Erin with Oasis teachers in a staff meeting

I am a teacher from St. Paul, Minnesota.  I graduated from Bethel College in 1999 with majors in Elementary Education and Spanish.  I came to the House of Hope in August of 2001 after teaching 3rd grade for 2 years in St. Paul.

When I arrived at the House of Hope, I started a tutoring program and preschool classes for the children.  After 3 years, that grew into the need for our own school.  After a long application process, we were approved as a private Christian school by the Guatemalan government.  We started our first year in January of 2005.

I am the director/principal of Oasis Christian School.  This is quite a change from being a teacher.  We have students who come from the community of Zacapa and are taught by Guatemalan teachers. 

The challenges are great in running an elementary school and training staff.  But God provides and it is amazing to see His hand move in our students.