August 20th, 2021

Hi Run:Hope Friends,

The summer has been full of joys and challenges! We’re so grateful to all who have joined us so far in our summer Run:Hope kick-off. Whether through walking, hosting events, or donating, you are a part of making paths to education larger and more accessible in Quiché. And, it’s not over yet! Read on for updates and more ways to be involved. We also invite you to get to know one of the remarkable teachers at Light and Life School and in the Run:Hope cohort, Juan Pérez Marroquín (Xhun).

Run:Hope Teacher Focus: Xhun

Xhun (pictured on the right), was one of the first teachers at Light and Life School when they began with just one grade in 2004.  Xhun knows what it’s like to persevere through challenges. To get his seminary degree, he has spent the past five years traveling by bus to Guatemala City every Friday evening. Saturday he is in class all day and Sunday morning he returns by bus in time to help lead afternoon services at his home church. He is a father of five, a creative teacher, a gifted musician, and worship leader. A highlight of his teaching career was forming a choir of his fellow teachers and community members who traveled to Guatemala City to perform at Seteca Seminary for their anniversary celebration. We are so grateful to have him partner with us in the upcoming training program, Firm Foundations for Teachers of Children, in the churches in his community.
Happenings this Summer: 

• Nature Walk on July 31st was picture-perfect: God gave us an amazingly beautiful summer day, with a cool morning breeze, warm sunshine and over 50 walkers for our first Run:Hope event of the season. Nature guide cards helped the kids to search and record their discoveries and we all ended up together for a picnic lunch. A Run:Hope banner was signed with encouraging messages and verses to share with the students and teachers in Guatemala. Shout-out to Noelle and Don Hsiao for hosting us in their neighborhood! 

• Still time to join a Run:Hope event: Our next events are a bike race on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Frostburg, MD and a Lap Run on Saturday, Oct. 16 in East River Park, NYC. Shout-outs to Simon Song leading the bikers and Joeleen and Ivan Ng, hosting the run! Register at runhope.org.

• Halfway to our financial goal: Our goal is to raise $50,000 for Run:Hope for the entire 2022 school year. In July we were thrilled to receive news that Maryland Community Church had 67 individuals sign up to support students at Light and Life School for the year!  With the pledges for the Walk in NJ and these sponsorships we are over halfway to our goal now! There is still plenty of time to get walking, biking or running independently or join one of the remaining events in person to help us reach our goal that will help students and teachers persevere in their education goals.

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​Run:Hope Program Development

This past June/July Deb spent five weeks in Guatemala working with the Run:Hope team. We organized a special visit to our three partner schools to offer encouragement and much needed school supplies. Unfortunately due to rising COVID case numbers in the country and slow vaccination roll-out, the in-person meeting component of the trip has been postponed. However, we are working out logistics to deliver school supplies in a safe manner that prioritizes the health of both teachers and our staff.

The team also developed a framework for our next Run:Hope conference, to take place in November. This conference offers 21 participating teachers spiritual encouragement and practical workshops focused on the sciences. As we continue to monitor the situation of COVID in Guatemala we know that we may need to do this conference virtually. Please pray for the wisdom and preparation for this conference that it will be enriching for our Run:Hope teaching cohort.

Firm Foundations for Teachers of Children Program

Deb also had the opportunity to work with the team to develop an introduction to our program, Firm Foundations for Teachers of Children that we hope to restart in January in Salquil Grande, Quiché, where our Run:Hope partner school, Light and Life, is located. This thorough training in God’s word from creation to Christ, including teaching methods and preparation of lesson visuals, has been a vital resource in the past for rural churches in the area.

So thankful for your support

It's been a summer mixed with joys and challenges, but we know who keeps our steps firm and gives us the strength to persevere in all things! We are so very thankful for each and every one of you who have offered your support, prayers and love to move our Run:Hope education initiative forward. We encourage you to follow us for the latest happenings on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. 

That's all for now. Keep moving and praying!

Rick and Deb