2013 Challenges and Achievement

SIXTH GRADE

 In Guatemala being in sixth grade is like being

 a high school senior in North America.

Manuel has taught our older students for eleven years.

 He shares with them his love of math. All of these students came to us with learning challenges.
They have studied with us for years
 and will have no problem learning at a school of their choice in the future.

                                                          PAT DUFF AND ROMAN

All of our students study with us because they have special needs. Some needs and behaviors are so special they need to study one on one with a teacher. God brought us Pat Duff who has a long history teaching this type of student. Pat comes three days a week and gives personal teaching outside of their classroom.

 Roman came to us last year at twelve years old. His teacher struggled with his undisciplined behavior all year. We were considering not having him back this year. Pat suggested that he attend school but only to study personally with her. This has been a huge success. He is learning self discipline as well as to read and write. She is doing wonders with many of our other difficult students also. During the time that the difficult students are with Pat the teachers can give more attention, have more order in their classrooms.      THANKS PAT!!

                                                                  KINDERGARTEN

Juana Marilyn has taught this very important class for many years. This year is easier for her because the deaf children have their own classroom and teacher. Jazmin, the little girl in white and yellow, is two years older than the other students. She has type of dwarfism. For many years we encouraged her family to send her to school. Praise God 2013 is the year they decided that she did need an education. She loves school!

Mission Fiesta

The organization Mission Fiesta has been blessing our kids for over ten years.

Yearly they come and give a birthday party for all the kids to honor their lives.

This year the kids had a feast of hamburgers, chips, juice and big pieces of birthday cake.  

 Thank you Marina, Gary, Hazel & Ernesto!

They also left a donation of money for the teachers which was used

 for gifts and a meal for Teachers Day.

We use that special day to honor of all of our New Life staff.

They also left a donation which will be used for Children's Day on October first.

Their blessing lasts throughout the school year!

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2012?

Mirna's new transportation!

Mirna, who graduated in 2010 has a new wheelchair.

Her whole year of 2011 was spent in bed due to a pressure sore

that was slow to heal. Her skin is now healed and with the new chair

she is able to come to school for the girls bible study and other activities.

It's a blessing to have her back.

Baby Amy
For the first time in many years a baby with spina bifida
was brought to usfor advice and resources.
They named the baby Amy which was a honor of Amy DeYoung.
The baby has had the surgery necessary.
Please pray for baby Amy.

NEW OFFICE HELP

Blanky, front and center, has joined the staff as secretary.
She is the first. We didn't realize how much a secretary was needed.
In a short time Blanky has put order to twelve years of files.

2011 Who Did It??

THE NEW LIFE TEAM!!

First and formost are the children who want an education.

Then comes the parents, school staff and volunteers.

New Life is a non-profit maintained by donations.

Praise God for all those behind the scene providing:

prayer, donations of money and material items, encouragement

and who came down and gave hands-on help

Graduation 2011

Graduation day was special and fun as always.

Eight graduated from sixth grade, one from ninth grade.

They have all decided to continue their studies, praise God!

It was great to have photographers with us.

Phyllis Scheminske, with the boys, was one.

Nery was another happy graduate

He came to us needing help with his studies

Stuttering was also a limitation

We pray the blessings of Psalm 112 for our all of our New Life students

Psalm 112
1 Praise the LORD!
How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

BOYS, LIKES & DISLIKES

Boys everywhere love dogs.

The problem in Santa Maria is that dogs are abused.

A dog groomer brought several dogs, big & small.

She gave a lesson on how to feed & care for the dogs.

This was something totally new for the kids.

Many boys do not like homework.

Our frustrated English teacher came up with the solution below. The sign says "I'm punished because I didn't do my homework" The boys sat like this during recreation instead of playing. This drastic tactic did have positive results.

Life is never boreing at New Life. Our teachers are creative. Our students know they are loved but also they must obey the rules, including doing homework.

Special Visitors to Guatemala

What a pleasure it was to have my daughter Kelly Sorge

and granddaughter Ashlyn visit Guatemala.

Ashlyn was a year old when I came here in 1996.

They enjoyed meeting my Santa Maria friends and visiting their homes.

Marta & her sister Gavina have considered me their mother

since the death of Remijia, their mother.

They loved meeting their sisters from the USA.

Kelly & Ashlyn learned what a pila (the sink )

is from Karla who was a student

and now works at the school.

It was wonderful having them here

and I'm sure they will return.

They found Guatemala beautiful, interesting

and so different from Texas.

It is only by God's grace and for His purpose

that I am able to love my work

and live far away from my family.

2010 Graduates and 2011 Blessings

The Guatemalan school year is January through October.

Below are our graduates of 2010. Those in togas graduated from sixth grade. Wendy and Luis Miguel from ninth and Alex on the left from tenth grade.

We have never had a happier group or a closer one.
Wendy is continuing to study at a school for the deaf in Antigua.

Alex, who has a learning disability and seizure disorder, is working with the school this year to gain training as an employee. He will then use that training to get a job elsewhere.

First day of school 2011

Do you remember starting kindergarten when your biggest need was for a friend? It's little Dulce's first day of school and she is sure hoping that Damaris will be that friend. The photo caught Damaris with a bite of food. She usually has a huge smile on her face and is a good friend to everyone.

Dulce can hear and understands what she hears. She speaks with lots of expression but it's gibberish, no actual words.

Damaris has cerebral palsy and difficultie speaking.

These cuties are just two of the reasons we need speech therapists.

It is a volunteer position.

Jennifer & Griselda

We are blessed to have Jennifer Ribbink volunteer with us this year. Jen is from Madison, WI. She has a degree in elementry education and experience working with special kids. She is a big help with the pre-kinder and kinder kids.

We appreciate those who raise their own support to come and help at the school. Our budget is small although our goal for providing excelent resources for the kids is big. God is faithful and provides the best.

A Visit with Dr Hotze

Learn more about New Life School by watching our video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNA8DTk-jVo

On Dec 2, 2010 I had the honor of being interviewed by Dr Hotze on his radio program. Dr Hotze is the founder of the Hotze Health and Wellness Clinic in Houston, TX. I choose Dr Hotze as my personal doctor in 1998 when we were both younger and our lives different. In 1996 I came to Guatemala as a full time missionary. Dr Hotze has been donating to my ministry from the beginning. As the needs grew so did his donations.

In September of 2010 Dr Hotze invited me to be a guest at his clinic. This has been a huge blessing. I won't be back in the USA until next April. I was given the medications and suppliments sufficient to last until then. I can't say enough about the change in my health. I feel ten years younger. I have energy, clear mind and so many other positive changes. Many comment on how well I look.

God provides for all our needs. He provided Hotze Health and Wellness Center at the time when I really needed it. http://www.hotzehwc.com/

September Highlights

September is a time of celebration in Guatemala.

Independence Day is the 15th.

Leading up to this are lots of civic activities

that the students enjoy.

Photos of our New Royality

Nancy is Miss Independence Day
Nancy is Blanky's sister. She is in sixth grade.

She came to us after trouble learning in public school.

Antonio

This is his first year with us.
He went from being last in his class
at public school,
to being King of New Life!

Yamelin is Miss Congeniality.
She won the hearts of everyone this year
with her sweet smile and disposition.

Judy with some of the girls
Angela, Nancy, Claudia,Tany and Candelaria

Maria the OT with Damaris

A few of the boys

Know any of them?

Byron with brother Edwin

and sister Judy hidding below.

Sonia studied with us until fifth grade. She decided
she would rather sell in the market than study.
This is a common profession for women in Santa Maria.
I'm glad she can read and write. Most ladies can't.
We are here to give them opportunity to go as far as they want.

I walked out the door of the school and saw this boy with his chickens.
They were headed for the market.
I don't speak chicken squawk too well but I think I heard them yelling
"Eat more beef!"

"When is it their turn?!"

Judy and Luis in 2000

Luis has been an important part of New Life since being brought to therapy in 2000. He has severe cerebral palsy. He can talk but not clearly. He has spastic movement of his arms & legs. They are rarely going in the direction he wants when he wants. A wheelchair relieves the burden of someone having to carry him but doesn't make him independent.

His life has been spent waiting on others to do the things we take for granted: getting a drink, eating, going to the bathroom, bathing etc.

He tries to always be cheerful and never a bother.

In working with those with different abilities I have asked the Lord many times

"When is it their turn?!"

James 4:14 comes to mind

"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone."

The truth is as Christians our hope is in eternity.

That is where it will be their turn.

Matthew 20:16

“So those who are last now will be first then,

and those who are first will be last.”

Luis has received a power wheelchair. He can go when he wants and he loves it. I will never have all the answers. I do know it is my purpose to serve, to teach Luis and the others about Jesus and His love.

I love my job!!!

BYRON'S SIGHT--AN UPDATE

Byron's back in school

Byron, his parents & I want to thank you

for your donations for Byron's surgery.
I have not sent out a report until now because

I wanted to wait until I knew what the results really were.
Byron's vision is still very limited but he is delighting in new sights.
The other day he told his teacher that for the first time

he could see the floor. Before when he looked down it was just dark.

He now knows that the floor has colors in it and that the tiles are square.
When he reads his nose doesn't touch the page.
These changes are with his old glasses.

The doctor says that it will be 4 more weeks before his vision

has stabilized and a new prescription given.

His sight could improve even more!
Please keep praying

A Special Birthday

Marta Alicia is 15!

She and her father got to see the ocean for the first time.

I got to see their faces as they both said WOW!!

Marta Alicia is a very special friend of mine and someone that many of you have met. Her mother was Remijia, my very good friend who had rheumatoid arthritis. Remijia died in 2006 when Marta was elevin years old. I have remained close to the family and try to do something special for birthdays.

Judy, Remijia and Marta in 2005

A new block house

Thanks to a donation from St Peter Lutheran Church in Denver, IA, the family no longer lives in a cane house with a dirt floor. Money was given & the family built their new home just the way they wanted it. It is secure from the rain and cold. A block house with concrete floor is a middle class home in Santa Maria.

As North Americans we think that everyone would want to live like we do, have the same dreams of what it takes to be happy. This is not true. They are very pleased and say that they never thought they would have nice house.

THE COST OF SIGHT

Check out our DVD on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNA8DTk-jVo

Byron with sister Judy
How would it feel to wake up and

find your vision has diminished?

This happened to Byron Alexander who has had very poor vision since birth. The lens of his eyes are not in the proper position.

Byron Alexander has Marfan syndrome a connective tissue disorder. Marfan causes him to be tall and thin, have cardiac, skeletal and vision problems. Byron has studied with us for seven years. He is now in sixth grade. He is exceptional in every way.

On examination it was found that the retina of his right eye was totally detached. He had surgery within days, May 23rd.

The Ophthalmologist, one of the best in Guatemala, says the surgery went very well. The retina was reattached and the lens removed. The outcome won't be known until the eye is healed and Byron is fitted with glasses.
The surgeon did not charge a fee. The anesthesiologist reduced her fee. His cardiologist did a free echocardiogram before he had surgery.
With all these favors the total cost: surgery, medicine, doctor's appointments and new glasses will be very close to $1,000.

This would be a very low cost in the USA

but is a lot of money for the New Life budget

Would you please consider a donation to cover

the cost of Byron's eye care?

NEW RESOURCES FOR THE DEAF

Teaching in small classes has met the needs of most of the New Life students but not the deaf. Those with this condition have learned so much and are especially good in math. We have lacked the ability to teach them how to communicate with the outside world.

An ongoing prayer was a resource to meet this need.

Our prayers were answered when we met

"Las Voces del Silencio"

"The Voices of the Silent"

Three New life students with their teachers

All are deaf

This amazing school was started in Antigua in January of 2010. I learned about it in May. There are many involved in making this school a success. They developed a text book on Guatemalan sign language and have another waiting to be printed.

Imagine not being able to express your thoughts and emotions.

With the aid of this ministry the deaf in our area will be able to do this for the first time in their life.

Wendy & Norma in 1997
They and Limni are now studying at LAVOSI. Wendy & Limni also continue their studies at New Life two days a week.
Norma, the oldest, weaves beauitful Mayan clothes to sell.

Check out the LAVOSI website:
http://www.friendsofthedeaf.org/index.html
All involved with the school are volunteers at this time.
Their need for funding is great.

THE DISASTER AND BLESSINGS OF MAY

Lucio on his ladder

Guatemala needs your prayers. I'm glad that what's happening now is not our norm. Many have died within our 5 mile area. There are many homeless

but not in Santa Maria praise God.

This morning the teachers, lots of the kids, and I went to the burial of the older brother of,Candelaria, our student. While in the cemetery we got a call that our janitor, Lucio, had fallen off a ladder & couldn't get up. I rushed back to school which was now full of people who wondered in to see what's happening.

Lucio was taken to the hospital by ambulance, I followed. It took time due to all the equipment removing dirt that had washed down during the storm. The doctor said that he didn't have any fractures. If he doesn't he sure has a lot of trauma to his ribs and will be in pain for quite a while.

Please pray for Lucio's rapid healing.

Update on Lucio

Praise God Lucio was pain free and back to work in 1 1/2 weeks!

In a time of disaster in Guatemala came a huge blessing.

Dr Steven Hotze
Dr Hotze was my physician for years when I lived in Houston and a friend & supporter of New Life ministry since 1997. I went to dinner with him & his wife while in the states. We talked about the needs of the school. I received the info below this morning, June 1st!

"Physicians Perference" will give New Life $1

for every new fan of it's Facebook site!
Forward this info to your friends.
Let's see if we can't get thousands of new fans for:

Physicians Preference!

The dollar for Facebook is only for the month of June so please do what you can to get the info to as many people as possible.

New Life Initiative!

$5 goes to New Life

for every bottle of Nutri-kids vitamins sold.

This is ongoing!

God bless the Hotze Health & Wellness Clinic for blessing New Life!

THE CONTINUATION

Enjoy the New Life Video by clicking on the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNA8DTk-jVo

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 6TH GRADE?

Our needs are continually changing as time goes by. Basically New Life is a primary school. The cost of the students that continue their education is an addition to the school budget.

Students who, due to their special needs (deaf, seizures, etc) remain with us and study an accreted extension course.
Two of our teachers are paid extra to tutor all those who continue to study.
The cost per student to study in a school in Antigua is about $1,000 a year, Marcos is more.

New Life will be paying $20 a day ($500 a month) for a car & driver to take the four kids to school in Antigua. Two will study in the morning and two in the afternoon. Their chosen area of study decides the time of day. The driver will to make three round trips a day from Santa Maria and must be punctual.

Blanky: 17 years old, was born with Spina Bifida. This is her second year of high school. She studies accounting with a dream to become a lawyer Petronila: 18 years old was also born with Spina Bifida. This is her second year of high school. She studies to be a bilingual secretary

Would you please pray and consider becoming a member of the team that makes the ministry of New Life possible? Your donating to the general fund for higher education would be a blessing (and you would be blessed by doing it).

Marcos

Marcos is 22 years old, was born with multiple congenital anomalies. He has had surgeries by Faith In Practice: spinal fusion & instrumentation, hip replacement X2.
I met Marcos years ago when I acted as his liaison to FIP for his spinal fusion. He came to me for financial aid to study in 2006. His goal is to have his own business repairing small appliances.
He had already had a hip replacement. After only 4 months of studying it was found that his hip was infected. He had the prosthesis removed, was confined to bed almost one year before another prosthesis could be safely inserted and another time of recovery before walking any distance.
He called me last November saying he was now ready to continue studying. This young man, very short in stature, has a tall drive to succeed.

Mauricio

Mauricio is 13 years old. He was born without a left forearm. This is his first year of Junior high. An exceptional young man who has the potential to go through university.

I am writing this with a huge smile on my face & tears in my eyes. What the kids are accomplishing is outstanding! The extra expense is no problem for God.

SCHOOL YEAR 2010

The 2010 school year started it's 11th year January 18th.
From the beginning we have prayed that the parents. with children who need to study with us, would send them. This year God really answered the prayer is a big way. Many of the new students in kindergarten

are old friends.

They have received therapy from Amy over the years.

As I write we have a total of 80 students enrolled in pre-kinder through sixth grades. Our enrollment is open until the first of March so we may have more. There are ten more students that are being assisted in whatever way needed to continue studying after sixth grade.

Johana has a sticker for something special she did.

Danaris is caught taking a bite.

These two old friends have cerebral palsy.

Old friend, Yamalin, brings with her a new challenge for New Life.
She is the first student we have had that is totally blind.
She is also developmentally challenged.

Cute little Wendy is deaf.

Tomas on the left is another old friend.
In the New Life brochure he is pictured with Amy receiving therapy.

Please pray for God's guidence, patience and love for all of us at New Life. Our teachers are so special and face each days challenge with a smile.
Prayer is our power!!
Pray and ask God how he would have you contribute to our ministry.

An Early Christmas gift

Sunday, November 29th, I was invited to the Livar home. Ramijia Livar,

who died in 2006 of complications of rheumatoid arthritis,

was my best friend in Santa Maria de Jesus.

I am very close to her family, especially her 2 younger children

Marta Alicia and Miguel Angel.

Miguel is 21 years old and a talented artist.

He gave me a surprise gift of a painting he did of our school.

Miguel Angel with his painting

"Vida Anterior Y Vida Nueva"
"Previous Life and New Life"
The house of cornstalks, volcano Agua with trees instead of fields and the people celebrating in front of the school are all from the past.
Our school "New Life" is the present and future of Santa Maria, as Miguel explains it.
Click on the painting to view it larger.
Our school building, a wonderful gift from God to His children.