Where We Work:
La Cuchilla, Guatemala City
La Cuchilla is sometimes referred to as the “neighborhood nobody wants.” It is situated just inside the border of Guatemala City unless you ask the government of Guatemala City. They will tell you it is part of Villa Hermosa.
As a result, there is no school, security, and little attention paid to the area.
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This is a neighborhood produced by the Civil War. Most of the families here were squatters escaping the genocide in the mountains.
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Over the years, temporary shelters of tin and wood have been steadily replaced by cinderblock homes and businesses. But too many of our kids still live within tin walls with limited water and electricity.
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La Isla, Santa Fe- a suburb of Guatemala City
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La Isla in Santa Fe was formed by the 1976 earthquake and a series of subsequent sinkholes and mudslides. Surrounded by sheer cliffs, it is accessible only by a one-lane bridge behind an industrial section of Santa Fe.
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the people are still among the poorest of the city. A public school placed on the site closed because the parents couldn’t afford books, uniforms, or even shoes for the kids.
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El Naranjo, Cocales
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El Naranjo is a neighborhood of folks mostly tied into the produce distribution and growing network. It is a hot and dusty hamlet tucked behind a cluster of street markets on the main route to Solola.
Our third feeding location came about as the result of the Covid Shutdown, but will continue into 2021 with 40 children.
FOOD and FAITH FOR ALL OF
GOD'S CHILDREN
ACOC/MCU Guatemala manages feeding programs in three locations. We provide hot, healthy meals for over 300 children and some of their families.
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For some, it is the only hot food they get all week. For many, it is the only vegetables and vitamins they’ll see. For all of the kids, it is a place to gather and feel safe for a while.
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But it is not enough to feed the kids. We need to nourish their lives, too. The feeding program provides us with a draw to our Children’s Ministry.
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CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
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The children receive a weekly Bible lesson at the program. When we can, the lesson is tied to health, social, or environmental topic for the children.
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Hygiene, pandemic control measures, bullying, and sharing are examples of topics covered in the past year.
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Each year, we purchase books that help provide an outline of Faith-related conversations and activities from January through November.
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We integrate online films and live action stories to engage the children in the topics of the day and to bring current events into the classes.
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Songs, crafts, and play-acting are also common activities in a 40-minute class.
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The Children’s Ministry hosts celebrations for Children’s Day, Independence Day, and Christmas.
Special visitors and other events pepper the schedule.
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