Our Mission

Story and Vision

Mentor | Disciple | Equip

Casa de Gracia exists because God placed a burden on one young man’s heart—to obey Scripture's command to care for the fatherless and the vulnerable.

Edwin grew up in Guatemala’s system of protection, spending 13 years in an orphanage before aging out at 18. During his time there, God began shaping his sense of purpose—drawing his attention to the pain and uncertainty faced by young people who leave the system without family support. He became convinced that his life should be focused on the things that break God’s heart.

When Edwin aged out, he faced adulthood alone. He worked to support himself, learning firsthand how difficult that transition can be. Yet even as he fought for stability, he continued returning to encourage and walk alongside the younger boys who remained in the system—young men who had become like family to him. He did not want them to be forgotten.

What began as personal faithfulness grew into a larger vision: a transition home where young adults aging out of protection systems could find structure, mentorship, discipleship, and practical preparation for independent life.

In God’s timing, Edwin met Rich and Cherry Smith. They have since adopted him as their son, and together they are working to bring this vision to life.

Our Vision

To see young adults who have aged out of systems of protection integrated into Guatemalan society—grounded in Christ, supported in community, and equipped for independent adulthood.

Through intentional mentorship, structured curriculum, vocational development, and partnerships with local organizations and businesses, we mentor, disciple, and equip young people for sustainable adult life, rooted in Christian faith and values.

A little more about the vision of Casa de Gracia and the needs we seek to meet, presented by our Discipleship Program Creator, Catherine Maxon.

God's heart for the orphan.

Casa de Gracia is a response to God's command to care for the fatherless and the vulnerable.

We believe that following Jesus means showing love through sharing truth and hope while also meeting practical needs.

We are committed to:

Sharing the Gospel regularly
Modeling the life of a disciple of Jesus
Offering connection to local churches
Providing both physical and spiritual care

Depth over scale.

Casa de Gracia serves a small number of young adults to ensure each program participant receives individualized support and close personal attention.

We prioritize:
• Deep, consistent relationships
• Tailored caregiving and instruction
• Long-term growth over short-term results

Our intentionally small model creates an environment where people are known, guided, and supported with accountability, allowing meaningful transformation to take root over time.

How We Define Success.

Success for our program participants looks like:

Spiritual maturity and character growth
Increasing personal responsibility and stability
Healthy relationships and community integration
Readiness for independent adult life

For our team, success means faithfully demonstrating the love of Jesus by providing a safe home, a high-quality education, vocational training, and a healthy community.

We also recognize that some of the most meaningful fruit cannot be easily quantified.

Replication, Not Expansion.

A single campus can only serve a limited number of residents to truly provide personalized care in a family-style home.

Our long-term vision is replication rather than expansion—careful multiplication of a proven, faithful model when leadership and readiness are in place.