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November 1, 2008
Dear Icthus Friend,
You may not know this, but you have a special relationship with a small town in
Central America. This is such a special relationship that I call it a “God
Link”. It couldn’t have happened without the Lord and friends like you.
Alotenango is the town’s name. It is a humble town about a half hour from the
ancient colonial capital of Antigua, in the Guatemalan highlands. Many of the
people of this rural town and surrounding villages are very poor, eking out a
meager living in agriculture and weaving.
During the Icthus banquets 2 weeks ago, Ludwick Escobar and Rebeca Arriaza,
two Guatemalan Icthus leaders, told the guests about our relationship with
Alotenango. They shared pictures, and stories. They also gave each guest an
endearing fish magnet made by Icthus children. Ludwick and Rebeca helped us
understand that together we are helping to make important changes in Alotenango.
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Ludwick Escobar and Rebeca Arriaza,
Icthus leaders from Guatemala. |
Rosie, Icthus guide in Alotenango,
Guatemala (center holding her baby) |
Through Ludwick and Rebeca we learned about Rosy Ramirez, the chief guide in
Alotenango. She is a busy 33 year old mother of three children, (aged 5 and 3
years old and a 2 month old baby) and has a strong calling to minister to
children. She has started two Icthus groups with a phenomenal total of 90 kids.
Rosie, like all Icthus guides, uses the Icthus curriculum to teach the children:
1. To love God; 2. To be concerned about their neighbor; 3. To develop
themselves.
She is very committed to nurturing Christian character in each child and
developing an attitude of service and leadership skills in them.
Recently, an idea occurred to Rosy while teaching the children about taking care
of their neighbors and being good citizens in their community. She decided that
the children should do a water service project.
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Icthus
Children in one of Rosy’s groups. |
You see, many of the surrounding villages don’t have running water. Residents
have to walk to get their water...water for drinking, cooking and washing.
Depending on the size of the family, they may have to make the trip to carry
back water to their homes several times a day.
Rosy’s Icthus kids started the project by collecting as many containers as they
could find. They filled the containers with water, and then delivered the water
to the homes.
As kids will do, they found fun in collecting and delivering the water, getting
wet as they walked along. But more importantly, they experienced the joy of
doing a kind act for their neighbors. The people, many of whom were older and
some pregnant mothers, were impressed by the children and very much appreciated
this gift of water.
Rosy’s Icthus kids do many different types of activities and projects to teach
them about loving the Lord, taking care of others, and developing life skills. A
recent skill project was to make cardboard fish with magnets on the back. They
learned that the word Icthus means “fish” in Greek and that it is an acronym
with a very special meaning: “Jesus Christ is God’s Son and Our Savior.”
They, and other Icthus groups, made many of these fish to give to Icthus friends
such as you.
Rosy is making an important contribution in her community by teaching children
and young people Christian values. This requires not only dedication, but also
skill.
For this Rosie needs dedicated Icthus leaders like Ludwick and Rebeca to provide
her with training, coaching, encouragement, and materials. In addition,
she also needs friends like you who are encouraging and helping Ludwick and
Rebeca so they can help her through your interest, prayers, and support.
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Children of Alotenango during an
Icthus activity |
This is a very special relationship that you and I have with Alotenango. It
really is a “God link.” It is a long distant relationship between friends like
you and Icthus guides that makes some amazing things happen in the lives of
children.
Ludwick, as the national Icthus Director, helps many guides like Rosy. He
oversees 58 groups with more than 1,200 children. You and I not only help in
Guatemala, but in other countries as well. We are helping more than 1,000 guides
to train 8,000 children in 400 groups. This link between Icthus friends like you
and leaders in Latin America is very real and is effective in the transformation
of young lives.
As we approach the end of the year we are working hard to strengthen this link
to provide Icthus for all 8,000 children and more. It takes about $1.25 each
month to provide Icthus to a child. For the two months till the end of the year
it will cost $2.50 a child.
Right now we lack adequate funding for some 1,000 children in 50 groups to
finish off the year. Your help in providing Icthus to a few more children would
make a big difference. To help 10 children have the Icthus ministry through
December will cost $25. Twenty children will be $50. Thirty children will
require $75.
Thank you for considering this and may the Lord continue to bless you,
Don Weisbrod
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Icthus children proudly showing the fish magnets they made.
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Icthus girl
proudly displays the fish magnet she made |
PS: These last two months of 2008 are crucial as we work to provide Icthus to all the children. Would you consider helping provide Icthus to more children?
If you haven’t already received one of the magnetic fish made by the Guatemalan children, we would like to send you one to put on your refrigerator. Each comes with the child’s name and age. This will help you remember to pray for Icthus children.
Would you like to meet Rosie in Guatemala? You can! Call our office at
(626)720-8111 or email us at
Don@IcthusKids.org for more information.
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