ESL & Literacy Project

A Fundraiser for MEXICO - Colima : Widows & Orphan's Project

$4,900 $6,000
RAISED
GOAL
5
supporters

LOCAL TEACHER GOES INTERNATIONAL :     I have teamed up with other HFTN members who share the same vision toward literacy; that poverty is lessened where literacy is achieved. We believe that people who have lost their rights often have also lost their voice, and we therefore advocate for ‘liberation through literacy’.

How Your Donation Will Help

PURPOSE: 

  • to have each and every Hope Child in our Manzanillo schools, achieve an excellent level of fluency in their own language,
  • to enable each child to develop fluency in their use of English 
  • to enable students to apply their knowledge to their choice of careers or post secondary education

METHOD:

  • to further equip educators, house parents and families with educational resources and technology in order to facilitate ESL acquisition and fluency
  • install ESL learning systems and licensed software on local computers
  • train local educators
  • give educators hands on tools, reproducible teaching resources and lesson plans

GOAL:

  • to equip students to such a degree that they excel, exceed and achieve their academic goals so that their future opportunities will be from a much broader range of choices

WHAT WE NEED:

  • donor support to enable volunteers to travel to Mexico and help set up the implementation of the ESL & Literacy Project in Manzanillo schools
  • your support to help launch the ESL program, licensed ESL software and all teaching resources that will be needed
  • donations toward: computers, office equipment and stationary supplies!!

Fundraiser Updates

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    A Good Bang for your 'Buck or Two'!

    I was planning my upcoming wedding and was thinking about presents and gifts.  My fiance, Bruce and I have everything we need, so why not ask people to donate a toy or school supplies to our projects in Mexico.  Our friends and family responded with enthusiasm!  We had enough to fill up more than 15 suitcases.

    With that in mind, I approached the “Buck or Two Dollar Store” in West Kelowna, BC, about the possibility of donating a few things to our kids in Colima, Mexico.  I explained to the owner that my fiancé and I would be delivering 20 suitcases of gifts to Mexico, when we went there for our wedding.  The Buck or Two Dollar Store responded very positively and donated more than a ‘few’ things; they gave us three bags full of gifts for the children.


    After our wedding day in Manzanillo, we rented a van and took our entire wedding party of 20 Canadians to Hogar de Amor y Protección al Niño, and happily delivered the gifts to the children on February 28th. The children were so happy and excited to have the love and attention of our group!  We would love to deliver more gifts, if anyone else has some little treasures they want to donate!


    We at Hope for the Nations are so thankful for the generosity of businesses like the “Buck or Two.”

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    A good time was had by all!!

    Piggy Back races at Casa Cuna, Colima, Mexico.  28 February 2012

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Look at the camera and SMILE!!

    It's harder than you can imagine to get 25 people all looking at the camera and smiling at the same time!!

    Some of the children and Bruce and Lisa's wedding guests at the Colima orphanage! 28 February 2012.

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    New Education & New Health Opportunities means New HOPE

    We are thankful to the Lord for the opportunity for all of our elementary aged children in Hogar de Amor y Protección al Niño in the Colima area, to attend afternoon classes in Adonai, the Christian school run by our church "Grupo Amor". Afternoon classes have been established solely for them, allowing the children to avoid attending the public school where they were marked as “orphanage children”. They now have the opportunity to learn in much smaller classes, which is an absolute blessing as many of them have learning difficulties.

    This has placed an additional, monthly financial burden on the children’s home ministry, but one we feel is well worth the extra cost. We have had a few people who have stepped up and started to help on a monthly basis for this additional need and we pray that perhaps others will see the value in this as well and be able to help us on a regular basis. Please click here to make a donation toward a child’s tuition and education!

    We also give thanks to the Lord that little Abdiel after being turned down by several doctors, was able to receive the dental surgery he desperately needed. There was significant risk with the surgery because of possible affects of the anesthetic affecting his already weak heart, but Praise the Lord, we were able to find a surgeon who would do it in Celaya, and the surgery was a success. Abdiel is a young boy with special needs who came to us as a baby and was adopted by Joel and Cecy, houseparents in the Casa Matriz.


    Love Dennis and Diane
     

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted
  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Why we do what we do ... Healthy, Happy Kids!!

    Bruce, Joe, and Ina delivered the presents to Casa Cuna and arrived just in time for dinner!!

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    We made it and didn't get lost

    I'm so proud of Bruce and his great sense of direction!!

    He drove us straight to the church, even though there were detours and many changes since the last time he was in Cihuatlan.

    We had a nice afternoon with Pastor Cesar and his family.  They appreciate the care and concern of our friends and family in Canada!

    It's nice to know that a little effort goes a long way!  Sometimes it seems like there are too many issues or problems and "how can I make a difference?"  But  giving a few dollars and some time and effort was all that was needed to make this project a big success!!

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Bruce loads up the Bug with supplies

    We were fortunate that a local businessman, Jeremy, offered us the use of his 'Bug' to make the deliveries to Cihuatlan and Colima!

    What an adventure!

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Blessings

    We had a great time filling up three shopping carts with supplies!

    I don't usually like shopping, but this time it was fun!

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Shopping is better when you have a good cause!

    I am so thankful to be able to put together a huge care package for four communities in the Manzanillo area.  We bought food, school supplies and other necessities and brought them to local pastors to be  handed out to the families hardest hit by hurricane Jova.

    Also, we had presents and support to deliver to Casa Cuna in Colima.  We have had a busy and productive time.  It's almost time to return home, but I'm not ready!

    Viva Mexico!!

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Bruce Delivers the Presents

    Well we are here in Manzanillo and having a wonderful time.  We visited Pastor Cesar and his family in Cihuatlan, Jalisco today and delivered a carload full of supplies for the families of this pueblo that has been hardest hit by hurricane Jova.

    Unfortunately, I've been sick for two days, so I went to Cihuatlan, but didn't make it to Colima.

    Bruce invited a couple from the hotel to accompany him and they had a great visit to Casa Cuna where the children were having a bedtime snack!!

     

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Hurricane Jova - October 2011

    Dear friends,

    The following is a copy of an email that a Pastor friend from Cihuatlan, Jalisco, MX., sent to us this week.

    His village, as well as the children's home in Manzanillo, are in dire need of supplies.

     

    "Martha and I say hello, our house and we are safe thanks.

    We appreciate so much your willing to help, anyway or other the city has been beaten, everybody has been impacted by the consequence of this hurricane, which was not strong in its winds but a lot in water.

    The banana sowing is lost and with it all those people jobs, the river got overflow and the flood was from the downtown street and everybody down there lost, houses, bussines, schools, entertainment, even my job the tennis courts.


    The help hasn´t stopped from coming everywhere to the city, goverment, families, states from México but this will last sometime to return normal. we are day by day getting back to normality as possible.
    The help to the church has come too, and we´ll see more next week from our church in Manzanillo.

    -Yes we need more bibles.
    -The most needed things are tinned food, milk, cereal, rice, beans, cookies, cleanliness stuff.
    -We need some money, our sound equipment got wet and needs to be repared.
    -No need for clothing this has already been supplied.

    I look forward to see you soon

    César"

     

    Bruce and I will be in Manzanillo for a week and will be taking books, bibles and buying other supplies once we get there.  Please pray as we go! 

    Hugs and Blessings,

    Lisa Marie

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Blessed New Year!

    Hola Friends,

    Good News!  Bruce Perrin (my fiance) and Nadine Flinsky (my oldest daughter) are heading off to Mexico to continue the work we started last year.  They will be delivering books & bibles to a small church in a pueblo just north of Manzanillo and will also be helping the pastor and his wife with whatever small needs they may have.  Bruce & Dini will be working with Dennis & Barb Clark and at Casa Hogar with some  repairs that are needed there! 

    It is such a blessing to me that my family is supportive and involved with this ministry.  I have just started a full-time teaching position in Kelowna, so I'm unable to go on this trip!  But I will be praying for them and hope that you'll join me in praying for them, too!! 

    God bless you all!

    Thank-you for your past and present support in oh so many ways.

    Love Lisa

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Manzanillo AND COLIMA Literacy Project!!

    Hola mi familia!

    My heart is so full right now!  We have been slowly but surely researching and planning, and  it looks like we'll have a truck and trailer ready to roll to Mexico in the Fall of 2010!!  Last year, I borrowed most of our ESL instructional tools from our local school district, but this year, I'm hoping we'll have the funds to purchase our own licenses, curriculum and school supplies. 

    The exciting part about this adventure, is, if it works in Colima/Manzanillo, it will work everywhere that HFTN has children's homes.  We will help the local school set up a Literacy & ESL project in their school district, or from 'scratch' and we'll provide the teaching tools.  And once the system is established, the teachers or house parents will be able to access all resources independently!! 

    I love how the Lord works these things out ....for good!  :-)

    Que dios te bendiga,

    Lisita

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    ESL Library Grows!!

    Blessings to All!!

    We are planning another trip to Manzanillo and Colima! The Lord has put it on my heart to follow through with my intentions and vision toward the children; to keep on working at this and to never give up!

    We have received another huge donation of used text books, novels and resources from SD23. In total, I believe there are approximately 1000 books, ready and waiting to be delivered to the ESL faculty of the school in Colima. Prior to our excursion, we need to document each and every title and send an annotated bibliography (of sorts) to the English department in Colima. Any librarians out there who would like to direct this venture??

    I am so excited to see this endeavour prosper. Thank-you for your continued support and prayers!

    Jesus Loves the little Children and so do we!!
     

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    ESL Library Grows!

    Blessings to All!!

    We are planning another trip to Manzanillo and Colima!  The Lord has put it on my heart to follow through with my intentions and vision toward the children; to keep on working at this and to never give up!  

    We have received another huge donation of used text books, novels and resources from SD23.  In total, I believe there are approximately 1000 books, ready and waiting to be delivered to the ESL faculty of the school in Colima.  Prior to our excursion, we need to document each and every title and send an annotated bibliography (of sorts) to the English department in Colima.  Any librarians out there who would like to direct this venture??

    I am so excited to see this endeavour prosper. Thank-you for your continued support and prayers!

    Jesus Loves the little Children and so do we!!

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Sunshine and Blessings

    We have had such a great time with the children and families of Hogar de Amistad.  Carlos and Yolanda have blessed us with family meals and a New Years party and more!  They are so lovely and so are their many children!! :-)

    I visited the Escuela Amistad today and was able to give Susan Eubanks some of the materials you all donated and tomorrow I will be teaching a class some ESL!  The school is very welcoming and the children all seem so happy, even though it's there first day back from holidays!!

     

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Happy New Year!!

    Hola Everyone!!

    We're in Manzanillo now!!  Will be heading home in five days.  The weather is absolutely beautiful.  The projects are all going well!  God is Good :)

    I'll update with photos again soon! 

    Thanks again for all of your love and support!!

    xoxo

     

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    Muchas Gracias Tio Miguel

    Thank-You Uncle Mikey!!

    We've already put your generous donation to GREAT Work!!  Lots of hacky sacks and books for the kids!! 

    You're the Best.  God Bless You!!

    Love Lisa & Family

  • Lisa Marie Lawrence posted

    More Donations - Muchas Gracias!!!

    Feliz Navidad everyone!!   May God bless you and prosper you this Christmas season. Please pray for Nathan, Heather & I as we leave for Manzanillo on Dec23-Jan6.

     I posted some comments on my page, but I'd also like to provide an update here! :-)  I'd like to send out sincere thanks to my dad, Ed Lawrence, who has given our project so much, including a recent $500 donation!  (yet to show up on our page).  Also, Kim and Rod Irwin of Peachland donated $100 to the different projects my family is involved in.  We quickly put the money to good use, purchasing books and educational toys for each child.

    Although my page doesn't show much progress in the $ raised, it's important to know that God has provided so much in the way of encouragement and other support.  I feel abundantly blessed to know how much God cares for each and every child!

    God be praised and Glorified!! I love you all :-)

Where does the money go?

MEXICO - Colima : Widows & Orphan's Project

To support the widows and orphan projects, volunteers would go in on the short term and assist in the following ways: Maintenance work, cleaning, or painting; Spend time with the children : playing, swimming, doing crafts, and/or teaching them ... Read more >