Oaxaca - Cornerstone Samahua, Huatulco

Description

Cornerstone Samahua is a Christian school, offering Pre-k, Elementary and now High School level Christ centered education in a coastal town about a 6 hour drive South East of Oaxaca city. In partnership with GEM (Global Education Ministries), the school started September of 2019. GEM covers salaries for the teachers in Pre-K and Elementary grades, as well as Pastor David and his wife's (Sandra) salaries. GEM does not cover expenses from materials, equipment, rent, utilities, building. I am unsure of them covering High School level Teacher salaries.

Pastor David and Sandra have a heart for missions, serving and giving of themselves to those around them and showing the love of Christ in different ways . Pastor David and Sandra decided to move their family (4 children) from Oaxaca city (where they lived all their lives and where roots were deep) to the coastal town of Huatulco, a corner of the Oaxaca State located 6 hours drive from the city and very far away from their comfort zone. They followed God's prompting to pastor a small Congregation there. Through tremendous ups and downs, they often sought counsel and prayed about what God really had in store for them among people, climate and food slightly foreign to them. They wanted their congregation to turn from inactivated Christians to ones that live by the Spirit, but progress was slow. Sandra, an educator with a higher learning degree, and Pastor David sought counsel and prayer and decided to make a Christian based proposal to Global Education Ministries (GEM), to open a private school in Huatulco. The whole process of finding out about GEM and being selected are full of God's miracles, but another topic for another day. GEM specializes in starting up Christian schools around the world with a heart to provide an affordable education to cities desperately in need. Pastor David and Sandra’s proposal was accepted and they embarked in an adventure, which didn't seem possible months prior, but has now become a reality. Their school started recruiting students in July of 2019 and within 7 months, they had 33 students signed, 5 teachers, and room to expand to 80 students. Even through the pandemic, they have continued classes and retained all their students. The school was financially breaking even within one year of its inception, which was ahead of expectations. The original goal by GEM was 18 students by the end of the first year, which they easily surpassed, and it speaks to the great need and the success God granted. Students and family's lives are being transformed as many seek their counsel and their prayer during increasingly difficult times and also see students transformed through the classes and the myriad of activities they provide outside of class times. As of early 2024, they now have High School level classes, 13 teachers and 150 students.

Public schools in the area are very poorly run in general. There are two private schools in Huatulco that cost an average of $3000 MX per month ($150 USD/mo). Thus tuition amount on a private school is prohibitive for most people living in the area. Cornerstone Samahua School charges a much more affordable $700 MX per month ($40 USD/mo), though many pay less because they can't afford to pay full tuition. Their aim is for the majority to pay full tuition, which would allow for some to be in partial or full scholarships.

Cornerstone Church in Seattle has walked with the Pacheco family from inception of the school, helping them with mission statements, proposals, tables, chairs, painting material, books, computers, windows, air conditioning, building of extra rooms, etc. We have also helped them buy a piece of land which can fit 15 buildings (of their current school size). Building on this land is within their future dreams of expansion, building pre-k  to 12, building dorms for teachers and missions groups, building sports facilities, building a university, are all within their goals. They say they do not dare to dream small anymore, because through the doubts of whether God had a purpose for them in Huatulco, they have seen too much providence to deny. They can hardly believe the position they are in, able to hire excellent teachers and serving the community with the influence they can exert over just Sunday. They are starting Sunday Service again, after a few years pause. They see how they can now focus on the parents on the weekends and build those relationships through Church. They have been able to bring their whole family to Huatulco so it no longer feels like a foreign place, but feels like exactly where God wants them to be.

Get Involved

Volunteer

They are looking for a long term English teacher. If you want to make a huge eternal difference in children’s lives, please let us know!

Contact

Peter Cheaz <[email protected]>
David Lee <[email protected]>
Katherine Shen <[email protected]>