Report Cards Are IN!

I just received the latest report cards from our students in Bocas. It was a tough year with plenty of rain but our scholars paddled through it and came out on top! Edilma scored a 3.7, Edwin a 3.9, Enoc a 4.6 and Aristides a 4.5! We are so proud of the students we are sponsoring and can't thank enough all of you who are committed to financially supporting them to reach their goals - graduation then UNIVERSITY!!! Edilma has expressed a desire to become a doctor - big dreams for a Guaymi girl from Bocas but with God's grace and her determination I believe she can do it. I will be making a trip to visit her and the other students in March. If you would like to send a note of encouragement to any of the students I will be happy to deliver it!

Enoc Stands Out

There is always someone who blends into the woodwork - in this case the jungle. He isn't rowdy, boisterous or chatty. He doesn't rate high in the cute category. I didn't notice him much until he started reciting bible verses to me that he had memorized. He had a slew of them up his sleeve and enjoyed sharing them with me. His name is Enoc Beker and he lives in a small shack over the water in an area of Bocas del Toro called Tierra Oscurra. He has been attending high school for two years now and is one of the top students in his class. His father tends a small farm in the jungle and his mother does whatever she can to bring in a little money for her family. She sews on a small hand crank machine that sits on her wood floor. She paddles around the bay selling yucca, plantains and other extra fruits and vegetables she can spare. She suffers from a skin disease common to the Guaymi Indians but never complains. She does all this to help her son Enoc have a better life than she and her husband have had. She has instilled a very strong work ethic in Enoc and he and the other children are often found studying in the house. His grade point average last quarter was 4.3 out of 5 which is considered very good. He is also dedicated to his religious studies and attends bible studies in his area on a weekly basis. He is unsure about his future and what he would like to be or do. He says he doesn't really know what is out there. Lets hope and pray that opportunities continue to go his way. In the meantime, if you would like to help sponsor him for another year, please email me at joellenjeffers@gmail.com for more information.

Report Cards Are In!

Meet Aristide Arius. He is now in the 8th grade and attends school in Tierra Oscura. He lives with his family in Bahia Grande which means he paddles daily in a hand dug canoe 45 minutes to class and 45 minutes home. Studying is not easy or natural for Aristide and he has to work very hard to get good grades. He did earn a 42 out of a possible 50 on his most recent report card excelling especially in English and Religion. His mother and father Fidelina and Juan have high expectations for Aristide. Juan is a farmer and tends a plot of land where he grows yucca, plantains, pineapple, culantro (a broad leaf herb related to cilantro) and other vegetables for sale or trade to his neighbors. Fidelina is an excellent baker and specializes in sweet buns cooked in a large pot over a wood fire with a piece of zinc for a lid. The family hosts a bible study in their home. Aristide has two brothers and a little sister. Aristide has volunteered to work with the mission team in March. He will function as the dental secretary and will have the opportunity to utilize his penmanship, spelling and English skills. Aristide has received a scholarship for two years now and hopes to continue to receive it into the next four years. At that time he plans to attend university where he isn't sure yet what he will study but is considering 'tourism'. Your prayers for Aristide will be appreciated.

Welcome to Bocas Scholars

The purpose of the Bocas Scholars blog is to introduce you to students of the Bocas del Toro region of Panama who aspire to continue their education and ultimately use that education to lead a productive and fulfilling life in their community. The students you will meet here are financially sponsored by folks like you who are led to help them continue their education. You will also meet other students who are not yet sponsored but have applied for a scholarship. We hope to show you these kids needs and aspirations as we give you a small window into their lives. The annual contribution for a student to attend high school is $450. This covers their health certificate, registration fees, uniforms including PE, books and other supplies. If you are interested in sponsoring a student you may make a monetary donation at:

http://www.ctkonline.com/pages/page.asp?page_id=46049

Be sure to specify 'Panama Children's Scholarship'