We are excited to announce La Limonada’s 5th academy! We celebrate what God is doing through Vidas Plenas. Serving a whole new community of children and families, construction for the Naranja Academy is underway. More details coming soon! Stay tuned for ways to join us in funding this exciting new location where we can serve […]
“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.” Proverbs 20:7 (Photo by Scott Bennett)
“By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.” Psalm 119:105 MSG
Through each of you who have said “yes” to God’s call to give your time, talents, and resources to the work our partner Vidas Plenas is doing in La Limonada… Through each local Guatemalan (and one Nicaraguan and Honduran!) who have said “yes” to God’s call to work in one of Central America’s most notorious […]
Many of us have stories about teachers who have altered the course of our lives. It may have been faithful guidance over the course of a school year, or something as simple as an affirming word that helped us identify our future calling. For all of us, a teacher does more than just teach. A […]
We want to fill these children with a love of learning! (Photo by Silent Images)
This Christmas season, would you consider a one-time year-end gift to provide a new pair of uniform shoes, made locally by Otto in his workshop, and a bag of basic school supplies for one child? We need to cover the cost of 439 pairs of shoes and school supply packs for all of the children […]
The life, teachings, and overflowing love of Jesus shape how we seek to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God and the people of La Limonada. (Photo by Silent Images)
We believe all people have dignity and inherent worth, with unique gifts given by God to share with others. (Photo by JP Soto Photography)
We are motivated by our Christian faith to join God in working for the transformation of La Limonada. (Photo by Scott Bennett)
During the month of November, while the children are on school break, the academies continue to welcome them in for breakfast and devotions each morning. The rest of the days are devoted to teacher training, lesson planning, and team building for the new school year, which begins in January according to the Guatemalan academic calendar. […]
Prevention. Intervention. On time. (Photo by Scott Bennett)
Guatemala is one of the hardest places in the world to be a child. Nearly 20% of the population is living in extreme poverty, just like in La Limonada. An estimated four in 10 children are experiencing sexual abuse right now. For each case that is reported, it is estimated that seven go unreported. These […]
Children in the academies are learning to pray for others – from their neighbors in La Limonada to their sponsors to others who are suffering around the world! (Photo by Silent Images)
The effects of poverty, ongoing trauma, and violence are the most extreme on children, causing long-term damage to minds, bodies, and hearts. In addition to providing individual therapy for the children in the academies, the psychologists are always working on additional ways to equip the children with what they need to be healthy and whole. […]
Friendships formed in the academies can be a source of strength, hope, and love. (Photo by Lizza Majus)
Every single day in La Limonada, we witness miracles. The miracle of 45 team members walking into a “Red Zone” community – known to be a place of violence and fear – with a sense of calling and love for the people. The miracle of walking with people who have no one else. But they […]
Join our sponsors-only trip and spend three days in La Limonada this October! You will get the chance to meet your sponsored child and their family. See first-hand the impact the academies, teachers, and psychologists are having on your child and their friends. And meet the local leaders who are embodying Christ’s love for your […]
Constant loss of loved ones. Constant tension. Constant trauma. Children in La Limonada get a break each day when they enter the academies. Kids can be kids here. (Photo by Scott Bennett)
There is so much joy when a sponsor and a sponsored child meet in person!
We continue to celebrate the open doors of the new academy, Toronja! Because of your response to the needs in La Limonada, 38 children received a hot meal every day this week, enabling them to concentrate on their teachers’ instruction and focus on learning.
Happy 4th of July and launch week of the 4th academy in La Limonada! As you celebrate “liberty and justice for all” today, we hope you will also celebrate the justice you’ve helped extend to the children and families in the “15 de Agosto” neighborhood of La Limonada. Yesterday, 38 children were welcomed for the […]
Over the past two weeks, you’ve heard a lot about how child sponsorship is making an eternal difference in the lives of vulnerable children in La Limonada. Now two generous donors have offered to give $20,000 for unsponsored children to receive the life-changing impact of the academies – if we can match their gift dollar […]
We want the children in La Limonada to reach their potential. We want to see their God-given abilities drawn out and made to flourish. We want to see them living full lives in Jesus. But the reality for children growing up in this “red zone” – a term given by the Guatemalan government to indicate […]
The academies are more than classrooms. They are a refuge of hope. (Photo by Silent Images)
Walking into the 4- and 5-year-old classroom in the Limon academy, it is clear these children have a truly special teacher. While new to teaching, Abby was made for the role. Her eyes sparkle and her smile exudes passion and love for the children. It fills up the entire room! As she calls the class […]
Sponsorship impacts the lives of children, families, and the entire community of La Limonada. Here are 5 ways child sponsorship with Lemonade International is unique: It addresses the unique needs of children in La Limonada in appropriate ways. This is not a program easily plopped down in another context. It is deeply relational and specifically targeted […]
Child sponsorship is making a 180-degree difference in the lives of vulnerable children in La Limonada! How can I make a difference?
The academies are beacons of hope in La Limonada. It is easy to spot the soon-to-open fourth academy, Toronja, from a distance. This is the view of Toronja from the second academy, Mandarina. (Photo by Lizza Majus)
At the academies, boys and girls discover their value and worth as children of a God who knows and loves them. (Photo by Scott Bennett)
Sunday is Mother’s Day, and we want to celebrate the moms in La Limonada. These are moms who love and sacrifice for their kids. Moms who give so much out of the little they have. Moms who want a better future for their kids other than the temptations that surround them in their community. Brenda […]
Proper hygiene is a crucial part of developing healthy children who practice good habits and learn to take care of their bodies. Children in the academies brush their teeth together after their breakfast or lunch each day! (Photo by Silent Images)
A stark contrast to the tense streets and dark homes where kids grow up fast, the academies are filled with hope, laughter, and a lot of fun!
Exciting progress in the construction of the fourth academy, Toronja, as we work towards opening the doors to many more children this summer.
“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
Vulnerable children are receiving a vitamin every day in the academies.
In February, we gratefully welcomed Scott Bennett back to La Limonada to share with us his photography skills and passion for the poor. His photos beautifully capture the holistic intervention of the academies in the lives of the vulnerable children of La Limonada. It is an honor to see the impact through the lense of […]
“Art is communication.” ― Madeleine L’Engle Trauma suppresses a child’s words and ability to express their emotions. Art changes that. (Photo by Lizza Majus)
Join us in praying this prayer of Mother Teresa for the most vulnerable in La Limonada: “Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace and Joy. […]
Join the children in beginning this new school year with childlike wonder, anticipation, and joy! (Photo by Silent Images)
Another school year officially began today! The children of La Limonada were welcomed back into their bright and cheerfully painted academies for a new school year, which runs from January through October. The teachers each decorated their classrooms in a special way to welcome their students. Instead of jumping directly into normal classes, the students […]
Last summer we invited you to help us launch the fourth academy in the “15 de Agosto” neighborhood in La Limonada. Through the generous response of many, the team in Guatemala was able to begin the steps to secure a building to rent while building relationships with families and community leaders. After many twists and […]
We want this little girl to grow up knowing she is a valued child of God. Next week, the doors of the academies will open for another great year of spiritual, emotional, and physical impact! Thank you to all our sponsors and generous supporters who share our desire for each child in La Limonada and […]
Sign up to receive exclusive stories and updates from the field in Guatemala!