Apostolic Christian HarvestCall -- Proclaim Christ and Serve Others

Preparation for Adulthood

Marta will turn age 18 in less than a year. Overnight the government will declare her an adult and release her to choose whatever lifestyle she desires from that day forward. She will no longer be legally bound to reside under the nurture and care that she has received for the past six years. If the trend holds true, it will be a vulnerable time for this young lady.

Marta's situation is not uncommon with any child but seems more acute in an environment of Christian, family-based, residential child care. It often evokes the question, "How can we invest into these children to successfully prepare them for the transition from childhood into adulthood?"

On the campus of Casa Vida y Esperanza (CVE in Magdalena, MX) additional steps have been taken to address that very question. Colegio Verdad y Vida, their newly accredited private school, includes a Vocational Technology requirement.

The Impact of Vocational Tech Classes

Vocational classes have opened the door for a new level of engagement with the Jr. High students. Currently the 8 week sessions include carpentry, electrical wiring, auto mechanics and home finances. Each of the classes are taught by missionaries or people from the local community. Other classes have included a meat science class (butchering to packaging) and a small electronics.

Practically speaking, these classes require attention to detail as they learn to balance a budget, debug electrical circuits or reassemble the brakes of a vehicle. The students develop persistence and teachableness as they work through challenging projects and receive the instruction from teachers and other classmates.

Several of the children have gained a healthy sense of confidence through the completion of relevant real-life projects. One of the students came to a teacher after learning to change car tires and exclaimed, "I want to buy a car and flatten the tires just so I can change them!" with a big smile on her face. Another student during class dejectedly said, "When am I going to use this?", then after debugging and completing his electrical circuit excitedly showed several adults what he had done. It is not an exaggeration to say these small successes have lifelong consequences.

Skill development and self-acceptance can help build sufficient strength to say, "No" to unhealthy influences in the transitional years. Furthermore, it is the hope that these small but valuable times of influence will soften their hearts to say, "Yes" to their need of Jesus as Saviour.

How you can participate

Your contributions to CVE can be used to purchase new equipment such as wood working tools or automotive tools such as an auto hoist. For brothers and sisters able to stay for multiple weeks, there is opportunity to teach vocational skills such as a robotics team. Since these shop experiences are more "hands on" and observational, instruction can be achieved even by those who speak little Spanish.

As the Lord provides creative ideas on how to serve, please feel free to contact Bro. Daton Kupferschmid. He will work with you to employ your skills and willingness that young souls might be strengthened through those difficult years of transition from childhood to adulthood.

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Classes like these, taught by Christian men and women, are one way that CVE teaches biblical principles to their children. In this case, it is about the importance of work, perseverance, serving others, and using our God-given talents. While gaining employable skills is important, the greatest desire CVE staff have for their children is what all Christian parents want: that they someday repent and trust Christ for their salvation.

Thanks for your support of CVE and other HarvestCall ministries.

In Christian Love,