DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

Two weeks ago, my wife and I travelled to Guatemala not only to the Mission Campus, but to share in some special outreaches and celebrations. As we were preparing to leave, we heard on the News about a Home in Guatemala where at least 18 children had died in a fire. Needless to say, we were greatly disturbed and prayed for the families. Little did we realize how this was going to impact us, indeed break our hearts!

Arriving in Guatemala we heard various stories and red reports that included the following statements:

“These are the dumping grounds of society, for people who are not wanted by society, whether they are disabled or gay or happen to get there through the criminal justice system.”

“Guatemalan human rights officials said Thursday that they believe that the 35 girls who were killed when a fire swept through a dormitory at a children’s home had been unable to escape because they were locked inside. Legislators also heard that only three of the 64 security cameras were working in the home, which housed some 750 children in space meant for 500.”

Driving to our Campus, our Director said “Pastor one of the 40 girls (the number continues to rise) who died attended our school.” We were stunned as we heard this and our hearts began to break and tears quietly began to flow. Her name was Milenie and was in fact one of our sponsored children.

From the age of 6, Milenie displayed behavioral difficulties, but her Mother tried everything to help. The Mission did it’s best and of course, we are grateful to her sponsors who stood by her for years. However, in January she ran away from home and was picked up by the Police who placed her in the Government Home in the City and tragically lost her life in the fire. Yes our hearts were broken! And we prayed for her family, and the family of all who lost their lives.

As the week continued, I shared this story with our entire student body, encouraging them not to be led astray, to realize their potential and the plan God has for them. It re-energized our commitment to do all we can to help the children and young people of Guatemala.

Not only that, recognizing the need for kids in trouble or faced with abuse and problems at home, some who are even wards of the court, we have opened a special fund to provide help for them. An example is children in a Home not far from our Campus run by a wonderful Pastor and his team, they have children in their care who are wards of the court and who struggle in the public school. From this special fund, they will be able to attend the AOJ School and will be blessed in so many ways by our ministry (it is difficult to find sponsors for them because the Court can remove them at anytime).

We are so blessed! Please pray for the children who are ‘placed into the dumping grounds of society’, pray for us as we seek to be ‘the arms of Jesus to them.’