Unveiling identity through faith, friendship, and fun!

The fact that God cherishes children is evident throughout scripture. Jesus even encouraged adults to become like little children in their faith! Sadly, many children around the world are forced to grow up too fast because of circumstances beyond their control, robbing them of their childhood. Thankfully, we serve a God who is redeeming and restoring all things! Read this story from Heidi, the Director of HopeSeed School in Ecuador, of how Gabriela* blossomed into the person God created her to be:

When Gabriela joined our school, she was quiet and disoriented. Because of her background, she was always pressured to act older than her age, which left her feeling uncertain about her identity. Understandably, it took her some time to adjust to our school, but within the first week, we began to see positive change. She began to play with other children, engage in activities like tag, and form friendships free from forced expectations.

While this was encouraging, it was only the beginning of God’s transformational work in her life. Although she was initially hesitant, over time, Gabriela began to actively participate and answer questions in our weekly chapel sessions. Her disposition underwent a remarkable shift, as she blossomed and became more confident. This newfound confidence was reflected in her improved grades and overall demeanor. She was growing into the person God created her to be!

At the end of the year, we held a graduation ceremony to celebrate her transition from 6^th to 7^th grade, which is considered a move from elementary to high school in Ecuador. Towards the end of the event, Gabriela’s mom embraced me tightly, mentioning that her daughter rarely displays emotions but had been close to tears on stage when we gave her a small gift with a Bible verse. Her mother’s heartfelt gratitude and acknowledgment of the positive impact we had on her daughter served as a significant source of motivation for us.

*Pseudonym used for protection and privacy purposes.

When someone chose to sponsor Gabriela, she was given the opportunity to attend school in a healthy, loving, learning environment where she was encouraged to live the life God intended for her, and the positive fruit has permeated her life! Would you like to sow into a child’s life in this way?

Sponsor a student. Transform a life.

Visit www.teachbeyond.org/sponsor to choose a child or learn more about TeachBeyond’s Child Sponsorship Program.