Even as a little girl, Cole loved missions. Raised by parents Dan and Rita Cole, who pastored churches in Thief River Falls and then Shakopee, Minn., she loved when missionary speakers visited.

“They lived exciting lives. By my teens, I wanted to be a missionary,” Cole said.

Majoring in Elementary Education and Spanish at Bethel University, and graduating in 1999, she knew she would serve in Latin America—she just didn’t know where.

Then Colin Fullilove, director and founder of People for Missions, came to her church. He talked about House of Hope, a new orphanage in Zacapa, Guatemala, with a unique focus. The group hoped not to find people outside of Guatemala to adopt orphans, but to instead  raise them to adulthood in loving households in a community providing great relationships and solid education.

The students could become teachers, medical personnel, scientists—future leaders for Guatemala. But House of Hope didn’t have their school yet.

“That morning God nudged me that that was where He would use my talents,” Cole said. “For the next two years I taught third grade in St. Paul, preparing and paying down my college loans. I visited Zacapa twice, assessing each child’s learning needs. I decided to teach Spanish and English so the children would be bilingual. When I moved down in August of 2001, I found 25 enthusiastic children in an empty building with no doors, windows or electricity.”

Cole started preschool classes and tutored younger children. She added a new class each year until they had grades 1-6 and Oasis Christian School was born.

“After complicated applications and much prayer, we won government approval,” Cole said.

As Director and Principal of OCS, Cole supervises over 100 children and leads 15 teachers and staff. It’s a healthy stretch. In addition to teaching children from House of Hope, students also come from Zacapa and the surrounding countryside.

After 5 years in Central America, Cole has accomplished much. She conducts two full weeks of teacher and staff training before school starts and has meetings at least weekly through the year.

“We’re offering the best academics possible,” she said. “We love watching God work in these children’s lives.”

Two older House of Hope students will travel to a Christian high school in Ohio on scholarships for 6 months of exchange study in 2007, living with host families.


Support needed
Cole has no guaranteed income. Her finances come through donor pledges from the U.S. Last September, God brought her across a major hurdle.

“Only 9 months after my application, I received permanent residency in Guatemala. That is a miracle! Permanent residency is very hard to obtain,” she said. “The waiting period is usually 4 years, even if you’ve married a Guatemalan.”

House of Hope is having great impact. Consider 9-year-old “Princesa.” As a baby she was found abandoned one dreary February day in a basket on the steps of the local hospital. Hospital staff called her “Princesa,” (little Princess) since she came with no personal information. No one knew her given name or true birth date.

She spent her first year in a crowded state-run orphanage. Then House of Hope opened and the state orphanage placed her there. Outgoing and happy, she’s chosen her own name and birthday now: Katalina Maria—Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.

Today her future is as bright as her smile, according to Cole. She is a talented Christian girl thriving in a household of 15, including American “parents” and their four sons. The household enjoys devotions together and attends Guatemalan Church.

Cole prays about developing a middle school and high school in the region.

“My goal is to provide tools for these children to have a great future. Like any youngsters, their goals change frequently,” she said. “Some hope to be teachers. Currently, Katalina plans to be a vet. Nine-year-old Melvin wants to be a pilot to avoid the long bumpy ride to the capital.”

Cole’s biggest challenge has been learning the ins and outs of Guatemalan culture and “knowing when something should be changed or when it should stay the same.”

She was surprised that working with other missionaries sometimes proved challenging.

“I thought that since we had the same goals, we would always agree. We’ve learned to work our differences through, though,” she said. “Initially it was hard for me to really get to know Guatemalans. Now one of my delights is being accepted by them and making lasting friendships. I’m part of a strong Guatemalan home group with 8-15 attending weekly.”

So far, Cole has returned to Minnesota each winter to spend time with her family. Her parents and brother Adam have visited Guatemala twice. They’re proud of her, though they do say they wish they could see her more often.

“It’s hard to have your daughter far away, but she’s sowing seed bringing many to Christ, changing lives forever,” her mother said.

To those considering missionary work Cole says, “If you feel God calling you, don’t hesitate. I love my fulfilling life; I can’t imagine doing anything else!”



To read more about Erin Cole’s ministry in Guatemala, visit www.erinjoycole.com.

Erin cole can be reached by mail in Guatemala at: Erin Cole, Apartado 21, Zacapa, Guatemala, Central America. For tax-deductible receipts, make donation checks payable to People for Missions (adding “for Erin Cole” on the check memo-line), P.O. Box 916, Estero, FL 33928.