It’s 6 am and Rosa Maria Vasquez is already preparing for another day of classes at the National University of Honduras. After a quick breakfast while pulling her books together for the day, she rushes for a taxi and hurries to her faculty. For the last two years this has been the daily routine for Rosa, a bright young woman studying psychology and determined to standout amongst the university’s more than fifty-thousand students.

Looking back on her life, it is easy to see that Rosa has always been meant for something more than a life lived in abject poverty.

A Life Without Hope

Rosa grew up in Minas de Oro, one of the oldest communities in the Republic of Honduras. Founded by settlers hoping to strike gold in 1830, the region has been exploited for its gold, platinum and silver deposits.

In spite of the land’s richness, most people—including Rosa’s family—struggle to survive each day. More than half the adults in Minas de Oro are unemployed, although some work as subsistence farmers.

Rosa’s life began to change when she was enrolled at the Maranatha Student Centre, a Compassion project run by one of its 165 partner churches in Honduras. Here she received education opportunities, health checkups and participated in social activities.

And it was here that she found faith in Jesus Christ.

“I was introduced to the Bible [here]; it was right in this place where I learned about God’s special plan for my life,” says Rosa. “Learning about the Bible had a great impact on me; it strengthened my spiritual life.”

A Dream to Pursue

As she grew older, Rosa’s life reached a crucial moment: Her completion of the Compassion Sponsorship program. Rosa loved being a part of the church project, and actually had a happy childhood because of the love and support of the project staff & volunteers. She discovered a love of children’s ministry, serving as a Sunday school teacher in her church. And she dreamed of continuing her education. She had excelled academically and was extremely diligent, but the expense seemed so far out of reach.

In order to go to University, she determined that she needed to look for work in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras.

“I told my mother that I was going to move out to Tegucigalpa to look for a job in order to pay for my education. It was a tough decision because I was going to say goodbye to the teaching ministry in my church.”

But Rosa did not know that God had something else in store for her—the chance to pursue her dream as a student in Compassion’s Leadership Development program.

This opportunity carries with it great responsibility as Rosa will be the only one in her family to become a professional. But as a psychologist, she has the opportunity to reach out to many people.

“Ever since I started [studying] psychology, I thought that this would be a great chance to bless others—and perhaps have my own clinic. I enjoy listening to others,” she says.

A Life of Opportunity

While there have been many challenges—moving to a new city, being away from her family and leaving behind the children’s ministry at her church—perhaps the greatest has been adapting to her new life.

Difficult and demanding teachers and the often strikingly different beliefs of her classmates took some getting used to, and it was most difficult to find the right church. She eventually found her way to the Filadelfia Church in her neighbourhood, where she now serves as a Sunday school teacher for children ages 4-6.

At the end of her first year, Rosa’s academic results were quite impressive, completing all 12 of her courses and having a final percentage of 82% overall. Now at the end of her second year, Rosa continues to serve in her church’s children’s ministry and pursue academic excellence.

With the achievement of her goals just around the corner, Rosa continues to pursue her dream with determination, confident in God’s trustworthiness.

“I am extremely happy and blessed because God has been good to me. I’m so grateful and committed to give my best in my studies. God deserves all the credit for it for my success.”

By Yuri Fortin, Compassion Honduras, with Aaron Armstrong, Compassion Canada