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  • Writer's pictureShantelle Matos

Transformation + Hope

So far, our first week here has been information overload - in the best way! We left Canada on Tuesday and our incredible two month journey began! Our first full day here, we started out in full swing by visiting to the two communities that the Lighthouse Project works with.


The Lighthouse Project was established over two decades ago in Los Alcarrizos. Funny enough, about 12 years ago, I was here on my first missions trip. Lesson learned from 12 years ago: do not wash oil based paint with water... you'll get smurf hands.



And let me tell you, the Lighthouse school has grown exponentially in its influence in the community, as well as the physical school size; on the grounds, they now have two school buildings, a playground, baseball diamond, basketball court, soccer field, and vocational school building and a building dedicated for the teams that come to serve alongside the people here.



During our first full day we were able to walk around the community and learn about the transformation that has happened over the past two decades. It is incredible to see churches and homes built for the locals and to hear stories of children attending school and graduating with jobs lined up!


Visions of Transformation for Villa Altagarcia

Our first morning here, we journeyed to the community of Villa Altagarcia to learn the relationship that the Lighthouse Project has been building with the local leaders in the community. For about two years now, local leaders of Villa Altagarcia and the head of the Lighthouse Project, have been working on improving the conditions in the community of Villa Altagarcia. Basic needs like access to clean, affordable water, education and skills training are needed. The average health of the people is below average and the unemployment rate is around 70%.


One of the main construction projects Lighthouse is working on is the construction of the water purification system (which is still under construction due to waiting on more funds to complete the construction). The system will be able to pump out around 25,000 gallons of fresh, bottled water a day!!! Not only will this system benefit the health of the community, but it also presents a business venture to local leaders and pastors. Lighthouse Project has done this in the community of Los Alcarrizos, where local leaders/pastors are able to come, bottle water, and go out into their communities and sell it for a very reasonable price. They receive a certain amount of pesos for selling the water and it allows for the community to have access to good water at an affordable price.


Having the local pastors run this business provides them with a steady income, which helps them to stay rooted in their community! So, not only is the water system fulfilling a basic need - clean water - but it is also providing locals pastors an income AND locals the ability to purchase fresh water at a very reasonable price. How amazing is that!


The second project Lighthouse Project is working on is for a local vocational school that will have mechanic, electrician, business and beauty classes for the community to partake in. The school allow for people in the community to develop their hands on skills where they can gain employment much easier and quicker in a good trade and decrease the unemployment rate and shift the lives of the people in the community.



📷: Kelsey DeGraaf // Villa Altagarcia + future site of Vocational School (bottom left)


This was ONE MORNING... I am sure you can imagine how full the rest our first week has been with gaining a deeper understanding of the work being done here. Take about information overload for all of you too.


HOPE

Through conversations and walks in the community, it was so clear to see how lives have been impacted through the various teams and organizations that have contributed to the Lighthouse Projects. I hope you can see what is now so clear to me now… that in order for these programs and projects to happen, money is needed. There needs to be funds raised by the program leaders here, as well as by advocates from churches and organizations (like Kelsey and I), in order for these construction projects in Villa Altagarcia to be completed. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to raise funds for the programs like Lighthouse, to see the continuation of life transformation!


Walking around Villa Altagarcia and Los Alcarrizos, I caught onto the vision that the Lighthouse Project has for the community. You could tell by the way the Lighthouse leaders and locals in the community talked about the projects that they all had passion and amazing dreams to see lives changed through programs, and moreover transformed by the power of God! I am filled with renewed joy and hope as I see the faith of the people - there is such a sense of hope in communities we have been in. Everyone we have met so far have such a solid faith in God, that He is with them and working in their lives. I am so encouraged by everyone I speak with!


Thank you to everyone who is following along, supporting iTeams and praying for me on this experience! More to come in the next few days!


Xo,

Shantelle

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