It's Happening!
It's Happening!
Dear Karen,
I am so excited to share a video with you, but not for the reasons you might expect.
When I mentored youth in Utah, I always encouraged them to find creative ways to share the things that mattered to them.
I saw youth do things like create plays, make lego stop-motion videos, write songs, recite poetry, paint, and even program games.
I loved watching what they came up with when given the opportunity to try.
When we moved to Mexico, I wanted to create a place where youth could learn in the same way.
I wanted them to have their own ideas, and grow things, and make things, and find ways to improve their talents while providing something that the world also needed.
Yesterday I got a message from one of the young men living on campus named Kaique (he teaches our English classes, creates content, designs, runs the Solferino Ropes publicity, tracks our finances and budget, and is now helping us with volunteer onboarding).
He said,"I had a meeting with the volunteer onboarding team yesterday, and I did it all in English. It was so neat to speak to native speakers and to plan experiences together. I just wanted to thank you for the opportunities I have had here to grow and to do so much."
Then today, Isa, another young man living on campus (who teaches our art classes, runs the Find Your Path publicity, takes care of home maintenance, and is helping me create programs for youth), sent me this video he created to share on social media.
I had nothing to do with this orchid project.
Isa found the orchids on logging sites, brought them to campus, transplanted them to the trees, filmed them, wrote the script, translated it, taught himself enough English to read it, and posted it.
When I saw it, I was happy about the orchids and creating a pollinator corridor of course, but I was extra happy to see how these young men are taking these opportunities and running with them.
They are doing exactly what I hoped I'd see young people doing with opportunities, purpose, and challenges presented to them.
Next month, a young man I met during the first time we visited the orphanage in Tijuana, is flying out to live with us.
He has wanted to do this since he graduated from the orphanage system a couple of years ago, but he had to save up to bury his mother.
I will be sharing more about him as the date gets closer for his arrival.
I mention him now because I am talking about how incredible these young men are, and he is another young man who will be adding to the many talents we have been blessed with at Find Your Path Mission.
What we are in real need of now is sponsors.
Our monthly donors are keeping us afloat, and we are so so grateful!
We need at minimum 12 more sponsors at 50/month, or 20 sponsors at 30/month to be able to continue travelling for classes, paying for supplies, and eventually hiring these young men to be part of our staff, so they can afford to keep working for us while also helping their families.
We are so blessed that you are here, cheering us on, spreading the word, donating, and coming out to visit.
The seed you've helped us plant is finally starting to grow some fruit, and I couldn't be more proud of what we are beginning to see!
With love,
Karen Bates the Find Your Path Team
PS The young man coming from Tijuana is a barber, and we would love to help him get some equipment so he can earn some money as he gets established here.
Clippers are on our Amazon wish list, as well as several things we need to begin creating quality content, so we can gather more people to this cause. If you could purchase something on the list, we would be very grateful.
