Ana
Elizabeth Juarez Urbina
Age 22
Ana was born in La Ceiba, but has family here in our town Rio Viejo where Instituto
El Rey is located. While attending primary school in La Ceiba she had the opportunity
to attend a good church where she accepted Christ as her Savior. After primary
school, she did her 7th grade at a very large public high school and the 8th
grade a small private school. At some point during the 8th grade her mother
decided to move up the mountain to the village of Rio Viejo where her mother
(Ana’s maternal grandmother) was living. Her mother told Ana there would be
no higher level of schooling for her. She was very disappointed. Shortly afterwards,
we came to begin the Instituto. I do remember Ana coming to the porch of the
house asking if we would be having a 9th grade. I had to tell her that we would
be starting with the 7th grade and adding a grade each year. She would have
to wait two years or repeat her 7th and 8th grades. Ana decided to repeat the
7th and 8th grades—she knew that our school would be different and that she
would learn more. I was impressed with her desire to learn and receive an education.
She was 15 at the time.
Her mother left the family and is living in the States. She does not want to
send money to help the family. Ana’s father spends his money on drugs and alcohol.
During her 6 years with us Ana has demonstrated leadership abilities in the
classroom, student government and the band. She graduated with high honors.
Ana, also, has a servant’s heart.
Melvin Geovany Pacheco Hernandez
Age 21
Melvin was born in the Southeast of Honduras. His family moved to our area when
he was about 4 years old. He grew up here in the valley. Attended primary school
in Yaruca. His father is a farmer and his mother tried little jobs like selling
vegetables from the farm and clothing. This little money she saved without the
knowledge of his father. Melvin’s father does not know how to manage money and
the family has always been poor. After graduating from the 6th grade, Melvin
heard about our high school. He wanted a better education than he could get
in the public junior high. The principal of the school told all the 6th graders
if they went to our school they would not get a diploma from the 6th grade.
Melvin said he would go anyway. He likes to learn and always sat in the front
row of all his classes. He also played the big drum in the band. Melvin worked
almost every Saturday for 6 years to earn his small monthly tuition that he
paid ($4) to come to the school.
After 3 years, Melvin’s father decided to move the family to a very remote area
to continue farming. Melvin knew if he went with them that would be the end
of his schooling. He asked if he could stay with us. His parents and we agreed.
No one else in his family has an education beyond the 6th grade. Melvin learned
English, carpentry skills, and was and continues to be a great help to us. Though
his parents are proud of Melvin’s achievements they are not able to help him
in any way as they are barely managing their own lives.
Both of these students are strong, good students and have a clear mind to reach
their goals. I honestly feel they both are good investments.
Edwin
– a boy who lives in the mountains and has been abused in about every way by
his family. He needs a lot of help!
Edwin lives, I was going to write however, I think it would be more appropriate
to say Edwin just survives and only by the grace of God. I first meet Edwin
back in April 2000 when I was helping some medical people on a brigade that
they were doing to assist the poor in the mountains near La Ceiba. I was handing
out medicine and he happened to come in and sit down, he did not say anything.
Later on a woman there said, “Don’t pay any attention to him, he’s crazy,” She
was asked by another missionary, “Where are his parents?” The woman replied,
“Don’t know.” Later on that day, I found out that that woman was his mom. The
other children are some what loved and Edwin is not. His only attention is when
people abuse him or steal what some North American gives him.
If there were a magazine called Most Unwanted and Unloved Children I think
Edwin might be on the cover every month. That is very, very distressing! As
I mentioned the first picture is April of 2000 and Edwin is about 9 or 10 –
in the next picture he is 12 or 13, taken when I was up there doing some work
on a pastor’s house in 2003. The picture on the right of him was taken in Feb.
2006 and he says he is 15.
Except for his face and being a couple of inches taller, Edwin has not changed
in almost six years. He weights about the same and actually appears to be thinner
if that’s possible. In fact the photos make him look a little healthier, I wished
he sincerely was.
I have thought about taking him home with me (that would cause a lot of legal
problems) and I have prayed and prayed for him (maybe that is why he is still
living) and I don’t know what to do anymore – it is such a despicable story.
I don’t know what else to say.
