Dear Family and Friends,
This is the most exciting letter I have ever written. I have been given the chance to move to Guatemala for six months to intern with New Life Children’s Home (NLCH), a branch of New Life Advance International (NLAI). While there, I will go to language school for six weeks and live with a Guatemalan family in Antigua to learn about their language, government, and culture. After language school, I will move to the children’s home in Villa Nueva, a town outside of Guatemala City. During my stay at the home, I will have the opportunity to work in the home and help raise 50 children of all ages. I will spend my day at the NLCH school that serves over 400 children both who live in the home and those who live in the local community.
I have known since my first trip to Honduras three years ago that God has big plans for me to do mission work in Central America. It took a lot of patience and preparation to get to this point and I have never been so excited and sure that this is my calling.
Here are some statistics about Guatemala:
- 72% of Guatemalans are considered to live in poverty.
- 40% of babies born in Guatemala will not live to be 5 years old.
- Half the population in Guatemala is illiterate.
- Guatemala’s land size is that of Tennessee yet their homicide rate is double that of Mexico, averaging about 11,000 murders a year and continues to go up because of drug cartel.
NLCH provides a safe place for children to live amidst the most dangerous slum in Guatemala. These children have come from dangerous and abusive homes or found on the streets neglected. At the home, they are provided an education, medical care, love, and the opportunity to know Jesus Christ. The home was started in 1978 and has since built a school, clinic, and expanded the home on the compound. They are given hope and a future that they would not have otherwise through the love of Christ. Because of this ministry, the children are developing a desire to trust and follow God despite their previous circumstances. In turn, they will become citizens of Guatemala that can change the future of their country.
I have dreamt of building my own children’s home in Central America or becoming a permanent part of one that already exists. This six month internship will allow me to see if this is what I am called to do and to watch God open up more doors of opportunity. Each of you receiving this letter has played an important role in my life. I want you to be a part of this experience with me. I firmly believe that God answers the prayers of those who seek Him. I’m asking for you to commit to praying for me and the ministry in several ways: for the precious children that I will be living with, for the government in Guatemala, and for our safety. The cost to cover everything is roughly $4,600. God has shown me over and over again that he will always provide. Whether it is praying for me, giving financially, or both, please prayerfully consider being a part of this experience.
In Christ,
Colleen Cowart
If you feel that God is leading you to support me, by giving financially, (All financial support is tax deductible!), then please make checks out to NLAI (with my name on the memo line) and mail to the following address:
NLAI
P.O. Box 35857
Houston TX, 77235
During my internship I will be blogging and would love for you to follow along!
http://diospuedesalvar.blogspot.com/
“Lord you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them.”
~Psalm 10: 17-18
