It was a rushed four weeks. So much needed to be done the month prior to the start of classes at the Tocumen Living Water Christian School. The third and final team, from Mount Vernon, WA, (see Mount Vernon MAPS Builders at Tocumen) nearly finished all of the pending block and bond-beam work. The final push included blocking the new corner kindergarten classroom on the first floor, finishing the restrooms and water system, stucco work, floor tile, painting, stairs, paint, electrical, doors, etc.

Thanks to the good supervision of Frank Jimenez, all of the required work was finished and on time! Classes began on schedule March 13th. The school now occupies 10 new classrooms and labs, plus offices, workrooms and restrooms. We have heard so many positive comments from children, parents and teachers. The new classrooms increases the capacity of the school to nearly 600. The new classrooms also made it possible to continue adding grades. Last year's 7th graders are settled into their new 8th grade classroom. Registration now stands at 358, but this number could climb.

A Chance to Dream... Nearly every day we ask the Lord to help us look "beyond the numbers" so that we can see the individual child and young person. The wonder of Latin America ChildCare is connecting caring people with individual children in need. At times, we forget that each child is precious before God. And that God is speaking into their lives, even at an early age.

In America, we truly want children to be able to dream; and we believe that they should be free to follow those dreams. We hope for the same in Latin America. But here, most children and young people are not able to follow their dreams. Eventually, they give up dreaming. But thanks to Latin America ChildCare, they're given the chance to dream and live it. We have the privilege of translating letters that children send to their sponsors. Gilberto, a student here at the Jireh Good Shepherd School in Pedregal near Panama City, shared the following with his sponsor: "I have high expectations for my future. I want to be president of the United States." Thanks not only for helping these kids dream, but also for making it possible for them to pursue their dreams!

Thanks for your Generosity... We are so grateful for the generosity of God's people, that have helped make possible the expansion of the Tocumen Living Water Christian School. Churches, teams, companies and individuals have sacrificially given to make this possible. However, expenses far exceeded the offerings that have come in to date. Four teams that were scheduled to come in the last few months were not able to come. And they did not send in their construction offering that we were counting on. If you'd like to help, offerings can be sent to:

Assemblies of God World Missions
Tocumen Project 8571
1445 Boonville Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802