Gang Displacement is less effective than Community Transformation through Academic Formation, Gang Prevention, and Community Relief If you ever went to Chuck E. Cheese as a kid, you may remember “whack-a-mole.” Before Candy Crush and Wordle, when people played games at arcades, it was a classic game where the player used a fake hammer to […]
For more than a year, the Board of Directors of Lemonade International has been in prayerful discernment about the next chapter of our international development work. Acts 1:8 describes the concentric circles of gospel influence, from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Lemonade International feels called to expand our vision to […]
Meet Jenny Schmitt. We are so glad we did. We are very grateful that after many years supporting and working with Lemonade, Jenny graciously agreed to join the Lemonade International Board as Board Secretary. Who are you? I have worked in Next Gen ministries for three decades and currently serve as the Next Gen Development […]
For more than two years, Guatemalan students have bravely battled the challenges of remote learning. But Diana was adapting how she learned even before the pandemic. Diana was born blind in one eye. She didn’t learn the extent of her vision impairment until a decade later, when she came to Vidas Plenas and was […]
Guest post written by: Jenn Johnson Amatuzzo As the flight begins its descent into Guatemala City, I feel a wave of peace and a sense of renewed life in a way I haven’t since the last time the familiar trifecta of volcanoes were last in view. Everything about this small country captivates me; from the […]
Recently Lizza and Cesar were working in La Limonada to help prepare for the academies to reopen. While Lizza was taking pictures, a young man drove by on his motorcycle and stopped to say hello. She almost didn’t recognize Abdias. The last time she saw him, Lizza was teaching his class at the Limon […]
At the age of seven, Gaby enrolled at an academy despite the obstacles she faced as a young girl. Before entering the program in 2014, Gaby had no way of verifying her age. Her mother’s involvement in selling drugs deterred her from filing a birth certificate with the government. Without a birth certificate, Gaby had […]
The reality for children growing up in the “red zone” of La Limonada—a term given by the Guatemalan government to indicate danger to the rest of the city—is not very hopeful. From their earliest moments of life, most of these children have known hunger and trauma, as well as some form of abuse, neglect, and […]
Have you heard? Did someone tell you already? Imagine the buzz around Bethlehem just a few days after Jesus was born. Especially after a group of humble shepherds came running in from the fields talking about a message they received from an a capella sky-choir of angels, the town surely couldn’t ignore that something amazing […]
“I always felt that I did not exist to my real mother.” Rotvin’s story is an example of one of the many challenges that extreme poverty inflicts on the people of La Limonada. He comes from a place of abandonment, abuse and anxiety within his home. However, his story is now one of hope, support, […]
I recently celebrated my two-year anniversary as the Executive Director of Lemonade International, and these last two years have been a whirlwind to say the least! God has done so much for the La Limonada community. As I look back on all that He has done for all of us, I am reminded of His […]
We are so grateful to Silvia Lopez for her commitment and service to Lemonade International, Vidas Plenas, and the people of La Limonada. Not only did Silvia serve behind-the-scenes as our Service Learning Trips and Communications Liaison for over a year, but her shepherding gifts and sweet smile encouraged everyone she came in contact with […]
With “Hope on the Horizon” in La Limonada the construction for Naranja, the 5th academy, is officially underway! We invite you to participate and celebrate what God is doing through Lemonade International. We will be serving a new community of children and families and we need your help to make that happen! Your generosity […]
Today…we are thrilled to share Yamilet’s story with you – or as everyone knows her, “Yami.” Yami is the daughter of Rebecca who cooks meals for the children at the Toronja academy. Rebecca is able to provide a stable family life for Yami, her three brothers and sister. She is the leader in her home […]
If you have ever walked the streets of La Limonada, you know firsthand… That love is confirmed in presence. That true joy can be found in difficult places. That peace is needed in the physical and the spiritual. That beauty is often found in the mess of life. That hope can be birthed from hardship […]
What is it that has energized you this holiday season? Shopping for presents? Baking cookies? The thought that in just a few days the stresses of “celebrating” will all be over? At Lemonade International we are so grateful that you have taken time out of your schedule this year to support the work going on […]
By Christa Heinzelman “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.” Preverbs 3: 13-14 One person, one response, one moment, one forever memory…ONE is all we need to make a difference. For me, […]
Just over ten years ago God began using Lemonade International and the first “Limon” academy to give hope to a group of families in La Limonada, Guatemala by surrounding them with love, encouragement, and academic support to keep them out of gangs. And what a decade it has been! As we celebrate Christmas during the […]
We are excited to introduce Dan Fuhrman as the newest member of the Lemonade International Board of Directors. Read a little bit about Dan below. Who are you? My name is Dan Fuhrman, though my family calls me Danny. Very blessed child of God. Loving husband to an amazing woman. A proud father of four […]
Over 10 years ago Tita Evertsz started serving the community of La Limonada. This community of over 60,000 people developed out of a 36 year-long civil war – the longest in Latin American history. During these years, dictators and military leaders committed despicable acts of violence and terror against their people. These atrocities led to a massacre […]
We are excited to announce that Lemonade International is celebrating 10 years of serving La Limonada! It’s hard to believe that it was just 10 years ago that our founder Bill Cummings and his team were first introduced to Tita, her team and this amazing community. God has done so much over the 10 […]
For the past few years we have been blessed to have Beth Skinner serve as our Service Learning Trips Coordinator. Beth, and her husband Dave, have been (and will continue to be!) good friends of Lemonade International. They even spent a year living in Guatemala City serving the people of La Limonada. Beth is currently […]
As we conclude our blog series on the Lord’s Prayer called “In Limonada as it is in Heaven,” we invite you to pray with us recognizing that God is in control and to appeal to him to make his Glory known through the people of La Limonada. Read: Introduction | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part […]
We want to share a deep and heartfelt “thank you” to Katie Høiland for giving her whole heart to Lemonade International, Vidas Plenas and the beautiful people of La Limonada over the last few years. Earlier this year she made the decision to transition out of her role as our Director of Strategic Advancement and […]
Tita recently had the opportunity to speak at Taylor University Chapel (video above) as well as at on of our partner churches, Forest Hill Church. At Forest Hill Church that Sunday morning, over 30+ kids were sponsored in the Toronja Academy! We encourage you to take a few minutes and watch the video above. Here, […]
In two days, families and friends in the United States will gather to celebrate God’s lavish provision and generosity to each of us. And as we give thanks for each other and for the abundance of food set before us, we hope you will think of those who don’t have quite as much. The children […]
Thank you for walking with us as our co-founder Bill Cummings made the decision to transition out of his role as executive director into his role as an emeritus board member. After a prayerful and diligent search process, the Lemonade International Board of Directors has selected Charles Knox as our next executive director. Charles comes […]
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