If you haven’t done so already, take two minutes to check out the performance of the Detroit Youth Choir on America’s Got Talent last week.  Just click on the picture below for almost instant joy:

I don’t know any of the young people in this choir, but I’ve spent most of my life working with young people in Detroit, and there’s a reason that you can feel the power of these words in their song:
 
I am invincible, unbreakable
Unstoppable, unshakeable
They knock me down, I get up again
I am the champion.
 
The reason is because I bet every single young person in that choir has lived those words.  And I also bet that very few of them got up on their own after getting knocked down.  They were the fortunate ones to have a parent, coach, pastor, neighbor, teacher, family member or friend who would not let them give up, even when everything in the world around them looked like trying harder would be futile.
 
The Detroit Youth Choir has only had two people as lead conductors over its 23-year-history.  Their faithfulness through all the long and difficult stretches laid the foundation for these 52 children to become an overnight success.
 
In much the same way, we have been blessed at International Samaritan to have a handful of people give generously to fund the start up and growth of scholarships to children living in garbage dump communities in Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica and Nicaragua through the years.  Some of those students have graduated and are working as teachers and accountants, as well as mechanics and cooks.  The miracle of their success came from seeds planted and nourished faithfully by Samaritans through the years.
 
Last week we sent letters to all of our friends asking them to support a scholarship so that we can reach 260 more children next year.
 
I’m asking you now to prayerfully consider joining them.  The difference between success and failure for children growing up in poverty often comes down to having someone in their corner fighting for them.  Please help them be champions.

Lester’s Words

By Mike Tenbusch | November 04, 2022 Yesterday, I ran my third IntSam Global 5K in as many weeks.  This time it was with our scholars in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, along with a powerful team of new friends from Grace Community Church in Detroit.  While recovering after...

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By Mike Tenbusch | October 21, 2022 When we lined up to run the Great IntSam 5K in San Pedro Sula last week, I knew I could take at least half of the 40 or so kids lined up around me.  Sure, it felt like 110 degrees, but they had to run in the same heat too.  I had...

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By Mike Tenbusch | October 07, 2022 When she was a young girl, Yessenia was forced by the conditions surrounding her to work in the garbage dump in El Ocotillo, outside San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to pull out as much plastic and cardboard as she could from the teeming...