SUMPANGO GUATEMALA TRIP REPORT Day #2

This morning Oscar and I visited the small village of El Yalu. It's a very poor village of approximately 2000 people. About 500 of those are children who are severely malnourished. Some years ago Los Olivos decided to start a church in the village. They bought two small parcels of land that the church was hoping to build a small church building. God had other things in mind. About 4 years ago a non-profit ministry called Mano con Mano (Hand-In-Hand) began a feeding program for the children. The leaders of the ministry wanted to identify with a local church and heard about Los Olivos, met Oscar and invited them to partner.

Every other day each week the center feeds some 240-280 children, sponsors an after-school resource center and also doubles as a sanctuary for the church on Sundays. Oscar

introduced me to Lorenzo and Dr. Ephraim as well as several other leaders in the church. The entire operation is an example of micro enterprise at it's best! They have managed to start a medical clinic, as well as several small businesses. One of these is producing stoves for each home. The stoves are made of reinforced concrete and efficiently utilize about one-third of the wood of an open fire thus reducing deforestation. They vent the smoke using a simple smokestack which reduces respiratory illnesses while conserving heart to warm their homes. Another group was working diligently to produce brightly colored toilets. They have already placed 1000 toilets in homes in this village and plans are in place to provide another 500. Each weekend Los Olivos commissions 7-8 people who travel washed out roads to serve this simple rural village and its people. It's a terrific example of people proclaiming the love of Christ through their deeds.

It's almost 4pm and Quique and I are getting ready to go over to the church for the first training session. I haven't even met yet with the leaders, but what I've seen thus far is enough impress.

We appreciate your prayers.

S t r e t c h e d