Face to Face Stories: The Academic High Achiever

The disciples of Jesus had lived a dream. For three years, they followed Jesus, witnessing miracle after miracle. It was a life they never could have expected. So what did they do when they thought that the door had closed on that future?

Peter, Andrew, James, and John went back and picked up the nets they had dropped to follow Jesus. When Jesus found them in Galilee, he found them doing what they knew how to do—fishing. Fishing was vital work, and honorable work—but we know that God had another occupation in mind for these men.

Many young people in our Manna 4 Lempira programs are living a similar experience during this season of quarantine. Having been empowered, encouraged, and equipped to stay in school they have chased a different dream for their lives—something that may have been outside the realm of possibility for their parents. But with the drastic disruption in the normalcy of life here, including closure of schools and businesses, these youth are going back to what they know. 

Everywhere I look these days, I see corn fields—sprouting green rows of hope pushing up through the broken earth. And in these fields are young men like “Jose”. 

Their work is skilled work. As someone whose gardens never produce more than a few wrinkly tomatoes, I envy the intelligence, experience, and hard work that produces fruitful fields. I’m thankful for their work too, as a consumer dependent on this vital harvest. However, I know that in these fields are young men who, when given the opportunity, also have other affinities that can impact the futures of their communities in other positive ways.

Last year, I stood beside Jose, bursting with pride, as he graduated from high school with top honors. I know the struggle that his family has endured to get this far. Life has not been easy, even without the complications of coronavirus. But in spite of bitter circumstances that made him man of the house at a young age, Jose is a kind, godly, young man with a servant’s heart. He is always smiling his dazzling smile, optimistic and happy. His hands are best suited for skilled work at a keyboard, his keen mind best challenged by rows of computer code. With the impact of coronavirus, his dream to major in Information Technology at the local university died for a season. Instead of typing intricate rows of code, he plants orderly rows of corn.

I stood by Jose’s side recently and listened to him share about his work, blisters on his sun-browned hands and determination in his coffee black eyes. Jose is doing what he must do to provide for his family at this time. With his mother’s stall in the local market closed for 100 days, Jose is working to feed her and his four siblings. Right now, it’s hard to think ahead to a future in information technology. He must think about putting meals on the table.

This situation highlights the vital role of sponsorship in the life of a young person. As the situation with COVID-19 continues to develop—and hopefully wind down—in Honduras, we are here, forming a safety net to ensure that Jose’s dreams don’t die. We will be here as a ministry to continue encouraging Jose and many like him to pursue their dreams. We will continue to supplement their food supply with crisis provisions to encourage Jose and take some of the burden from his young shoulders.

The disciples of Jesus went back to fishing—but not for long. God had plans that nothing could stop for those men to share a message that would change the world. We are no less confident that God has plans to change homes, communities, and Honduras through the lives of young people like Jose. We know that whether God’s plan is for Jose to bless his community through productive fields or through technology, coronavirus can’t stop that plan—and we want to be there to help Jose reach his full potential for his country and for God’s kingdom.

 - posted by Kim

If you'd like to help with the cost of distributing food 

to the struggling families in western Honduras,
here is a link where you can do so:

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