A ray of hope beams in the Brickfield community on the island of Trinidad. Through a Life Hope Center, people’s lives are changed in an incredible way. One of the largest Hindu temples in the country is just a few short blocks from this center. As visitors pass by on the street, their curiosity is piqued by this sign, and they go in to see what is happening. Many people who come inside find a variety of services aimed at meeting the needs of this community.

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“At the Life Hope Center, before we started any course, we did a needs assessment. We found out that the children here are not good readers. So we targeted the children and also targeted the parents because the children will come with them. So we have math class, we have homework class, and we have pre-school going here every week. Then we had people who were sick and needed a new lifestyle, and we started a health-fitness class. So basically everyday, four times a week, we are here with all those classes that I just mentioned.”

Some children in this community are not able to attend public schools, because they don’t have the proper documentation. For them, the Life Hope Center is their only hope to receive something similar to a formal education. Children ages 6 to 15 come to learn to read and write, to develop math skills, and to receive physical and spiritual training.

For adults, fitness and healthy living classes are offered to increase longevity and to fight off disease. Many have benefited from the courses, and as they leave, they display a new and positive outlook on life.

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“I was feeling sick, but with exercise and diet control, I stopped my medications, and things I couldn’t do before, I am doing now. You know, at the age of 55, I thought it was impossible. And I want to say thanks to all the members of the Life Hope Center for this opportunity because I have learned a lot. I have learned to become a nicer person too. I have a lot more patience which I did not have before. So it helped me in more ways than I know.”

In addition to intellectual and physical training, some people have found hope in Jesus at the Brickfield Life Hope Center. Now, it’s quite normal for the staff to receive requests for spiritual counseling and Bible lessons. In this community, the center’s wholistic approach has proven priceless.

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“We believe in mingling with the people, mixing with them, befriending them by offering different courses--things that they need.”

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“Some of the changes I have seen is that some of these people who are here they ask us to pray for them and we are having Bible studies with them. And we even raised a church because of this center. We now have 25 people .”

Please pray for the Brickfield Life Hope Center in Trinidad as they work to befriend, serve, and win the confidence of people in the region.