Angel, 26, was a beneficiary in one of our community centers in the garbage dump communities. It was there that his process of transformation started.
“I am the second of five brothers. I live with my parents who have been married for over 30 years. Something that I strongly remember from my childhood is my mother’s job: picking up recycled materials from the garbage dump. Although both parents worked, there wasn’t enough money to cover the basic necessities. Despite our social and economic situation, we were always a happy family. Most of my childhood and adolescence was spent at Potter’s House. In 1998 I started to go on Saturday’s. I started to know of God, however, I still had not taken the decision to start a relationship with Jesus. In 2000, I started high school and I was part of the Education program at Potter’s House. That year there was a camp and it was there that I accepted Jesus as Savior and started my personal relationship with him. He blessed me and granted an academic scholarship that covered all of my high school costs. It was truly a blessing because in Guatemala to continue studying after middle school is a privilege.”
“In my senior year, my grades were not good. I decided to withdraw because I thought that it was not worth continuing. But my mother and my teachers at Potter’s House insisted on continuing and to not give up. On a Friday I decided to skip school and with a friend, we decided to go to the garbage dump and pick up recycled materials. And we did! It was an experience that I will never forget. Working there taught me a valuable lesson, “To not faint, even if the storm is strong”. This one day of my life, this one experience working at the garbage dump changed my life and encouraged me to continue forward. The following Monday I was one of the first ones to be at school. I finished my senior year successfully.”
For more than 10 years Potter’s House has helped Angel through our 5 programs. Angel was able to develop the skills and knowledge that will come in handy later in life. He has reach state of empowerment that allowed him to serve his community.
“Potter’s House has impacted my life in all areas. However, I feel where they most impacted me was in my spiritual health. As a child through evangelism activities, it was possible to plant seeds that have sprung up. In my teenage years, I started my personal relationship with Jesus. I started to attend church at 12 years old. I learned to sing and play some musical instruments (and I still continue to play some of them). One of my dreams is to serve the Lord through evangelism activities.” “In 2013 Potter’s House gave me the opportunity to be part of the staff. My first job was to be the inventory assistant. Gradually I moved up as the Community Development Program Assistant. And now I’m a program promoter in one community centers. It has been a privilege and a wonderful opportunity to be part of what God has for Potter’s House. With my job I can serve those that are in need and I can give back what I have received.”
Now Angel is empowered with the skills and capabilities that allow him to continue serving other in his community. He is able to continue to carry out God’s plans for his life.
“In 2014 I apply for a grant to continue studying at the “Theological Seminary”. There were only two grants available and I was able to get one of them!!! With this course, I was able to increase my knowledge of God. I was able to share that knowledge with others.”
“By 2015, God put in my heart to form a youth group for the communities at the garbage dump. My goal was to reach teenagers who did not know of God and who were involved in illegal activities (gangs, drugs etc.) I thought about 20 people would come, but God surprised me! 142 people (adults, teenagers, and children) came! Although at the beginning my idea was to create a youth group, I couldn’t ignore God’s plan and now an average of 75 people of all ages come to the group and hear about God’s word. I want to encourage more young people to work for God in all Guatemala.”