 10-12 years old.

This program offers basic food supplies like beans, rice, milk, etc. and school supplies and clothing, in addition to their medical and dental check-ups each year. There is also an incentive program built in so that the kids receive points for church attendance, good grades/attendance at school, good behavior at home, and coming for their medical and dental check ups. At the end of the year we have a party for all the kids from the region and give prizes according to points gained. This year there will bikes and bedroom furniture for the top points winners.

Kids from the Mactzul V church.

In the first few years it is hard to see changes that you can put your finger on, but now we are beginning to see some differences. Today we did a medical check up on the kids from Mactzul V, and for the first time everyone gained weight and height, and only a few were sick. In addition, in talking with one of the coordinators from this church, all 65 kids in their program were promoted to the next grade! (Last year several failed, which puts the child on probation for a year. If he failed two years he is out of the program). What a pleasure to see kids outgrowing their parents and surpassing their level of education too. It is tempting to say let's try to get everyone through high school and on to college. But in reality children who finish 6th grade are a success in towns where nobody went past 2nd or 3rd grade the generation before (people our age!). Even more exciting is when a few more go on to junior high in a town where there wasn't even a junior high near by 15 years ago.

Young ladies from the Paxot II church.

If you have kids in this program, we thank you for your faithful support. Keep praying for them and their families. If you would like more information on how you can support a child let us know.