August 2024 Newsletter: A Bend in the Road

As we live out this calling to share the Gospel and empower the Pokomchi, God continues to guide and prepare us. Recently, God has led us to be partnered with a Christian nonprofit organization which will handle all our accounting internationally. This organization consists of two counterparts.

In Canada: The Great Commission Foundation (https://thegc.org/ca)

 In the USA – Friends of the Great Commission (https://friendsgc.com)

For short, they are known as GCF in Canada and FGC in the USA. As GCF’s website states, their vision is to fulfill the Great Commission through collaboration, and they do this through providing essential administrative and accounting expertise. This allows partners to focus on the ministry work to which God has called them.

The goals they share with their partners are:

• the advancement of the Christian faith
•  the furtherance of education
•  the relief of poverty

Their experts will receive donations on our behalf, give receipts to donors, and ensure compliance with Canadian and American tax regulations. They then send the donations directly to Guatemala. Having this support is crucial as it empowers ASOSAP to continue serving the Pokomchi.

For donors, this means that there is a change in sending your donations. Below is the new info depending on which country you live in.

Canada:

Online: https://thegc.org/ca/projects/hope-of-the-pokomchi-asosap

Pre- authorized Debit: https://thegc.org/ca/preauthdebit

Mail: make a check out to Hope of the Pokomchi, put Fund #1500 in the memo line and send to:

The Great Commission Foundation
PO Box 14006
Abbotsford, BC
V2T OB4

By Phone: 1-855-488-7020 ext. 425

USA:

Online: https://friendsgc.com/hope-of-the-pokomchi-asosap/

Mail: make a check out to Hope of the Pokomchi, put Fund #F1500 in the memo line and send to:

Friends of the Great Commission
PO Box 6305
Colorado Springs, CO 80934

By Phone: 1-855-573-8483

Previous ways of donating are no longer accepted.

We are continuing with our partnership with DonorSee. Friends of the Great Commission are accepting these funds on our behalf and sending them to Guatemala. Those in the U.S. who donate to Hope of the Pokomchi on DonorSee will receive their tax receipt as a donation to Friends of the Great Commission.

We need your prayers!

• As we continue to adjust to this new partnership
• For funds – We estimate that we have a shortfall of $70,000 US to keep our programs going in 2025

• A volunteer to teach English – This person preferably needs to be bilingual, Spanish and English, and be able to prepare the workbook, class plan, and materials for the English classes in our after-school children’s program (BMH). We have two options of how this could be accomplished: in person in Guatemala from May- November or online from May – November (classes would be two hours/ day for four days, once or twice per month). You can email us at asosap@asosap.org if you are interested.
• A volunteer for website management – making periodic updates on the website

As well as your prayers, we welcome your donations and telling others of our news and our needs. Your support is vital as it positively impacts Pokomcchi lives.

This BMH mother tells it in her own words:

 “I’m very happy and grateful to ASOSAP as they gave my son the opportunity to be part of this project. We’ve seen the progress he’s made in learning new things.

This year he got good grades in the English class at the public school he attends. His teacher congratulated him and asked where he’s learning English. He shared with her that he’s part of this project.

What has brought me even more happiness is the example that he has become for his siblings and for us parents. At home he teaches the Bible verses that he’s memorized to his siblings and prays with them every night. He includes us parents in this learning and prayers too. This is the big change I’ve seen in him.

I thank God for this opportunity that has been given to my children to be a part of BMH for five years. I can testify that they have learned so much about how to be people who are responsible, plan for the future, and follow God.”

We are sincerely grateful for all your partnership and we look forward to continuing together on this journey with God and the Pokomchi people!