Our school in Juquila, La Luz, is seeing the hand of the Lord work through many of their students’ lives. In the midst of neglect and suffering that many children in this town face, our La Luz school shines as a light on a stand for all to see (Matthew 5:14-16). This school has served as a safe haven for students – a place where they get to learn about the Lord, sing praises to Him, and be discipled by the staff members who work there.
Not long ago, a mother approached Ms. Betty, wife of La Luz Director, Tito, pleading for the school to accept her son, Eliezr, into their fourth grade class. Ms. Betty told the mother that she and the other staff would need to observe him for a week but would then let her know whether or not her son would be accepted.
The day came for the mother to drop her son off at the school. When she came, without any prompting from Ms. Betty, she began to pour her heart out about what had just recently happened to her son. With sadness in her voice, she shared that Eliezer had recently been taken to Oaxaca city by the mother’s half sister for what she thought would be an opportunity for a better education for her son. However, after months of Eliezr being gone, she would find out that the half sister had very different plans for Eliezr than what she had shared with his mother. Through Eliezer’s later recounting of the story, she found out that her half sister had abused him the night they arrived in Oaxaca and the following day, sent him off to be with a family who would supposedly adopt him. Although Eliezr didn’t want to be given up to another family, he stayed, knowing that they would treat him far better than his aunt ever had. Months later, when Eliezer’s adoptive family realized that their new son had actually never been up for adoption they brought him back to Juquila to be with his real mom. As Eliezer’s mother finished recounting the story to Ms. Betty, she expressed how thankful she was to the family that Eliezer had lived with for those few months, not only for treating him with kindness, but more importantly for bringing him back to her.
While observing Eliezr as a potential student at La Luz, one of the teachers mentioned to Ms. Betty that not only did he behave well in her class, but He was also excelling in reading, writing, and math! All the teachers were in agreement that Eliezr would be a wonderful addition to the school! When Ms. Betty shared with Eliezer and his mother that he was accepted as a student, she hugged her son ever so tightly.
A few weeks later, Ms. Betty had to call a taxi driver to the school. The driver ended up being Eliezer’s uncle. The driver expressed to her his gratitude for the school and complemented how great it was. He shared that his nephew, Eliezr, is very happy and that he loves the school. His uncle also told her the wonderful news that Eliezer’s father was willing to pay his tuition and everything including his textbook has been provided.
Eliezr has continued to be a respectful and dedicated student. He recently expressed his desire to learn how to play guitar. However, the school had no extra space for students to join in to play music. When Ms. Betty shared Eliezer’s story with one of the teachers without any hesitation, he offered to teach him how to play the guitar. Not only is this teacher now helping him learn how to play guitar, but he is also reading the Bible with Eliezr!
Eliezer and his mother are not believers, but our hope and prayer is that by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the vessel of La Luz, the Lord would open their hearts to receive the Gospel of our saving Lord Jesus Christ. La Luz as a school, and GEM as a ministry, are rejoicing for the work He has already begun in their lives.
Through your prayers and partnership with GEM, lives like Eliezer’s and his family’s are transformed and impacted for eternity. Global Education Ministries thanks you for your faithful commitment to pray for and support our schools. We hold this ministry with open hands, knowing that all the work done through it is done by the Lord. May all things be done for His glory and His name alone.
*For the protection and privacy of the student, their name has been changed.