November Update

Hi Friends,
Our hearts are overwhelmed with Thanksgiving and it’s not just because this is the traditional time of giving thanks in the US! We have been truly blown away with God faithfulness, and with his amazing provision for even small details that came together for H.O.P.E. ministry paths since our update in August.
Please take a few minutes to read and give thanks with us for all the ways that God is working through our ministry paths and through faithful supporters such as you!

Lamentations 3:22-23 
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

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Our first Run:Hope Teacher Scholar Graduates
We were excited to receive the news early September that Xhun, a Run:Hope teacher scholar from Salquil Grande, finally had his thesis approved and would graduate September 24th.  Xhun faithfully persevered for 12 years, six of those sponsored by Run:Hope, to finally achieve a double master’s degree in Theology and Music from Seteca Seminary in Guatemala City.  A landslide three days before his graduation almost prevented a van going up the mountain to pick him up with his family, his pastor, and two deacons from his church. They were prepared to hike over the landslide area! God provided and just in time, a large piece of equipment cleared the way for the van.  
 
His graduation was such a poignant reminder of God’s steadfast love and provision not only for Xhun, but for his entire Ixil community. Xhun was the first teacher of Light and Life School which has grown from one class to a full school of kinder through high school with 130 students. Xhun plans to continue teaching at Light and Life School and will also begin to teach in our Firm Foundations, Creation to Christ Bible program in his community in 2023.

Run:Hope Events & Sponsors meet our Goal for 2023 School Year
Our Run:Hope events get people moving and represent the challenge and perseverance necessary to achieve an education in Quiché Guatemala.

The Bike Race, MD
Rick and our son Eric participated in an entire uphill 15.6 bike race September 10th on the GAP trail (Great Allegany Passage trail) in Maryland to raise support for our Run:Hope teachers and students. They met the challenge of their first ever bike race together and are continuing to bike together early in the morning a couple times a week to be even more prepared for next year’s race!

East River Park Run/Walk NYC
October 22nd was a picture perfect fall day in NYC for our Run/Walk in East River Park. We had a wonderful group of individuals from a kick boxer and a couple who are running marathons in each of the 50 US states, to kids, and even a two-month old baby carried in a snuggly, all running and walking in support of our teachers and students in Quiché Guatemala!
 
We are so thankful that through these Run:Hope events, and through the sponsorship and support from three partner churches, our goal of $70,000 for the entire budget of Run:Hope for 2023 was reached!  
 
A BIG thank you to all the participants who met the challenge of biking, running, and walking! 
A BIG thank you to all the sponsors who gave generously!
Check out more pictures of this event here.

The month of November is a time of thanksgiving and celebration in our Bible programs as students complete a year of study.  There have been three celebrations this month in the areas where our “traveling seminary” team brings the Bible program to pastors and lay leaders in harder to access communities in Guatemala. Pictured are some of the classes during the year and the 24 graduates in the community of Samococh.  We are so thankful for the commitment of these students and for the safety that God has given to our team in all their travels throughout the year.

Update | Graduation Under a New Roof at Light & Life School
In our August update, we showed a before and after picture of the outdoor activities and event area at Light and Life School in Salquil Grande.  Through generous supporters, a roof was constructed over this outdoor space, now making it usable for gym time and events without the worry of the sun beating down or downpours during rainy season. The school year has just ended and we are happy to share this photo of the graduation under the new roof.

As you can see, we have so many reasons to give thanks this season! Your loyal support and prayers have kept our ministry paths open and moving forward in ways beyond what we expected. Like the banner reads in the graduation photo,
“Dios Sea La Gloria” -- “To God be the Glory!”
 
We appreciate your partnership so much!  
 
Rick & Deb Carey
(for our entire H.O.P.E. and A.G.A.P.E. team)