Beginning of Sponsored Scholarships at Ñandejara

In the 80s, at the very beginning of our school some people from Germany asked if they could help in any way. Again we felt God´s guiding hand. HE was the one, who was building up the school and with it our ministry. Inspired by this question, we started the project of sponsored scholarshipswhich is for those students who could not afford the school fee. Since our director, Monicá Guzmán, knows the German language, she was able to cooperate with those who wanted to support and soon the first sponsors from Germany became godparents to needy children in Paraguay.

In 1994 couple Gudrun and Egbert Goseberg form Germany offered to coordinate the work right there to simplify the administration of this ministry as the number of sponsorships increased every year.

Today in 2010 there are more than 350 supported children at Ñandejara!

We thank God for this real blessing, because if it were not for that help, many of the children would not have access to a proper education.

MThe ministry grew and so did the responsibility and the linked work. For that reason we now have under the lead of the director a team of social workers that organizes our social department.

Here all the work concerning the sponsorships is done, such as:

• a permanent control
• individual correspondence with the Godparents, to take account of their wishes
• translation of the letters to and from Germany
• house visits with those who request a scholarship for their children
• preparation of a scholarship candidate´s biography as information for future godparents
• maintain the contact to the German church that is our base oversea (Baptist Church Brüggen Bracht)
• supervision of the godchildren´s academically progress

These tasks and much more is important to keep our work transparent and to ensure a growth of this ministry.

After all, it is the almighty God, who moves the hearts of many people, encouraging them to support an unknown child. With their help the children get the chance for an education that is based on biblical principals with clear guidelines and promising aims for the future.

Words of a former student, that was able to attend school at Ñandejara through a scholarship and now works there in that very social department:

My school life started Ñandejara. Here I did not only learn how to read and write, but also what really defines a person. I learned to live with love that only Jesus can give to our life. Of this love I did not only hear from words, but experienced it. Those who work at this school are the fine examples of it. Today I look back and see: Here is where I used to run, play, laugh and cried. Here were laid a good deal of my basis for life. I remember the day, when we painted the walls. We painted and painted till I ended up all painted too.
Over the years, the structure of the school went trough changes, but her inner character stayed the same. And I myself am still part of the family, but my role has changed. And still there is a lot I can learn from it.