School Zone

Ever day here in Guatemala brings a new surprise. On Wednesday, I went to school and saw again the miracle of education. It may save this place.

I've made friends here at the seminary with Kirk Lightfield. He's on the administrative staff, and sort of serves as our host, checking on our needs every day. He even loaned us towels because we weren't smart enough to bring our own.

Kirk had been telling us for several days that he wanted to take us (Keeci and me) to see a local elementary school. OK, it wasn't on my list of "musts" here, but Kirk's a great guy and I decided I would go see this school just for him. Wednesday was the day.

Turns out the school was started (well, partially started) by a couple from west Texas, Charlie and Patricia Reynolds. The Reynolds' story is a lengthy and incredible one, but I'll cut to the chase. They came here 10 years ago, drove by car, without a place to live, no jobs, didn't even really know anybody here. After 18 years as a minister, then 15 years in law enforcement, Charlie just quit his job, they sold or gave away their stuff, kissed their kids and grandkids goodbye, and set off for Guatemala. Other Americans have told me similar stories, about just coming here because they love the place and they heard God say, "Go." They also say the same thing about finding work: you only have to be here about 2 days and look around, you'll find something to do and somebody who needs you.

The Reynolds found things to do. First a teaching job, then a job up Charlie's alley in law enforcement. And 7 years ago, God told them to start a school, this school, the Colegio Christiano Gerizm, or Place of Refuge.

There was actually a young Guatemalan woman in their church, Karina Depaiz, whom they credit with founding the school. At the time, 7 years ago, Karina was just in her early 20s, but she had been fortunate enough to grow up in a family that values education. Her father is from a family of 12 kids, he being the only one who pursued an education, eventually aquiring a masters degree in financing. And she wanted to start a school in her father's home area.

When Karina met the Reynolds, everything clicked. The Reynolds raised the money through friends and churches (all kinds of denominations) back in Texas, and the private school came together. They started with just kindergarten, then added the next succeeding class every year up through 5th grade, the final elementary grade here. So now they have K-5, with 186 students, about 20 more than they are really designed for. But they have a hard time turning students down.

In Guatemala, the law is that students have to go to school through the 5th grade. In practicality, there is no enforcement. Some have estimated that only 1 in 5 kids actually go that far. The others simply drop out and go to work in the fields or as housecleaners. Or they set their mind on heading north, to a more prosperous place.

Karina's mom, Ruth Montufar, serves as the principal of Colegio Gerizm. She grew up in this area, and she tells me through an interpretor that many parents just don't value education. "We need to raise a new generation of parents who do," she says. Maybe half of the kids here are being raised by a single parent, always the mom, or by grandparents.

Her daughter, Karina, the school founder who speaks good English, says, "Some of the families here have the attitude their kids don't need an education, just go to the U.S. and get a job. In fact, I think about 90% of families feel that way." Karina herself is working on her college degree in business, and will have it in October.

Nobody here speaks highly of the public school system. The resources are few, and absenteeism makes it very hard to keep students on schedule. Students who come to Colegio Gerizm from public school are usually 2 grades behind age level, so they spend a lot of time trying to catch them up.

The kids here seem to really like school, and the 12 teachers are dedicated to inspring them to stick with it. I ask to speak to one of the students, and they bring me Emily Yoc Martinez, a 10-year-old girls with a great smile. Like all the kids, she gets English class twice a week, and she can speak it, but I talk too fast and it makes it hard for her to follow me. Still, she tries hard and Keeci Goodman, my friend from home and Spanish interpreter, helps her. Emily tells us that she has been in this school just 3 years. Before that, she was in a different school, but everything about this place is better and her mom wanted her here. Her favorite class is math, it's a little hard, and she likes the challenge. "A dentist," she says when I ask her what she wants to be when she grows up. I ask her if she knows how long she will have to stay in school to become a dentist, and she says, "Yes, 6 years more than everyone else." I laugh and tell her that when she is done, I want her to be my dentist. She gives me the big smile as if to say, "I'm only in the 5th grade, and already I have my first patient."

Unfortunately, education for the girls in this school and this country is a difficult pursuit. After 5th grade, there is a lot of pressure for the girls, especially, to quit school and help out at home, or get a cleaning job. Maybe 60% of the kids at this school will move on to the 6th grade, more of the boys, fewer of the girls. Many of the girls will have to help with younger siblings at home, get a cleaning job, and too soon, start their own families (15 is not uncommon). But, says Karina, the little 10-year-old Emily, my dentist-to-be, is a little light beam of change.

This school is fortunate to have teachers who specialize in computers, and music. Even at their young age, kids who show appitude in those 2 areas can get special help.

And, says Karina, one of the best things about this school is that the kids get a Bible class every day. "It's one of the most important things we do, to give them an education with values, so they can continue to grow in their life with God."

Charlie Reynolds, the Texan who helped found this school and raise the money, now serves as a sort of overseer of problems; fixing leaks, adding playgrounds, pouring cement and such. He didn't start as an educator, but he's become one. He's now involved in several ministry projects in Guatemala, but this is the one he loves the most, because it may provide the best hope for lifting up a country from its poverty. "I have a heart for poor people," he says. "If I could do only one thing with my life, it would be right here in this school."

Of course, in education, there are always financial needs. Patricia Reynolds handles most of the treasury needs of the school from their home at the top of the hill above the school. She could use 45 sponsors for individual Guatemalan students right now. A full sponsorship is $25 a month, or $300 a year. You can learn more about that on their Web site, www.hisappointedtime.com.

I've got some decent pictures of the school and the people, I'll share a few of those after a while.