This week, I received the “ACD Guatemala Annual Report 2023.” I was able to read the entire document full of information as well as beautiful pictures of life at ACD (including some of your faces!). I want to share with you the work God is doing through ACD as well as ways they continue to need our support.

  • MEDICAL CARE: ACD provided over 3,000 medical treatments in 2023 through their Wesley Clinics.
  • EDUCATION: The scholarship program ensured that 45 children were able to continue in school. (School is not provided past 6th grade in Guatemala). In addition, the ACD center provided more than 75 children with after school support such as homework help, recreation, life skills, and more.
  • ECO PROGRAM: Through this program, 270 families from June 2022 to August 2023, representing more than 1,300 family members, were given access to clean water and safe stoves in their homes.
  • RECREATION: In Guatemala, access to sports and spaces to play sports is limited to the privileged. With the creation of their soccer field at ACD, they can now provide a place for all children to enjoy the gift of sports and exercise.
  • ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: “The Kitchen” is a technical training space and producing center for foods. Participants can learn and make their own products so they can sell products and capitalize to build their own cooking equipment. Business education is provided as well to the women who participate.
  • COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: ACD has developed a program to engage Guatemalan youth as volunteers, including partnerships with the 3 largest universities. ACD continues to offer employment to young adults, empowering them to lead in their own community and providing opportunities that without would leave these young adults tempted to migrate in unsafe ways. As ACD invests in children, those children grow into young adults who want to stay in their community and give back. This is a drastic improvement over the frequent risky migration of so many Guatemalan youth.

Your tithes and offerings allow Franklin First to be a key supporter of the overall work God is doing through ACD Guatemala. On top of this annual support, there are two more ways you can support ACD.

  • You can provide for a scholarship for a K-12 student for only $650 a year. This includes support to keep the children in school, food stamps, new shoes, school supplies for the year, and access to after school support.
  • You can help ACD reach their $15k goal to finish “The Kitchen” as they hope to begin programs in 2025.

If you would like to offer support for ACD in either of these ways, please email Pastor Carlisle Jones at cjones@franklinfumc.org

*We will offer 3 trips to ACD Guatemala but dates have not been set yet. Stay tuned and let us know if you are interested in joining us for a visit!