From La Vina Harvesting Families for Christ.
Why do a school supply distribution?
In every household all across the US the beginning of August means back to school prep. Here in Mexico it is the same. Although school is offered to everyone. The expense of it can be very daunting to the families in our neighborhood. So we have chosen to partner with them during this time. You may be asking yourself, how is this bringing the kingdom of God into their lives? Why put resources into the community school? This is why:
The school here, because of projects like this, has pretty much opened their doors completely to us and given us freedom to come and be with the kids whenever we want. A few weeks ago they allowed us to share an amazing drama that bold proclaimed the Good News of salvation to over half of the school (close to 200 kids)! We want to continue with projects like this one so that our relationship with the school continues to grow and we are given more opportunities like that one.
When we do the school supply distribution we do it in different tiers. In one tier parents earn a backpack and supplies for their kids, paying nothing. Another tier makes it possible for parents earn the backpack and buy the supplies. The supplies are at a fraction of the cost. This is one of our most effective outreaches because of this system. Parents leave with an extreme sense of satisfaction because they earned/bought their child’s supplies. This affirms to them their sense of pride and self-worth. Also by selling the supplies for a small amount, helps off set the cost for us and opens us up to provide the service to more people. This time of year everyone has this need, so EVERYONE comes. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!
This is also about helping families break the circle of poverty they are in. Many families take out loans in order to cover the back to school expenses, which turns around to bite them with interests. It is also very common for families to buy the supplies at the corner store which sells pencils, markers, even paper individually. That way they only buy what they need right then. Here is an example: For a homework assignment they only need a red and a blue colored pencil. So they go to the store and just buy the red and blue. The next week though they need a different color and back to the store they go. In the end they spend what would have bought two complete boxes of colored pencils, all because they couldn’t afford the complete box. Then the circle of poverty continues on. We provide the complete supplies at a price they can afford, thus breaking the circle.
On Tuesdays I have a Bible study with a group of women. When we read the passage for that day only half of them look at the Bible. The other half don’t bother because they CAN"T read. It breaks my heart to see this every week. I yearn for these women to open God’s word and hear His Spirit talk directly to their hearts. I want them to soak in his word everyday. But I know that if they can’t read, it is not going to happen for them. In order for them to hear God’s word and learn it someone else has to read to them. Can you imagine not being able to read God’s word for yourself? I CAN"T! That’s why it is become a real passion of mine to partner with this school. I want these kids to read the Bible for themselves and feel it come to life.
This outreach is really not about school supplies. It is about connecting with people, breaking bonds of poverty, and making God’s word accessible.
See the school supply list here:
http://www.knowntome.net/index.php/site/Backpacks_for_Amigos/
More information from the local organizer of the Backpacks for Amigos
http://www.knowntome.net/index.php/site/comments/backpacks_for_amigos/
