1) Health Care and Church-Planting Ministry - In Lake Amatilan, about 30 km form Guatemala City, CALMS works with Dr. Elry Orozco and Dr. Abdiel Orozco - a Lutheran doctor and Lutheran pastor. CALMS is partnering to plant a new church and provide medical services for this new clinic and church planting effort. You can give financially to help CALMS and our partners upgrade the clinic facilities and improve lodging conditions for volunteer teams. For example, we need $5,000 to buy new equipment and furniture for the clinic.
2) Building homes and remodeling homes in Guatemala in Zacapa and Gualan, Guatemala - This past year, CALMS, short-term teams and Guatemalan partners built 14 homes for Lutheran families. Most who receive homes are people who do not qualify for a Habitat or other bank loan. CALMS is helping the poorest of the poor-and the extra joy is that we are able to help fellow-Lutherans! The cost of building a home is $5,000 which covers all materials and the labor done prior to the arrival of a CALMS team. Teams work with the family and local congregation to finish the house and participate in the dedication. If you are unable to participate in construction with a short-term team, perhaps you can donate funds for the construction of a new house. CALMS is also doing some repair and remodeling projects also for needy Lutheran families which cost between $750 and $2,000 depending on the project.
3) CALMS is also providing relief and development work in La Union - about 45 minutes from Gualan, Guatemala in the mountains where a devastating mud-slide destroyed the homes of 3,700 people last July. We are providing medical services, food, and development assistance to help these people develop new jobs to replace what they lost, etc. You or your group can give financially to help CALMS assist these unfortunate people. Gifts of any amount will be used to help needy families.
4) Micro-businesses for Panama to help pastors and congregations become self-sufficient and grow their churches - CALMS has recruited Christian business men from the United States to provide advice and assistance for a business plan. The focus is on producing molas, traditional textile work done by members of Dios Es Grande congregation, a Kuna Indian congregation. You can help Kuna Indian women improve the lives of their families by donating to CALMS micro-business fund. Funds will be used to register their company and buy necessary equipment. The women plan to return a percentage of their income to their congregation to help pay their pastor's salary and other ministry expenses.
Other businesses being studied by other Panama congregations include a Tilapia farm to help support a new pastor in a rural area, a restaurant business for a congregation in an urban area, a health and fitness club for an urban congregation located near a mall and a bus route.
5) Support-A-Teacher - You or your organization can support a teacher at a specific grade level you chose for the next five years in Gualan, Guatemala. CALMS is partnering with "La Resurecion" Lutheran congregation and their pastor, Reverend Luis Jasinto, to help them launch their new school. In order to give them a hand-up, CALMS is encouraging North American congregations and schools to support a teacher at the school for five years. The plan calls for sponsoring North American groups to encouraged the school to give $5,000 for the first year-the amount of a full-salary for a primary school teacher in Guatemala. The amount is to be reduced by $1,000 each year for the next five years so that in year six when no funding being sent. This plan will give the school time to develop a more solid funding base and for the community and parents to see the results of the Christian school in the lives of their children. Sponsoring US organizations are also encouraged to send qualified staff to help equip the teacher they sponsor and to write regularly to the teacher and her students.
6) Sponsor-A-Child to help children know Jesus - CALMS wants to offer a similar scholarship program like our successful program in Panama in the country of Belize. We are already working with Lord's Bank Community Church near Belize City which has a wonderful new pre-school with several dedicated Christian teachers. Since the school's children are from very poor families, most are unable to pay the full cost of tuition. Your gift of $25 per month will help provide a Christian education for a child and allow the school to serve more deserving children.
