Godparents Needed

The young man in the red shirt is Abdiel Hernandez Felipe. He is a high school student on Isla Mujeres in Mexico. Because education is not 'free" in Mexico, we have been sponsoring him for the past three years. The $50 a month we donate helps to pay for registration, books, supplies, uniforms, internet time and transportation. Abdiel, who prefers to be called Felipe, is a slight, soft spoken but very bright and motivated boy; he has to keep his grades up to continue in the sponsorship program. He studies at night by the light of a fluorescent tube connected to a car battery. His education was delayed until he was eight years old because his teenaged mother was forced to leave him behind in her Chiapas village while she took a job in Cancun. When she moved to Isla Mujeres she was able to be reunited with her son and Felipe began attending school.

Now 19 and about to graduate from high school, Felipe lives in the Guadalupana area of the island with his mother, stepfather and two little brothers, Edgar and Elias. Their house has a packed dirt floor, walls of laminated cardboard, and a blue tarp roof shielded by palm fronds. It was spared in the flash fire that swept a corner of the settlement this past winter. Despite the rustic conditions, the home shelters three bright and well loved boys.

Because of our small contribution, Felipe's mama has named us his "padrinos" - godparents. We are honored to be considered part of this Mexican family. Now, Felipe wants to attempt an even greater step out of poverty, he wants to go to college in Valladolid. He will have the support of two classmates who will be enrolling also.











We have committed to help with college expenses but it will cost $200 a month - four times what we have been paying monthly. One other sponsor has already joined "Team Felipe", but we are looking for two more volunteer padrinos. Money is tight, but what an investment! Let me know if you would like to share our godson Felipe.