School of Champions
Our 2nd day was still in progress as we made our way to the School of Champions. The School originated for “the Children of the Dump” to bring relief and hope to needy children and families living in and around the garbage dump areas of Puerto Vallarta. The adults and children picked through the garbage each day for food and to find items they could sell. With no water or electricity, they were forced to move their flimsy shacks every few days as the garbage was bulldozed towards them. It was a low level of existence for them. While the parents and older children worked, other children had to take care of the babies. The children didn’t attend school and without an education, were destined to repeat the cycle of poverty as their parents before them had.
Unless you can see it with your own eyes, it is unimaginable – mainly because we are people of so much “plenty”. It’s easy to say, “What a shame”, and go on our way. But, God shows up with His people and organizations that go the distance in making a difference. Perdon y Amistad Church supplies volunteers and vehicles for the program. Now, with the feeding program to help the children to concentrate and learn, getting the children into school, and keeping them there, is a major priority.
Funds were raised to build a community center by the dump. Thus, the School of Champions was born. The School, just two blocks from the entrance to the dump, is where students from primary schools in the area are taught Math, English and Computer skills in an after-school program. The School of Champions was created to raise the hope and expectancy for a better future for these children.
And, in this place, they can hear the good news of Christ, so it was where Staci Wallace and Tony Bouie spoke into their precious lives. Alexia Wallace sang, Payton Wallace & Joshua Sinclair gave their testimonies. Our hearts were so touched when the kids responded to Staci’s question “What is your biggest prayer request?” One child said, “For my dad to get out of jail”. Another, “for money for food”. Another, “for my mom to get well”. But the one that touched us the most, was one precious boy’s reply, “for you not to forget us!” Then Staci asked them to write down their prayers and what they wanted to do in their future. And to our joy and delight, they wrote true hopes and dreams: “to be a professional soccer player”; “to be a veterinarian”, “to be a doctor”, “to be an artist”. What once represented hopelessness to them, through the dedication of difference-makers, these children now see themselves as winners and achievers. After the service, we fed the children.
At the conclusion of this day, we made our way back to our hotel — drenched and exhausted from the heat, and weary from the long day……but we could not have been more inspired and exhilarated from having seen these precious children’s faces – aglow with love and thanksgiving – energized with a place that they felt love, respect and protection. “Being a miracle” is not only a blessing to the ones we’re giving to, but somehow, the satisfaction of having helped someone, brings rewards that money can’t buy and no one can ever take it away from us. What could ever compare to “being a miracle” in someone’s world?
