October 2019 - Greetings from Venezuela! In    the    last    couple    of    years,    we    in Fundamost   (Mustard   Tree   Missions   of Venezuela)     have     been     delivering donated      items      such      as      school supplies,   medical   supplies,   baby   food, toiletries   and   toys   to   people   in   great need in and around the Maracaibo area. In    addition    to    that    we    started    a    scholarship    program    for Christian   students   to   help   pay   their   University   tuition.   We know   that   with   a   University   education   young   people   can   get   a better   job   and   believe   that`s   the   best   way   to   help   them   out   of poverty.   Up   through   last   year   we   could   use   small   donations   and part   of   the   money   I   made   teaching   to   cover   the   2   students   we had   in   the   program.   We   managed   to   do   a   lot   with   a   little.   One   of these   students   (José)   graduated   with   a   degree   in   psychology this year and is now seeing clients as part of Fundamost! This     semester     the     University     has     increased     the     tuition tremendously   -     we   need   about   $500   per   semester   to   cover one   student's   tuition.   Currently   we   have   one   person   receiving this   financial   help   but   we   would   like   to   include   two   or   three   more young people who need it. Axel,        our        current        scholarship recipient,   is   studying   Computer   Science. He   is   20   years   old   and   comes   from   a family    in    which    both    parents    work,    but their   combined   salaries   is   the   equivalent of   only   $4   per   month.   His   mother   is   in need   of   a   pacemaker   that   costs   $7000 which    is    impossible    under    the    current conditions.   Her   wish   is   for   her   son   to   get a    University    degree    that    would    open doors for him in another country. There   are   also   2   young   ladies   we   would   like to   help.   Alejandra   is   17   and   just   finishing high   school.   She   wants   to   get   a   technical degree   in   psychopedagogy   (a   combination   of pedagogy   and   psychology)   in   order   to   help troubled   school   kids.   It   is   very   important   for her   to   obtain   this   degree   as   she   is   the   sole provider for herself, her mom and brother. Victoria,   another   17   year-old,   wants   to   study psychology.   She   will   be   able   to   get   a   job   as   a counselor   upon   graduation.   Here   is   what   she says   about   her   education:   " The   reasons   why   I want    to    study    psychology    are    diverse:    to understand   what   is   behind   the   actions   of   a person,    to    discover    why    or    what    leads    a person   to   make   certain   decisions   in   the   face of    different    situations,    and    to    recognize    the multiple   differences   and   uniqueness   that   exist within    each    person.    Beyond    satisfying    my curiosity   and   expanding   my   understanding,   my vision   is   to     learn   how   to   help   people   from   where   it   all   begins (from what I consider for now): the mind." We   cannot   offer   these   scholarships   without   your   help.   In   July   I accepted   a   teaching   position   in   Ciudad   Ojeda   on   the   east   side of   Lake   Maracaibo,   about   an   hour's   drive   from   my   home.   This pays   $300   a   month,   but   it   takes   $1,000   a   month   just   for   food and   transportation.   Thankfully,   I   have   a   few   psychology   clients, some   tutoring   jobs   and   some   internet   classes   that   help   cover some   expenses.   I   have   been   able   to   take   a   small   portion   of   my income   and,   along   with   the   donations   we   receive,   cover   a   small part   of   these   tuitions,   but   it   is   not   enough.   In   order   to   move ahead    we    need    to    raise    more    funds.    I    invite    you    to    keep participating   with   us.   Whatever   you   send   will   add   up   and   help these   bright   students   secure   a   more   promising   future.   They   are the   future   of   our   country   and   no   matter   how   bleak   things   look right now we cannot give up on educating the next generation! May God bless you, Rubén Turtulici Arrieta, M.Ed. Psicólogo/Psicoanalista