Reaching Out to Impoverished Families in Guatemala City-$100,000

The Servant's Heart, a holistic ministry founded in 1992, reaches out to desperately poor families in the squatters' slums of Guatemala City. People have fled here from their rural villages because of constant civil war, political upheaval, racism and persecution. These are people with few literacy and communication skills. Hopelessness is the prevailing emotion.

The Servant's Heart Ministry shares love in tangible ways through Bible studies, meal programs, Saturday school, after school enrichment programs, a nursery, health care clinic, as well as shops for teaching carpentry, sewing and job skills.

The "mighty mite" vision is to have an on-site Lutheran day school. This grant money will be used to purchase and renovate an additional ministry property for the purpose of beginning worship services and a Lutheran day school for a minimum of 200 students.

Immigrant Afghani Women and Children Ministries-$71,000

Twenty years of war in Afghanistan have left shattered families. Many single mothers are left to support eight to ten children. Some of these refugees have come to America in desperate need of help. Women are especially challenged by their lack of self-confidence, little schooling and limited English language skills.

People of the Book Lutheran Outreach, (POBLO) through the Immigrant Afghani Women and Children's Ministries are reaching out with human care and social ministries including job skills training and cultural information sessions. Volunteers are tutoring children in their school work, teaching English as a second language, and distributing food and clothing.

Two target locations, Lansing and Grand Rapids, Michigan, both with a large Muslim population, are the focus of this mission outreach. With your mites and your prayers, you can have a part in reaching these women and their families.