Skip to main content

What an opportunity!

In my last post, I told you that I had something exciting to talk about. Well, I do. We are a little more than 5 years into the work here in La Palma. I'd like to say I was part of it from the start, but I was not. The children in the Sponsoship and Scholarship programs have started graduating from high school. I believe there was one last year and there will be two this next year.

This is truly exciting in an environment where as soon as you are old enough to do some kind of money earning work, you are encouraged by your family to help with the family income. We have children in the program that display a dip in their grades, and we find they are putting off study for work as early as third grade. This is a problem, for sure, but these programs are truly having an amazing impact on the lives of many children. These programs would not be possible if not for the generosity of many of you!

Now we are discovering a new and exciting opportunity to help these children. Of the two graduating in 2011, both are currently wanting to pursue higher education. I can hear some of you saying now, "Oh, yeah, here it comes, he's gonna be asking for money." Well, maybe so.

First, if you are already sponsoring a child or providing a scholarship, thank you! But I have to ask you a question I want you to pray and think long and hard about: When do you intend to discontinue the funding you are sending? I ask because I want you to think about the lasting impact of continuing your support through the child's university education, if they so choose. No, the support they currently receive will not be sufficient to put them through university, BUT it can help them on their way.

I have had three thoughts about this.
  1. If you sponsor a child that graduates and chooses to go on to university, would you consider increasing your monthly support for the duration of their university career? Not necessarily the entire amount to cover the total cost, but would you consider it?
  2. If you are a child's sponsor who elects NOT to continue to university, would you consider shifting your support to a child who is taking the initiative to go to university?
  3. If you are not sponsoring a child at this time, would you consider taking part in the scholarship program to help a child who has decided to attend university?

This seems like an incredibly tall request, but it really isn't. What I am about to say may sound like it is written for TV and should be spoken by Sally Struthers, but here goes anyway: Did you know for as little as $45.00 per month you can pay a child's tuition at a university here in El Salvador? With an increase in support and / or a second sponsor we may be able to cover the additional cost of books and some supplies! Can you imagine that? The hometown university from which I graduated has an advertised tuition of $2424.00. To attend one of the major Christian universities many of us have attended or hope for our children to attend is exponentially higher. Local universities here run from $45-60 per month tuition for citizens.

We currently do NOT have any excess sponsors. That is to say, everyone who has asked to be a sponsor, is currently sponsoring a child. We NEED more.

Please consider becoming a child's sponsor! The children of La Palma and San Ignacio will be much better off for it. They will receive a private school education, including daily Bible classes and other Bible studies, English classes, and computer classes along with the other normal curriculum.

If you would like more information on becoming a child's sponsor or already know you would like to be involved, please email me (mklalli1@aol.com) or Ralph McClurg (rmcclurg@mo-net.com) for details.

Tomorrow promises to be another good day.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In Loving Memory of Dick Steele (11 Sept 1915 - 2 Oct 2010) - Psalm 116:15

I was planning to use the following devotional thought for my next blog post. I will go ahead and use it, though now it holds two meanings. My dad used it as his bulletin article this week. I was touched because of the man who told this story. He was a retired music teacher and rancher of many years. He and his wife were instrumental in my great love for music and especially singing. He was an amazing man who was still running his own cattle into his eighties - albeit on a four-wheeler instead of a horse. Dick was 95 years old. In Loving Memory Of Richard (Dick) T. Steele September 11, 1915 - October 2, 2010 "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."    Following the Goat Thoughts by Dick Steele When I was 8 years old I lived in Coffeyville, KS. My grandfather lived in Collinsville, OK and was in the cattle business. There were no local markets for selling livestock in those days. This was before there were trucks to haul livestock....

First Sunday in La Palma

Today was a good day. We got to worship with the La Palma family. After for lunch we went and ate super gringa's at Eric's. Then we had some time to repack our suitcases and rest a while before Romeo (pronounced Ro-may-o) came with his big truck to pick up our luggage to take to what will be our residence while we are here. We loaded them up and then piled the five of us into the cab of the truck (3 seater). Nathan on Lori's lap and Erin on mine made for a long short trip - poor Erin kept slipping off my lap with all the downhill driving. We dropped off the luggage, no problem. Then I left with Romeo and Nathan to go pick up the 2 wardrobes and 2 bunk beds built for the children's home, for us to use while we reside there. ¡No estaba listo para ése! Romeo and Mauricio (who built the furniture) speak no English, and though I can understand more and more, it was not enough and I felt very much like a fish out of water. Mauricio's neighbors had a good laugh at my expen...

A Good Beginning

Last night was wonderful. Hermano Jorge Rodriguez, preacher for the Church of Christ in Ocotepeque, Honduras, came to pick us up in his van to take us to attend worship with the family in Ocotepeque. He picked up the Lalli family and Teresa. We went to his house first, to pick up his family, then we all went to the new building to finish getting ready for the first service in the nearly completed building. We arrived there at 5 something while services start at 7:00. We made final preparations while listening to the Spanish equivalent to the vocal group Acapella - as did the neighborhood. Nathan had an "interesting" (translated: near death) experience, that nearly gave his mother a heart attack. He and I were admiring the newly welded bars in one of the windows. I reached out to see if they had anchored it yet, as last we were here they had not. It still was not. Realize, I am a "big 'ol boy" and have further developed muscularly since I have spent time...