Brenda Roldán (Guatemala)

Planting Mustard Seeds. Growing Trees of Refuge.

Brenda answered God’s call with nothing more than a backpack and a willing heart. Today, that tiny seed of obedience has grown into Semillitas—a thriving center where children in Guatemala are sheltered from educational poverty, discipled in faith, and given the roots they need to flourish for generations to come.

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Semillitas

About Brenda and the Birth of Semillitas

I was born and raised in Guatemala city, and at the age of 10 got to know God through my mom who took me into a Baptist Church.

Having a small knowledge for missions, after graduating college in 2010, I started the missionary journey for one year but couldn’t do it full time and it wasn’t until 2017 when after a long time of prayer, God sent me to be a full time missionary at Antigua Guatemala. I served as a children’s kids club leader in a ministry in Antigua in which I prepared once a week songs, bible teaching, meal, crafts, and games for almost 50 children.

In 2020 I kept in touch with some of the kids from the kids club and when COVID hit, giving food baskets to these families was the only thing I could do to help them. Then when visiting these families, I noticed the needs they had with the school work as the public school only sent a study guide for the lessons of the week. This was really something concerning as some of the parents didn’t know how to read so helping their children was a hard task to do.

Semillitas was born due to this specific necessity so first, I came once a week on my day off to each one of their homes to help with their homework but that wasn’t enough, so in 2021 I quit my job and started doing this twice a week, packed with all the material in my car and a backpack. After praying for guidance, I felt this wasn’t only a hobby but instead something more permanent. In 2022 after a long search, I found a storefront which after adapting it with bookshelves and tables became our center called Semillitas (Little Seeds).

Now after 4 years, Semillitas has grown and transformed the lives of kids in the area of San Miguel Escobar. It started as a tutoring center but I knew God had a plan for each one of the kids. They come 3 times a week in two groups, one in the morning and the other one in the afternoon. We always start the day with a 15 minute devotional, a small snack, and prayer time. They do their homework, projects or study guides with me and I teach them how to think and solve their schoolwork by themselves.

One of my main goals is that they get to build a relationship with God. In San Miguel Escobar, the diversity of religions is wide but the catholic is the strongest. I try to make them understand the importance of a relationship with God more than what religion they profess so showing God’s love by opening the doors to any kid is what I’m most proud of. Of course, the salvation prayer is part of it too.

Driven by the parable of the mustard seed, Brenda knows that great things start incredibly small. In 2021, she quit her job to carry tutoring supplies in her car for a handful of kids. Today, that seed has grown into Semillitas—a bustling learning center that provides shelter, education, and daily devotionals to dozens of children. Brenda is showing that when you plant a seed of faith in God’s hands, it grows into a tree where an entire community can find rest.

I truly believe children are the future in Guatemala. Discipleship is a key element to transform them into men and women loving and following God’s guidance.

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” Jeremiah 30:12

We cannot do this work without others joining us! Jesus is changing lives and we hope you can be a part of this ministry. We are empowered to raise our financial support.