I’m off to Belize tomorrow for the first ever PathLight International graduating class! Hard to believe it was four years ago that we selected our first group of students. They have put in a lot of hard work leading up to the commencement ceremony.
The ceremony is on Tuesday night, but our big PathLight blowout graduation party is Sunday night. It’s going to be fun to see the proud parents and excited students! Hopefully I can post pictures soon afterward.
The kids have overcome a lot of odds. Born into poverty, living in a rural setting, and attending poor schools is just part of the challenge. Most of them have parents or grandparents who fled one of the many civil wars in Central America. In a poor country, they are among the poorest.
Over the past four years we have seen these students grow academically, spiritually, and socially. Their outlook on life has been transformed as they gained confidence and experience. Their love for God has grown as well. They will now be considered leaders in their village, and our hope is they will be the kind of salt and light that permeates the community.
If you read our monthly PathLight letters you might recall one from February 2008 that mentions Concepciona. In the letter I quote a PeaceCorp worker who had met one of our students and wanted to share his impression. Here’s his letter to me:
Last week I was walking back from the main store in Armenia and I saw one of the High School Scholarship recipients, Concepciona. I flagged her down and we walked together toward our homes. I asked her how everything was going. Her face completely lit up and she talked a mile a minute about how great school is, how excited she is to be sending emails to her friends in other villages she never gets to see, and how much fun she is having.
I’ve known Concepciona for over a year and a half. She is exceptionally shy, quiet, and reserved. The person who was talking to me as we were walking was nothing like the Concepciona I knew before. She didn’t stop talking, it seemed like her self-confidence had sky-rocketed, and she was walking with her head up (instead of directly on the ground in front of her).
When I finally got a chance to speak all I could end up saying was: “It’s so great to see you so happy!”
Since you don’t get the chance to see transformations like that as often as I do I think it’s important you should know that it does happen. And it happens because you’re making it happen.
Much thanks Roy and I hope this finds you happy and healthy.
Now imagine how Concepciona has grown since then! Can you see why I believe so passionately about the work that PathLight is doing? And why I’m so excited to be going to the graduation? There really is hope through faith and learning.
I want you to consider making a gift that helps kids like Concepciona. You probably have friends or family at home who are graduating this year and you will be sending them a gift, right? Well why not send a gift to PathLight, and we’ll send your friend or family member a note saying a gift has been made to a needy student in their honor?
Here’s a link if you can help. Thanks for considering it!
Now, I need to go pack … where’s that mosquito repellent?