Project VALOR

We are very excited to share with you the new project God has given us the opportunity to start! This January, we started Project VALOR, a sponsorship program that gives the children living in the community surrounding the city garbage dump an opportunity to go to middle school. There is not a middle school in walking distance, so in order to go to middle school, families have to pay for bus fees and additional school expenses. Most families in the area we work cannot afford these expenses. As a result, the students stop going to school after they graduate elementary school and get very low paying jobs.

We saw the need, and prayed for God to show us how to help fill it. We began to explore the idea of sponsors for the children. We knew, however, that we didn't just want to cover the educational expenses of the student, but that we wanted to walk with the students, helping them along the way. We wanted them to receive education in school and provide academic support, but we also wanted them to experience the love of Christ and learn about Him. And this is when Project VALOR was born: a sponsorship program to cover the expenses of middle school and a tutoring program twice a week where the students would receive academic help, receive lunch, and learn about Jesus.

The only thing left was to find a way to pay for the program. And this is where God's faithfulness and love for His children shines through and blows us away!! God used a complete stranger that our director Kathy met on a chance encounter on an airplane to do something amazing. The man shared the idea with his business partner and small group, and together, they were able to cover all the expenses for the project this year!! God is so good and faithful!! He loves His children so much!!

PROJECT VALOR: 

Valor is the Spanish word for value.
We want these middle schoolers to see their value in Christ. We want them to see themselves as Christ sees them: beloved, strong, worthy.

The V in VALOR is for Victory in Christ.
We hope and pray these students receive and proclaim victory in their lives through Christ.

The A stands for Academics. 
Education is a crucial part of stopping the cycle of poverty. Through their sponsors, these children are able to continue their academic education. The tutoring program also gives them the academic support they need to do well.

The L is for Love.
We want more than anything for these children and teens to feel loved-- loved by God and loved by us. We want them to understand and experience the selfless and unconditional love that God has for them.

The O stands for Opportunity.
We want the students to have opportunities that they wouldn't have had otherwise. The opportunity to go to school, the opportunity to get academic support, the opportunity to learn about Jesus, and the opportunity to bring Christ's love to others.

The R is for Readiness. 
We hope and pray that this program will equip these students with what they need to be ready for their future. We pray they are prepared academically, but more importantly, we pray they understand and live out Ephesians 6:10-17:

""Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Please keep Project VALOR in your prayers. This year, five students are participating in the program. Next year, we are expecting to have a larger group as their are many students graduating from the elementary school at the end of the year. If you are interested in how you can help sponsor future children, please contact us!
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