Christ's Church

MANO CON MANO HEALTH REACH

“Hand in Hand” in Yalú, Guatemala Health Outreach Mission

Mano con Mano is Spanish for "Hand in Hand", which speaks to the ministry’s focus of coming alongside local people in Latin America communities to serve and to share God’s love in a tangible way through improving their health and spiritual development.

In 1995, Bill and Susan Jones founded health outreach mission named “Mano con Mano Health Reach” in Yalú, Guatemala. While working in this small Mayan village, Susan could see first-hand how the malnutrition epidemic in Guatemala severely limited the hope of children and expectant mothers through high rates of infant mortality and poor brain development. Studies showed that 62% percent of Mayan children are malnourished and that Guatemala has the highest “stunting” (undergrowth) rate in the world. Unlike other feeding programs that target school-aged children, MCM decided to focus on those very young and unborn in an effort to improve the chances for survival and success in school for those fed. The result, they believe, will bring hope for the next generation of Mayans in this impoverished village.

Responding in faith and with the support of faithful donors and many partners in prayer, in 2005 Mano con Mano Health Reach began a nutrition program and a building program. Their building, the largest in Yalú, was completed in 2006 where young children and new mothers are fed a nutritious lunch three times a week. Beginning modestly with 75 children, in 2011 the feeding center now provides hope through nutrition for nearly 300 children and expectant mothers!

In addition to the feeding program, the ministry is shining a tangible light in Yalu by:

Promoting community health through basic community and prenatal health care and the construction of beds, baths, and stoves
Educational development by way of tutoring groups and scholarships
Spiritual development via weekly women’s ministry and youth group. God is certainly continuing His work in Yalú!

One exciting example where God is leading is the ministry of education, and an area where Christ’s Church has generously supported MCM over the years. When children are malnourished, their brain is not able to develop properly, making learning very difficult. Thankfully, after six years of working to improve the health and nutrition of the children, we rejoice that they are now better developed and able to learn! Partnering with the organization Vision Trust, we have started an after-school homework club where local teachers from our partner church, Los Olivos in Sumpango, help the kids with homework, lead interactive bible lessons and prayer, and other fun activities! For our older, scholarship recipients we have also started a homework club that equips them as they pursue higher education. In this program, we emphasize excellence in all things, stewardships of the gifts God has given us, and community development. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and we pray that God will rise up these children to become the future leaders of Yalú and Guatemala.

It is the mission of the “feeding center” that it would become a “hope center” with medical teams providing assistance, evangelical outreach to the community through free Christian movies, special events and children’s programs, and training in skills like sewing and welding. All activities that take place at the feeding center are accompanied by a message of the love of Jesus Christ, something that causes skepticism in some villagers. Jesus Christ is known as “The Bread of Life”; the bread which comes down from heaven and gives eternal life to those who eat of it (John 6:48-51). God cares for these poverty-stricken people as much as any other culture or people. His desire is that they come to the knowledge of salvation through His own Son. It is Susan and Memo’s desire that their work in Yalú will demonstrate the love of Christ and bring the villagers to a hope in their everlasting future. Perhaps this can be done one child at a time.

"…I have chosen to loose the chains of injustice…to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free…Is it not to share your food with the hungry…? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear…and the glory of the Lord will be your rear Guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: ‘Here I AM’” Isaiah 58:6-9;10-12.

Changing a community's understanding of health and nutrition and the importance of education is not easy; it is a long-term, uphill battle over deeply rooted habits and ignorance. As the Yalú community develops, needs are changing and MCM has a great opportunity to build upon the strong base God has been building over the years.

Bill (known as Memo in Latin America) and Susan returned to the states due to Bill’s health and he was taken to be with the Lord in April 2010. Susan is currently living and working on Whidbey Island and recently married (June 2011) her long-time friend Steve Jones. Susan is still very much involved on the MCM Board, providing invaluable insight to the team. Also serving on the US Board are Kelley and Gregg Brown who served for one year as interim directors of MCM during the absence of Bill and Susan. During that time they lived in Sumpango. Kelley (maiden name Riggio) and her family attended Christ’s Church and she went on to get a nutritionist education at Seattle Pacific University which served her well at MCM. Gregg is a Missouri native, holds a degree in finance, and worked for Boeing. Kelley and Gregg are passionate about using their education & skills in the areas of nutrition and finance to glorify God through serving are now also a part of the US MCM board. They live in Chicago where Kelley is pursuing her Master’s degree in Public Health and Gregg has rejoined Boeing.

The new directors at MCM, and serving their now, are Gerry and Barb Normand who have a passion for serving Christ through missions and will continue the great work God is doing through MCM in Guatemala. They come with backgrounds in business management, and prior missionary experience serving in the Congo. Gerry and Barb bring valuable skills to the MCM team.

Thank you for your prayers and support for the ministry of Mano con Mano and the Guatemalan Staff as they oversee the ministry in Guatemala.

Please pray:

For protection and wisdom for MCM missionaries and staff
For that the MCM nutrition center (Nim Jay) would reach hearts for Christ
For wisdom for the US Board in decision-making and help spreading the message of God’s work through MCM to supporters in the US

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