New Plans for the Building of Promise - We Need You!

When the Building of Promise was first planned we knew that it would have 3 floors.  The vision that God gave us clearly showed 3 levels and it was confirmed over and over when random people in Guatemala who didn't know about the project, told us of their dreams of a 3 story building that God would use to draw the community to Him.  You helped us build the first and second floors which have provided large classrooms, a beautiful library, offices,and a computer lab.  The church and school use this space daily.  Originally we thought that the third floor would be used to offer middle school grades, but after a lot of research, we have

determined that the cost involved is not the best use of the resources God has given.

I will admit, after several years of envisioning middle school grades in this space, I was a little confused when it became clear that this was not God's plan.  As a team, we began to look at this inner city community and our eyes were opened to the growing need for outreach into a a place that seems to be forgotten. Plagued by gang activity, drugs and extortion, hope is not a common feeling among the people but

Jesus is the hope being offered by our partner church as they shine His light into the community.

 This past summer, before we even knew that middle school was not an option, our Northwest Athlete mission team was on the roof of the Building of Promise.  They spent time praying over the building, the community, the precious people.  At the end of their prayer time my son, Cameron came to me and said,
 

Student athletes praying on the third floor

"Mom, I know you want to have middle school grades up here but I saw something while I was praying.  I don't know what it means but I feel like I need to share it with you." 

 He went on to describe what he saw.  A youth soccer league with young adults from the church coaching and mentoring.  Kids playing, eating, being tutored, and told how much Jesus adores them. 

 Our plan had always been to put a playground and soccer field on the third floor.  In fact, when we first started working in this community my husband David was troubled by the fact that kids didn't have a safe place to play.  As a coach, his heart was to find a solution so that our kids in Guatemala could experience the same benefits of team sports and mentoring that our kids in the states do.  Years ago he said, 

"We should put a sports field on the roof."  

I remember the day this past summer when I looked out from the roof and saw these huge trees, in the middle of this inner city area

The soccer field will be located where that metal roof is.  Do you see the trees?

. It was as if God had planted them years ago so that this safe, play area would include a view of trees.  

The months that followed were difficult on our entire team.  I think most of us were tempted to give up.  The spiritual battle was intense.  God was so faithful to help us through that time and make our team stronger than ever before.  In September we sat around a table and made the decision to stop our plans for middle school.  It was hard, but it felt right.  

As we shared our ideas for how God wanted to use the third floor space, I told them about Cameron's idea for a youth soccer league.  Our Guatemalan team looked at each other and smiled.  They had just been talking about using the soccer field for outreach to the community.  Once again, God was sharing HIS plans and dreams for the Building of Promise.  As we shared, Delmi said "Cristian would be great at leading that program".  We brought him into the conversation and his eyes lit up as he began to share how he dreamed of using soccer to reach kids for Jesus. 

Cristian was no stranger to Caroline's Promise.  He had been in our child sponsorship program since the very beginning and now God was opening the door for him to give back to kids who were like him. He recently told me, 

"Lisa - I want the kids in this community to have a safe place to play soccer because I never did"

Construction has begun on the third floor with 3 classrooms that will allow us to expand our preschool and elementary program while also providing space for the tutoring and mentoring program.  


We need $59,000 to up-fit the first and second floors to accommodate the soccer field and playground on the third floor, as well as add bathrooms, finish the classrooms, and build the soccer field.  The need is urgent because we would like to finish work on the first and second floors while the kids are on summer break.

 










Cristian has already started the soccer ministry.  He has 16 boys

that he is meeting with regularly.  They don't have a safe place to play but that's not stopping them.  Will you pray for Cristian and the other young adults as they lead these boys?  Pray specifically for their safety. 
 
We are looking for 50 people to set up Facebook Fundraising Pages for #GivingTuesday.  Will you be one of the 50?
You'll find step by step instructions here.
 
Don't forget that the first $2 million given to charities through facebook fundraisers on Tuesday beginning at 8 am EST will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the first $2300 given between 8 and 8:30 am will be matched by a Caroline's Promise donor.

Your support is so needed at this time!  We need you to tell your friends on facebook why this project and these people are important to you.  

Thank you for being a part of raising a promise!