Adriana and Itzel both grew up with difficult home lives but everything changed for them when they joined Trigo y Miel, Forward Edge’s program in Oaxaca, Mexico. As children, they didn’t have many material possessions, but because of the program they were privileged to hear about God’s love regularly. They also were given the opportunity to graduate high school and attend college. All while receiving letters of encouragement from their sponsors, reminding them of their value and God’s amazing plan for them. In short, they received the three elements of all Forward Edge programs that directly contribute to transforming the lives and futures of children.
Ever since she was little, Adriana had a very difficult life. Her father died in an accident when she was 7 years old, and she quickly became the caretaker for her sister and soon after another baby sister. Her mother was unable to care for them as she battled depression and was looking for a job.
At age 10, Adriana’s mom left a toxic relationship with a man, and the family moved to the community where Trigo y Miel is located. Here Adriana heard about God and began attending the youth meetings. She and her mother later accepted Jesus as their Savior!
She will begin college this August, and is the first woman in her family to study for a degree. She is planning to get her Bachelors of Education in hopes of becoming a teacher. “I want to be an example for my younger sisters,” Adriana explains. “That inspires me. In Trigo y Miel, Pastor Victor and Lety inspire me to succeed in my life.”
Itzel has been a part of the Trigo y Miel program for a long time. Her family used to live in a rented two-room house with an outdoor kitchen and bathroom, but thanks to Operation Enduring Homes (a ministry of Forward Edge), they now have their own home with indoor plumbing and running water.
Itzel’s father is a school teacher in a small village, and is often gone for weeks at a time. He has children from a previous relationship and half of his salary goes to support them. Itzel misses having him around.
She went through the scholarship program, and while there, received Jesus as her Savior and was baptized! She now attends the weekly discipleship program and is in her last semester of college studying to receive her Bachelors of Education.
Despite the hardships Adriana and Itzel have faced, it’s remarkable to see the joy they have as they serve and give back to their community. After being discipled and invested in, they now choose to be active and engaged in the community that poured so much into them.
Currently, Adriana is helping the Child Sponsorship Coordinator, Raquel, with her duties. They help the children write letters, update photos, complete assessments, and much more. Raquel shared, “Adriana is a very hard working girl. She is very responsible and tries to get things done she needs to do. Her help has been very good to me as she is very dedicated to getting the job done.”
Itzel is now a 1st grade teacher. The Director of Siloé School, Julian, shared: “She has had quite significant achievements as a teacher, as she has managed to get all her students to learn to read and write. Itzel not only teaches reading and writing, as a teacher she teaches all subjects, such as Spanish, Mathematics, Science and Values. Itzel can understand firsthand the importance of education for the children of Trigo y Miel and how it transforms people’s lives.”
What a delight to see these girls who were once in the sponsorship program now working at the program in different capacities. Having their lives changed by three important elements of Forward Edge programs—exposure to God’s love, education, and the support and encouragement of sponsors—they now want to equip and enrich the lives of those around them.
In what ways have our lives been transformed by God? How might He be calling us to invest back into the lives of others?
Viola lives in the slums of Kampala, Uganda with her parents and five siblings. Living conditions in this area are cramped and unsanitary. Viola’s family lives in a small, brick, two-bedroom house. The whole family shares one room and the other one is used to house chickens and a goat that
One of the greatest joys a child receives is a letter from his or her sponsor. Sponsored children usually save all of the letters they receive and read them over and over again, they are such a source of encouragement and love for them. Writing to your sponsored child is
During these times when most of us are ‘social distancing’ and ‘sheltering in place’, we probably have much more time on our hands and yet are unable to be in touch with many of those on our minds. This is especially true of our sponsored children. We know they and
Relationships are everything. And it’s not just those in the U.S. reaching out to other countries; it’s the entire Global Church engaging with and learning from each other. As an organization, we seek to foster and steward those vital relationships. Recently, the director of our Uganda children’s program, Bonny Lugayizi,
6 yrs. old
Entered the program: March 2023
Sayidatu lives with her parents and three brothers brother in a one-bedroom mud house with a thatch roof. Her oldest brother sleeps at a friend's house nightly due to lack of space. The home is in poor condition, and they have no latrine. There is electricity in the village but the family cannot afford to be connected to it. There is no access to potable water. The village women and girls fetch water from a local dam until it dries up, then they must travel long distances to find other sources. The area the family lives in has poor sanitation which poses a health hazard.
Sayidatu’s family is Muslim. Her parents are both unemployed and can barely provide the basic necessities. They live on less than a dollar a day and usually must rely on relatives to help them feed their children. Before joining Create Hope, paying to keep Sayidatu in school was an extreme challenge.
