Suquinay
In 2018, we were introduced to the village of Suquinay, a very needy mountain village full of raw beauty and precious people. We were told by the leader of the village that there had never been a Christian missionary visit their village in his 68 years of life. That summer we took 3 mission teams to Suquinay doing various activities…children’s activity, door-to-door ministry, and an open-air Cinema movie. There were approximately 35 people saved that summer and the Lord instructed us to start a church in Suquinay since there was not a Christian church there.
In February, 2019, KCI was able to purchase a piece of land in Suquinay to eventually build a Family Center and a church. In the natural, this was impossible because only people from the mountains are allowed to buy land in the mountains. BUT GOD made a way where there seemed to be no way!
A small one-room church building has been constructed and a congregation of beautiful people meet there throughout the week for church services, women’s meetings, Sunday School, etc.
Suquinay Family Center
In March, 2021, we broke ground on the Suquinay Family Center. The Lord told us that it would be “a place where dreams come true.” We believe this mandate is two-fold: first for the people of Suquinay and the surrounding mountain villages, and secondly, to those who will partner with us and come to teach or work alongside us in whatever area the Lord has called them.
After-school Program
We had always had in our hearts to have an after-school program for the children. Schools in Guatemala get out at noon each day because they can’t afford, and therefore don’t offer school lunches. So, in February, 2022, the KCI after-school program was launched.
The after-school program is for students from 1st – 6th grades, and runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 12:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. It begins with a hot lunch, and continues with homework help, activities, and a weekly Bible story and craft. An English class is offered to those students who excel in grades and behavior.
Adult Education Program
There is great need in the mountain region for adult education to help the people learn skills to better provide for their families.
We have had sewing classes for the women which has proven successful. We have taken some small articles that they have sewn (mini-zippered bags, purses, aprons) to the United States to take to churches with us that people can “buy” (love offering only). Every penny given goes to the individual lady who made that particular item. We have had approximately 15 ladies that have bought their own sewing machines from the money received, and are now sewing at home to help provide for their families.
In Guatemala it is mandatory for 7th graders to take a computer class to pass the year, but there were no computers or computer classes in the mountains. The teachers would try to meet that requirement by providing a picture of a keyboard and teaching the children the very basics about a computer. Very few children can afford computer classes in Jalapa.
In December, 2021, a business in Florence, AL, donated 15 new Dell laptop computers to begin computer classes at the Family Center in Suquinay. After going through a lot of red tape, KCI is now an “approved computer academy” offering weekly computer classes to 7th grade students in the mountains, and an optional 2nd year.
We believe that there are many other skills that can be taught at the Family Center to provide outlets for the people to better their lives in the mountains.