Education for our Residents
While I don't believe, as many do, that education is the "great equalizer" and will bring economic improvement to a country (where there are no jobs, it doesn't matter what degree you hold), I do believe that it benefits the development of the individual, and empowers him or her to live out their God given purpose more fully. Besides teaching skills, education teaches one discipline, work ethic, and reasoning abilities. All of these are critical to serving God.
Nowhere do I see this more than in the residents of Casa de Esperanza. Roberto, who never had the opportunity to attend school, is greatly limited not only by his difficulties with reading and writing, but in the general breath of his experiences. I have seen Fidel, Osmi and Moises all grow in responsibility, self-advocacy and determination as they have studied.
With Moy and Osmi graduating 9th grade this year, I had thought maybe we had come to the end of our schooling for the guys at the home. Much to my surprise, last week Fidel asked if he could attend weekend classes at the Institute in Santa Maria de Jesus from which Moy graduated. He wants to continue working on computer skills. I had suspected Osmi wanted to do this, and Moises was encouraged by his housemates to continue his education also.
To figure out how this might work, we invited "Profe Rey," the director of the school, to lunch today. We discussed how this might work, what adaptations would need to be made for our guys' limited mobility and dexterity, and the cost of further training.
While at lunch, Rey asked Roberto if he would like to come to school with the guys. Rey will be hiring a special teacher to work with Roberto to complete Primary School (through 6th Grade) and we are anxious to see how he progresses. One of the major goals of Roberto attending school is to experience the structure and socialization which comes from being in a school environment. All the students at Rey's Institute are adults, so Roberto's age will not factor in, even though he will just be learning to read. This is more than we could have hoped for, and will allow both our companion-caregivers to go to school with the guys each Saturday.
With this blessing, however, comes increased cost. It will run about $250 each month over our current budget to pay their tuition and transportation to Santa Maria.
We are looking for 10 people to donated $25 a month for the next 12 months (less than one dinner in a restaurant) to enable these men to continue to grow and develop.
Could God be inviting you do be one of those supporting this aspect of our ministry? If so,
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