CARTHAGE, Mo. — Offering hope to the street children of Guatemala is not only the job but also the passion of three Carthage residents who are the administrators of Life of Hope Ministries.

Rick Grove, executive director, said the Christian-based, interdenominational and multistate charitable organization was founded in 2004, after he made a visit to Guatemala City. He previously had worked for a charitable group in Mexico City. He said the conditions he found in Guatemala were “a real eye-opening situation.”

A 2005 grant allowed Grove to begin contributions to Guatemalan charities that were working on site. Since then, he and his staff have raised $1.3 million to support their partners in Guatemala. Devin Chance came on board as development director in early 2009, and Mark Elliff joined as director of donor relationships in September of last year.

All three said their decision to become part of the ministry came after they had seen the extreme poverty and deplorable conditions in which the street children had to live. Grove said children’s average life expectancy after they “hit the streets” is 4 to 5 years.

Guatemala City’s garbage dump is now considered “home” to many poverty-stricken families. The size of 40 football fields, it is believed to be the largest in Central America. Around 2,000 people, about half of them children, live inside the gates of the dump. Why? The dump is a resource for materials for building shacks to shelter the families, although many shacks do not even have roofs. Some temporary employment is provided by the recycling of the trash as well. There is no sanitation system, and the homes usually have dirt floors.

“Life and death is a different scenario there,” Chance said. “If you’re a street kid, culturally you’re seen as a part of the trash. I’m not saying people don’t fall through the cracks here, but it’s not the same.”

“It’s so far below just being poor or out of work here,” Grove agreed. “The need is so ultra-critical.”

Life of Hope Ministries now works with five Guatemalan partners: two schools at La Limonada (Tita Evertsz); a community center in Santa Faz; an orphanage/care home for 60-90 children (Mama Carmen); Iglesia Bautista Cristo Es el Camino (Christ Is the Way Baptist Church at the dump); and Castillo de Amor por los Ninez, the original rescue group for street kids.

The work includes a feeding program three times a week, home improvements (such as putting in concrete floors and new stoves), sewer and water projects, health, nutrition, and education.

Education is not free in Guatemala, Chance said. Large families often must choose who among their children, if any, will be allowed to attend school. Last year, the group sponsored more than 80 scholarships. “If you can read or write, you probably won’t end up working in the dump,” Grove said.

“We are very sensitive to the younger kids and keeping families together,” he said. He said the goal is to build self-esteem and self-value to prevent children from being solicited into gangs or the drug culture. “It’s all done with evangelism at the core.”

Later this month, Grove will be taking volunteer groups to Guatemala for about a week’s stay to work with various partner programs. One group includes two Florida doctors who will provide a medical clinic at the dump and at the community center. In March, Chance and Elliff each will head up short-term groups that will offer their services.

Grove said many who make the trip develop a relationship and become donors to one of the partner charities, or even support specific individuals or families. Individual child sponsorships are encouraged.

Life of Hope’s main office is in Joplin, and an office also is maintained at the First Christian Church in Carthage. A part-time staff person also is employed in Guatemala City. Funds are donated throughout the nation, Grove said, with 30 to 40 percent coming from the 648 ZIP code area. Fundraising activities are held at vacation Bible schools, church camps and special events. The group’s website is www.lifeofhope.org.

Address correspondence to Jo Ellis, c/o The Joplin Globe, Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802 or email news@joplinglobe.com.