"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people."

Galatians 6:10

Join Us On the 2009 Educational Mission Trip To Guatemala!

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Learn more about our work and the wonderful people of Guatemala.

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April 2008 -- Trip to Guatemala -- This spring trip was to view projects, visit schools and visit women's groups and we are very pleased with the progress we are making in helping children obtain an education. Our mission is to help children attend school and graduate at whatever level they are able to attain -- 6th grade or Basico or Prepartorio or Universidad. Through the help of many donors we were able to deliver new Spanish language children's books to San Antonio Palopo to help them begin their school library; give much needed school supplies and teacher resources to three schools; give Sunday School supplies to a local Panajachel church for their ministry; give brand new children's shoes to some very poor street children; and help in furnishing teacher desks and book shelves to Colegio Cristiano Nuevo Amanecer. Our purchases of Fair Trade jewelry and handcrafts from the women's groups has helped all the women to support their families and educate their children and as we sell it our profits will be reinvested into the education and the artisan groups.

This trip we introduced the concept of Fair Trade (a fair daily wage) to new women's groups and it will take some time to work out details so they understand the principals and details involved. They are glad to be able to earn a fair daily wage because what we aren't able to buy they will take to a wholesaler in Panajachel or try to sell in a local market. Neither of these options give them a fair daily wage.

The genuine love and friendship that we receive when we are in Guatemala motivates us to heed God's call to help and do even more. I keep remembering the verse 1 John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him." --Let us continue to help as we are being led!

January 2008 -- Trip to Guatemala ---During the January trip to Guatemala, volunteers visited schools that Education And More is working with in helping to educate the children. We visited Tierra Linda Primary School, Colegio Cristiano Nuevo Amanecer and a primary school in Solola.

At Tierra Linda we delivered about 200 cute tote bags of school supplies to the students and many of the little ones just shrieked with joy! These schools supplies were donated by schoolchildren, Sunday School children and others here in the United States and they really made an impact of the students in Tierra Linda.

 A new school year is just starting in Guatemala so it was a great blessing to watch the children open their bags of supplies since so many of them have next to nothing for school. A nice large canvas tote bag full of supplies was also given to each teacher. Education And More; Paso Por Paso, a Canadian nonprofit; and Mayan Families, a local Guatemalan nonprofit, also delivered school supplies donated by Mayan Families to a very poor school in Solola. Paso Por Paso is in Guatemala for 2 months working on their projects at Tierra Linda and in Panajachel.

 We spent a lot of time in San Juan La Laguna meeting with the director of the Christian school, Colegio Cristiano Nuevo Amanecer. All the teachers at this school were presented with a large messenger bag filled with much needed teacher resources and supplies. We then met up with other volunteers in San Juan who brought more school supplies to us so we were able to really fill up the teacher bags! Nuevo Amanecer is in need of teacher desks for the new Basico (middle school) classrooms, a bookshelf for each classroom and need some computers for the children to learn on. They hope to have the second level of the school finished this year so that all classes can be moved out of the old original mud brick structure. Hopefully enough donations will be received to finish this soon!

October 2007 --- Non Profit Status ---- Education And More applied for and has now been granted exemption from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are now officially a public charity and contributions are deductible.

July2007 ---Trip to Guatemala--- The director of Education And More traveled to Guatemala for the month of July to review projects around Lake Atitlan, volunteer at Colegio Cristiano Nuevo Amanecer of San Juan La Laguna (New Dawning Christian School) and tour San Jorge Primary School.

Nuevo Amanecer in San Juan La Laguna is adding a second level to the school as funds are available and this will allow all classes to be housed in the new building when it is finished.

There are 230 students in Nuevo Amanecer in grades K - 6 and next year the school will be adding the Basico grades to the school (7th - 9th) At the present time students must travel to the neighboring towns to attend school after the 6th grade but beginning January 2008 they will be able to stay at Nuevo Amanecer thru the 9th grade.

While in San Juan La Laguna, visits were made to the women's groups and many beautiful weavings were purchased. The women do these exquisite weavings on a type of loom that has been used for centuries --- a backstrap loom. In 2008, Education and More plans to take a group of women to San Juan to learn how to weave using the backstrap loom. Look at the pages of weavings that are for sale to help these schools, the families of the students and community. Consider purchasing some gifts for yourself or someone on your gift list!

The director also visited the public school in San Jorge La Laguna and donated books for their library. This is a much larger school with over 500 students--- many of the classrooms have up to 50 students with one teacher. They are trying to put together a library but only have one shelf of books. Please donate Spanish language books to Education And More so that they can have a library for the children.

Education And More delivered many pairs of shoes to children in the Lake Atitlan area. Shoes are expensive in Guatemala so many children and adults are unable to buy them.

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Receiving school supplies!

Delivering school supplies.

New second level to Nuevo Amanecer school.

.Clara, a volunteer with Education And More, visits the women's group in San Juan La Laguna. .

Delivering children's books to schools.

4 little girls who received shoes!