MPC Highlights

Annual Fun Day in Catacamas

Have you ever dreamed about going to school and all you did that day was recess? Well, if you had been at The Good Samaritan School in Catacamas, for the Annual Fun Day, that’s just what you would have done.

It was a fantastic day at the school from start to finish. The children were treated to bouncy castles and games, as well as treats like homemade donuts, made right on the grounds of the school.

A big thank you to the members that came from St. Andrews Church of Christ in Columbia, South Carolina for providing for, participating in and hosting the event!

Meet Dr. Sara

Hello, and first of all, blessings to you!

My name is Sara Esther Guido Granera. I am originally from the city of León, but for the past three years, I have lived in Jinotega, Nicaragua, where I have the privilege of working as a general practitioner at the Misión Para Cristo Christian Clinic.

For me, as a member of the Church of Christ, being able to serve through my profession has been a very special experience and a true blessing from God. Every day has been an opportunity to learn, grow, and—above all—serve others.

But there is something that gives this work an even deeper meaning for me.  I have fond memories of my childhood—starting when I was five years old—of the times we received those "Smile Boxes." I remember the anticipation we felt upon receiving them and the excitement of opening them to discover what was inside. Sometimes we found things for school, other times things for play and fun; but beyond their contents, those boxes represented joy, excitement, and love.

Back then, as a child, I never imagined that many years later—at the age of 25—God would allow me to be on the other side of the story: working as a doctor in the very place where I once received those boxes with such delight.  Today, I understand that behind each one of those boxes were people dedicating their time, resources, and effort to bring a moment of happiness to children across various cities in Nicaragua.

Now, having the opportunity to be part of this work fills me with deep gratitude toward God. It is as if He is allowing me to complete a beautiful circle in my life: once, I was a child who received, and today, I am a professional with the opportunity to serve and give to others.  That is why I want to thank, with all my heart, everyone who makes this beautiful work possible. To some, it might seem like just a simple box, but to a child, it can mean so much more: it can be a happy memory, a sign of love, and a source of hope that stays with them for years to come.

Thank you for sowing love, joy, and hope in the hearts of so many children. May God continue to richly bless everyone who is part of this mission, their families, their projects, and every hand that joins in to serve.  And above all, thank you to God for allowing me to be part of this story.

Letter Writing: Lifting a Child's Spirits

One of the awesome things about sponsoring a child in one of the Kingdom Kids programs is the ability to write to and hear from the student you are sponsoring. The process is easy!

To send a message to your sponsored child:

Go to Kingdom Kids MPC
Click “Log In” in the upper right-hand corner
Enter your email address, your password, and then click “Sign In”.

This will take you to your profile page. Across the top on the right side is "My Profile." To the right is a dropdown arrow. Click the arrow and then click on "Inbox." From your Inbox, in the upper right hand corner, click on "Start New Conversation." From here, it's like a normal email; just key in your letter. You can also attach a photo of your family and/or pet. We do ask that you please not send photos of your house or cars.

Once your letter is sent electronically, through your account, it will be downloaded, printed, and translated into Spanish so that it can be taken to your child's teacher. The teacher will provide time for the student to read the letter and time for the child to write you back. Then, the letter will be brought back to the Mision where it will be translated back to English for you and uploaded to your online account .

This process can take several weeks because of the remote locations and because trips to the school from the main office do not occur daily.
But I assure you, it is well worth the wait!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Claudia via email.

Christ Duty School in Haiti: An update

While the political climate in Haiti continues to be tenuous, Christ Duty School continues to operate, working to develop the hearts and minds of its over 200 students. But, it still faces many challenges. Duty is blessed due to its location being in the northern part of rural Haiti, thus it is not located near the political unrest. Most days, life is normal.

Hurricane Melissa was of concern, but the school was not damaged and classes are back in session. Prayers are needed as Haiti recovers.

Pressing needs at the school include:

Safety: Shoring up the safety for the students and the school is the most pressing concern for now. A security fence is needed in order to help with this endeavor.
Providing electricity: There is no electricity at the school, so there are no lights and there is no ability to utilize or teach about computers. There is a desire for solar panels to be installed at the school to alleviate this problem and provide the children a better study environment.
Computers: The school does not currently have any. The children are taught about them, but due to no electricity and no computers, there is no way to provide this needed education.
Sponsorship. Please see: https://www.misionparacristo.com/Kingdom-Kids-Haiti for sponsorship opportunities.

If you are moved to assist with any of the efforts, please contact Jerry Myhan at jmyhan@harding.edu. Donations for the efforts can be mailed to: Highway Church of Christ, Kingdom Kids-Haiti, MPC, 128 Highway Church Lane, Judsonia, AR 72081. Check to be made out to Kingdom Kids-Haiti.

The Hands and Feet of Jesus:
Bringing Smiles to Children and Feeding the Hungry

MPC/Kids Against Hunger 2025 and Smiles 2025 have had a successful year, thanks to the support of so many!

This year, 198,000 meals were completed in 11 packing events. The meals have been sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Jamaica.

Over 12,000 Smiles Boxes were packed and have been sent for distribution to River City Ministries, Foster Care Children in Searcy, Nicaragua (limited), Honduras, Peru, Mexico, and El Salvador.

Planning for 2026 is underway! If your congregation or civic group would like to participate by packing food or providing Smile Boxes for underprivileged children, we would be so appreciative! Check out the details for Smiles here. Check out the details for MPC/Kids Against Hunger food packing here.

Bringing Joy to Many:
Harding University and Burleson Church of Christ
Together in Nicaragua

Harding University School of Pharmacy and Burleson Church of Christ teamed up to bring a great week to the mission and to the church in Jinotega. This was the third group to join us from Harding this year.

Over four days, this amazing group visited schools, worked in construction, and loved on children.

Many were provided with medical care, while wellness physicals for the Kingdom Kids in Jinotega were also provided.

Burleson Church had a particularly special week, visiting all of their sponsored children that are in four different locations, providing each child with a bag of food basics to take home to their families.

Thanks to all three Harding University medical mission groups that joined us this year and the medical mission group from Lipscomb University, the children in the Kingdom Kids program in Nicaragua have all had their physicals for 2025!

Medical Check-ups, Education, and Fun with Students

We had an amazing week with a group of 19 students, from Freed Hardeman! Led by Dr. Brian Vaughn from the Physical Therapy Assistant Program and Dr. Laura Cupp from the Education Department, this energetic and hardworking group made a positive impact at the School of the Good Samaritan/Kingdom Kids in Catacamas, Honduras.

Each student received their annual wellness check, which included vision screenings.

Additionally, the teachers participated in a one-day seminar, and on the other days the group rotated through classrooms, providing support and encouragement to both teachers and students.

As the group departed on Friday, they were able to participate in the school's annual King Limpiar celebration, a day dedicated to honoring Honduran heritage.

Dr. Sara, Enoch, Gracie, Wilson, Duncan, Edenia, Bob, Donna, Benny and Claudia came from Jinotega to help with the week.

Smiles 2025: A Time to Prepare

July is a great time for both individuals and congregations to jump in and be a part of the MPC initiatives that help provide a Christian education, food, clothes and fun for needy children. Three initiatives underway include Smile Boxes (Smiles 2025), as well as Kids Against Hunger/MPC Food Packing events and the preparation for Kingdom Kids gifts.

Smile Boxes
- Congregations work as a team to assemble boxes of prescribed items for kids in need, showing them that they are loved and remembered.
- For more information see the Smiles Brochure
- Deadline for Smiles 2025 is September 1st.
Gift Preparations for Kingdom Kids
- Many of our sponsors like to provide end-of-year gifts for the children they sponsor.
- If you are a sponsor, funding for the gifts can be provided through your online accounts or sent to:
  - Highway Church of Christ, 128 Highway Lane, Judsonia AR 72081.
  - Be sure to annotate that the funds are for a gift.
  - Our wonderful Kingdom Kids staff purchases and delivers them and provides a picture for sponsors.
  - Deadline to provide funding is September 1st.
- If you would like to purchase a gift yourself:
  - The gift should be no larger than the size of a shoebox;
  - It should be sent to the above address in Judsonia no later than September 15th;or
  - Call Benny with the number of gifts that need to be picked up by September 1st so arrangements can be made.
Kids Against Hunger/MPC Food Packing Events
- In just a couple of hours, gathering your congregation to pack meals will have a powerful impact on so many lives.
- On average 50 Volunteers can pack around 10,000 meals/hour! Smaller groups can participate!
- For more information on hosting a food packing event, email Benny@misionparacristo.com.

So All Can Come to Know Our Savior

Celebrating New Life in Christ in 2025

MPC Ministers Blazing the Trail

On May 30, 2025, MPC honored seven of our preachers who graduated from the International Bible Institute of Texas, with a Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies. This was the first live graduation for ministers from MPC. The graduates included:

From Jinotega: Alberto, Genaro, and Jose;
From Managua: Fernando:
From Matagalpa: Julio;
From Bocay: Hector; and
From Pantasma: Angel.

The ministers began the online program in 2020. We applaud their motivation, dedication, commitment and desire to serve our Lord and His Kingdom. It was a joyous occasion, made even more special by the presence of Steve Austin, Director of IBIT, who joined us via Zoom to for the graduation ceremony.