Member Directory

Amy DeYoung - Occupational Therapist, New Life Special Education School

"For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." Isaiah 61:11

How To Contact Me:   Email:      ardeyoung@yahoo.com   Mailing Address:      Box 47 El Correo      Antigua, Guatemala, C.A.      03001   Phone Numbers:      Home: 011-502-7832-5779      Cell: 011-502-5509-2088      School: 011-502-5207-2465   Birthday:      Feb. 17, 1978 Blog:      View Blog For your address book:

A Little Bit About Me:

I grew up on a large hog farm in a very small place called Wilton Center, IL. I’m the oldest in the family and have 2 sisters and 1 brother. We lived on the farm with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins. I studied occupational therapy at Western Michigan University, graduated in December 2000, and moved to Guatemala in February 2002. My sending churches are Crete Reformed Church and Wilton Center Federated Church. God has blessed me richly with such loving, supportive, and wonderful family and friends, and I am so grateful!

Place of Ministry

Santa Maria de Jesus is an agricultural town of about 18,000 people. Located approximately 6 miles outside of Antigua, Guatemala, it is the highest village situated on the side of the inactive volcano called Agua. About ninety-nine percent of Santa Maria’s population is indigenous Mayan. The town has the highest rate of poverty, illiteracy, and infant mortality in the region. Water is scarce, and the water available is contaminated. Many of the people suffer and even die from preventable illnesses including malnutrition, respiratory disease, and gastric illness, as a result of the extreme poverty and lack of access to appropriate medical care. The primary source of income is crops of corn, beans, and vegetables, and the average day’s wage is between $2 to $3 for each working member of the family. There are a number of small churches here, but witchcraft is still widely practiced.

The public schools are very overcrowded and short on space and teachers, thus children with any kind of special need are not allowed to attend. Children with learning disabilities get no extra help and repeatedly fail. Our school was created specifically for these children, who would otherwise have no opportunity for education. People with disabilities in this community have learned that they have no value or purpose in life.

Santa Maria de Jesus statistics:

• Overall illiteracy rate 44%
• < 37% of all girls ages 7-14 complete 3rd grade
• Only 1 in 8 girls complete primary school
• Infant mortality 49/1000 births
• Child labor: 34.1% of children ages 7-14 are working
• Seizure medicine for a 4-year old child costs 164% of her father's monthly salary

My Calling:

God first brought me to Guatemala in July 1999 on a short-term mission trip with Students International. During that amazing month, God planted in my heart a great burden for people around the world to know Him. I really started to see the gifts and passions He had given me, and I realized that part of His plan in creating me was to work overseas with children with special needs as a missionary.

As an occupational therapist, I enjoy doing the children’s therapy in their homes as well as at the school so that I continue to develop closer relationships with the mothers and families as well. God will never cease to amaze me with His grace and provision! We are all called to be salt and light wherever we are. My mission is to share Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in this dark place – that the children and their families would be changed by God’s great love and would come to know His purposes for them – and to help the children improve their quality of life through occupational therapy.

Prayer Requests and Praises:

• We have well-outgrown the building we rent for the school and are looking for land to purchase in order to construct our own school! So far, we have not found any land suitable for a school and accessible for our kids in wheelchairs. Please pray for God to make available a suitable plot of land in an accessible location for all of the kids. Pray for God's guidance throughout the process of purchasing the land and constructing a new school.
• We are always finding new children that need therapy, and the nurses in the public health center are referring children to me! The problem is that we need more therapists. Please pray that God would call additional therapists (occupation, physical, and speech) and teachers who share the same vision for the children.
• Pray that God would continue to deepen and bless our relationships with the people of Santa Maria de Jesus, and that He would be glorified and made known through all that we do.
• I am very frequently sick here. Please pray for my health and safety.

Newsletters:

December 2006 Newsletter

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