Throughout the United States and Mexico, the end of the school year is approaching. Graduations are taking place, young children are eager to move up to their next grade. There is a feeling of excitement at upcoming family vacations, unstructured time, and fun with friends as summer break quickly approaches. It is at this time, however, when Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) doubles their efforts in requesting the help of others to provide backpacks with school supplies to students in the Lower Valley area of El Paso, Cd. Juarez, and Chihuahua. This year, the goal is 2,000 backpacks and school supplies, which will be distributed through YLM’s partnering mission-churches in El Paso and Mexico to children from low-income families and impoverished communities, such as Anapra, KM30, and San Lorenzo.

Several dozen of these backpacks will go to children in Juarez orphanages and to underserved primary schools in Cd. Juarez, such as Jose de Allende, which students and teachers have encountered the compassion and generosity of God and His people through one of Anapra’s mission-churches, Iglesia Luterana La Santa Biblia. The current count of backpacks available is only a quarter of what YLM is committing to make available. The generosity of donors has already begun to show as boxes of backpacks arrive from www.bagsinbulk.com, where cases can be purchased and directly shipped to YLM.

Michelle helps children with the Bible lesson

As this takes place, Stay in School Scholarship reports go out to current sponsors, sharing the progress of scholarship recipients along with pictures and letters from the students, along with the appeal for a renewed commitment to sponsor a student for the upcoming school year. The supplemental scholarship of $700 helps cover costs families of these students are unable to cover. For Michelle Lira, a university student being sponsored by a long-time supporter of YLM, shared her monthly scholarship disbursements cover transportation, school books, meals during school hours, and any additional materials she might need for assignments.

Michelle, at age twenty, is also beginning the second phase of the deaconess program, offered through the Seminario Redentor de Concordia in the Dominican Republic. She successfully completed the first phase in May 2022, after two years of study, and is dedicated to finishing this second phase. During the first two years, Michelle shared there were times she would be working on assignments for both university and her deaconess courses, she wouldn’t sleep. For the intensive deaconess classes she had to attend in Mexico City, she would log into her university classes during her downtime to ensure completion of required assignments and tasks.

Javier has been learning piano and even played at San Lucas’ Christmas service last year

“It’s very important to me, the work I am doing at my church,” she shared concerning her dedication to education, “I am learning a trade that will help provide for my family and my community, but I also desire to teach others, especially children, about who God is and what He has done for us in Jesus Christ. It’s important to me because I have a younger brother I do my best to encourage and guide towards a life with God.”

Another one of YLM’s scholarship students seeking to grow in their faith is Javier Valadez, who will be graduating from high school on June 25th. Javier has been sponsored throughout his high school years. His next step is to enroll into the Dominican Republic seminary, as he feels called to be a missionary.

Several scholarship students at Santisima take guitar classes with Pastor Hernandez, providing music for Christmas and Easter services

YLM has committed to helping find sponsors for travel, tuition, and whatever else is needed for Javier’s transition from Mexico to the Dominican Republic. At this time, Javier dedicates his free time to learning to play guitar and piano so he can accompany his fellow brothers and sisters at Iglesia Luterana San Lucas in Anapra.

Pastor Jose Hernandez, shepherd of Iglesia Luterana Santisima Trinidad, oversees 16 of the 21 Stay in School Scholarship recipients for the 2023-2024 school year. Six of Pastor Hernandez’s students received scholarships sponsored by St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Barrington, IL, which were funded as a legacy gift by one of their members and a long-time supporter of YLM. The scholarships provided by St. Matthew have been on-going for several years now, and many of the students who received it have completed their studies, becoming teachers, nurses, architects, engineers, lawyers, and supervising managers of large factories. Another church from New Mexico provides 8 scholarships, with Pastor Hernandez’s oldest son sponsoring 2 scholarships.

“These young people are a blessing to our church,” Pastor Hernandez shared, “They help lead events, assist with church activities and are involved in the liturgical life of the church.” The Santisima Trinidad scholarship committee is dedicated to their sponsored students, motivating and encouraging their continued education and their involvement with the church.

This encouragement has spilled over to the adults of the congregation. One such person is Oscar René Vázquez, a man with family who grew up in the Pentecostal church but was introduced to the Lutheran doctrine by Pastor Hernandez. “He came to Santisima Trinidad, took confirmation classes with me, where I taught him about the Lutheran doctrine and church,” Pastor Hernandez shared with a smile. Oscar René began to seek more education on the Lutheran doctrine, attending the Luther Institute in Mexico City, where, after three years of study, he just graduated this past April as a deacon.

YLM and its supporters rejoice in seeing how the investment into the education and faith-growth of others is resulting in changed lives, families, and communities. You can be a part of this legacy many are leaving behind by donating towards the ministries dedicated to Education, Missions, and or a Stay in School Scholarships.

You can also support this year’s Back to School Distribution by buying backpacks at www.bagsinbulk.com and having them shipped directly to YLM!