In February 2011, Gerson José Cruz Améndola initiated the first year of his college preparatory classes for a Bachelor of Science and Art. Then, on December 17, 2011 at the IHER school facilities, Gerson finally graduated from high school! Orphan Helpers staff member, Hareld, was Gerson’s primary educator and mentor throughout his studies.
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Gerson was born in Villa Nueva, Cortés on June 7, 1992. He is now 19 years old. Please read is his touching testimony:
“Because I was an accomplice to a felony, I was sent to Orphan Helpers’ pedagogical center, El Carmen, located in San Pedro Sula. I came to El Carmen on November 12, 2009. Since that time, God began to help me in a very special way. The day after I was placed in my module at El Carmen, I attended our devotional where the pastor made the call to accept Christ as the savior of my life. It was then that I fell at the feet of Christ. There after, God used me to preach to other youth and Bible study.
During my time at El Carmen, I continued to receive discipleship and mentoring from Orphan Helpers facilitator, Henry. After keeping my testimony and being a good example for others, Henry presented the opportunity for me to move to Casa del Rey, one of Orphan Helpers’ halfway homes in Tegucigalpa, to be nurtured spiritually and continue my education in a better environment. I asked God for a response on what to do. Once released from El Carmen, Brother Hareld Flores (Director of the Casa del Rey), Edward Rivera (Central Coordinator), and Wendy Zapata (Executive Director Orphan Helpers Honduras) took me to Tegucigalpa to become a new member of Casa del Rey.
In this place, I’ve been changing even more than when I was at the center of El Carmen, and I believe I reached the highest level for the study of the Word of God. I am very glad that God brought me to this place and that I have the opportunity to advance my studies, both spiritually and secular. This will help a lot, because my family is low income.
I’m so grateful to God and the people who make the existence of the Casa del Rey. What you are doing for us, God is going to multiply greatly. He will bless your families, your church and your work. My family is very happy that I am in a place like this. I will not be afraid, because if God is with me, who is against me?”
In March 2011, Gerson and the two other boys residing in Casa Del Rey moved to the Genesis Center in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Since then, they have continued to make great progress in their spiritual and educational development. Each morning, they wake up bright and early and go to El Carmen detention center (where Gerson once lived) to evangelize to the other teenage convicts there. If any of you have had the opportunity to meet Gerson in person on a mission trip, the transformation is undeniable! The love of Christ is shining through his words and actions! For the next year, he will be attending IPC (Central American polytechnical institute) for vocational training classes from 7:30-4:30 everyday.
Tags: Bible Study, degree, education, graduation, halway home, mentor
Congratulations Gerson!!! So proud of you! It’s exciting to hear how you are making spiritual and personal strides in your life.
In the joy of God’s abundant blessings,
~Heather Van Haitsma
I was part of a group (from Genesis Church in Petoskey, MIchigan) that met and worked beside you on the Genesis Center last April.