“I used to be a student at one of the Vida schools – at Vida Purulhá,” Teacher Cindy shares. “I remember clearly that there were only a few classrooms. But every year, more groups of students would arrive, and new sponsors who wanted to support the children came.”
Every May, we celebrate sponsorship at Impact Ministries. In the midst of celebrating 25 years of Impact, there’s so much worth celebrating!
- the first Impact child was sponsored in 2001
- Cindy was matched with her sponsor in 2009
- in 2015, sponsors started supporting classes in addition to individual children
- today, over 1900 children and 80 classes have sponsors – and each sponsor makes such an impact on the children’s lives
So many years later, Cindy continues to be amazed at the new sponsors who show up, month after month, to sponsor Vida students and Vida classes. “We see incredible people who are inspired to love and sponsor our children, to learn about their lives,” she says, “and in this way demonstrate God’s love.”
Teacher Cindy is well aware of the material needs of her students – she herself grew up in the midst of financial hardships – but she also sees children needing to be loved.
Cindy sees sponsorship as building relationships:
“There is love between student and sponsor, a brotherly love that grows, a love that is pleasing to God and fills the hearts of the children.”
This is equally true when you sponsor a class:
“Class sponsorship makes a significant impact on students’ lives. Knowing that someone cares about their education and well-being increases students’ motivation and self-esteem.”
Sponsorship blesses both students and their teachers:
“Your support is an instrument of God’s love in the life of an entire class, opening doors of opportunity and hope. And your support is a source of hope for all of us who are part of the ministry, inspiring us each day to serve and teach about God’s love.”
How’s that for a return on your investment?
So many of you have sponsored Vida children and classes over the years. Thank you! Thank you for loving our kids and thank you for inspiring our teachers.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could get all our classes fully sponsored for Impact’s 25th year?
That’s a big ask, because each class has a cluster of 10 sponsorship units. But that also means that you can sponsor one or more units, or you can pull together a cluster of sponsors to support the same class together! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to sponsor a class with friends or family members?!?
This year, there are 86 classes across Vida schools, and many still need sponsors. Can you help us close that gap during Sponsorship month? Can you help us find a sponsor a day for the month of May?
As Cindy says, “You’ll be making an impactful and lasting investment in the future of children and communities in Guatemala, and you’ll be blessing the lives of a group of children who love the Lord Jesus.”
We’ll be sharing lots of sponsorship stories from throughout the years this month. Watch our instagram or facebook to see them and share them. Celebrate sponsorship with us!
Thank you for sharing about sponsorship with those around you. Together, we can make sure kids in Guatemala have the resources they need for a brighter future.
Thank you for your love for children and families in Guatemala 💙
(Cindy also asked us to pass on her thanks: “The impact of your generosity is enormous in the lives of each one, touching their hearts and making each child feel that light in the midst of darkness.” And we’re so thankful too. Your sponsorship touches hearts and keeps schools in Guatemala running!)