My church has teamed up with Hope of Life to serve the small community of El Oasis in Guatemala. My husband and I were part of a mission team sent by our church this past June. I cannot tell you the impact visiting Hope of Life had on our lives. The work they are doing is tremendous! Lives are being saved and changed every day. Their goal is to motivate and help at the same time. When you see a fourteen year old arrive at Hope of Life weighing fearful and weighing only 19 lbs., and within 24 hours has a smile on her face and is eating, it really lets you know that God has his hand in this mission and that their work is anointed by God.
To be blessed to be a part of this mission is incredible. We are returning in January. We are so looking forward to loving on the children in the orphanage and in the hospital again. Loving them is so important to their emotional and spiritual growth. We also look forward to seeing our Guatemala family in El Oasis.
Review from Guidestar
Our family has personally visited Hope of Life International Several times in the last couple of years, starting in 2012.
Our local church (www.visitlifepoint.org) regularly organizes short-term mission trips to Hope of Life with the help of Advancing Native Missions (www.advancingnativemissions.com), to come alongside and serve some of the poorest people on earth in Zacapa, Guatemala.
We personally witnessed and participated in the distribution of meals, clothing, and educational resources to Guatemalans living in heart-breaking conditions. Some of the sites we visited included landfills where families actually have their dwellings - typically a discarded board or tarp propped up with some sticks. These families also try to earn money by finding and reselling pieces of recyclable plastic, glass, etc. Some of the children we met appeared to have never worm shoes in their life. Malnutrition and disease are apparent in many of the children.
Hope of Life visits these locations several times a week to bring warm meals to these families. Permanent roofed shelters on concrete slabs have been built by the ministry to provide some protection from the elements during the rainy seasons.
We spent time playing with orphans at Hope of Life's orphanage. We met children who had been severely abused. Young mothers who were victims of unspeakable acts. But through the work of Hope of Life International, we saw the happiness of children who once did not have a place to go, who now have a safe home, food, education, friends, and have seen and hear of God's love.
There is even a senior care center on the campus of Hope of Life. It is a beautiful model of care and love for the elders. These precious folk get to spend time outdoors and some are even able to be involved in the lives of some of the children as grandparents would.
The work Hope of Life is doing is changing the face of Guatemala, one child at a time, one widow at time, one rescued victim at a time, one village at a time.
The gospel is preached, churches are planted, leaders are cultivated, orphans and widows are cared for, food and clothing are distributed, and jobs are being created. Children are educated (the school at Hope of Life has gained a tremendous reputation in the community). A university is being built in partnership with Liberty University (from Lynchburg, Virginia). A hospital has been built and is being staffed.
The needs of this third world country are being advocated for in the most loving of ways: Through tangible love. A "practical gospel", as Carlos Vargas says.
As a family, and with a circle of friends in our community of Fredericksburg, Virginia, we have fallen in love with this country, with these people, and intend to continue supporting this ministry tangibly with raising support, advocating for the needs, and through prayer.
Review from Guidestar