He was only 4 years old when I met him…11 years ago on my first trip to Honduras. He had the sweetest smile and big brown eyes. I was working on the construction team, and we were building a pila for Jefferson and his family.
It didn’t take long for Jefferson to warm up to the team. We gave him a set of work gloves and he was so proud of them. Each morning he was waiting for us on the road in front of his house with his gloves on. He worked with the team and helped me to gather rocks to fill the cinder blocks. He matched every step I took. He worked all morning and then attended VBS with us in the afternoon. I can still see him in my mind running down the road from his house to the community center for VBS.
Each year after he began school, we brought school supplies for him and every year he would bring his report card to show his progress. He was an excellent student and when I asked our on-the-ground partner, Mario, about Jefferson’s future, he told me that Jefferson was going to excel.
We haven’t traveled to Honduras for 2 years because of the pandemic. I recently received a picture of Jefferson in a group of students who have been chosen to receive a John Cook High School Scholarship, allowing him to continue his education. It’s come full circle … John Cook was on the construction team that built that pila for Jefferson’s family. John loved Jefferson and Jefferson loved John. John would be so proud of Jefferson for so many reasons…for his academic success, but more importantly his commitment to Christ.
Congratulations to Jefferson and the others that are receiving John’s scholarship. Keep up the good work and we know that God has great plans for you.
Kathy Teeters has sponsored Jefferson through Simple Matters since he was 4 years old. She has been a frequent short-term missionary to Honduras.
Give what you can. Simple does matter.
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