Marcela’s Remarkable Story
A Life Changed Forever
Nineteen years ago, against all odds, a little girl’s life was about to change forever. Six-year-old Marcela Betanco arrived at the Mission Lazarus Refuge Children’s Home in Honduras with her three siblings. In her short life, Marcela had already endured more than most people will face in a lifetime. Coming to the Refuge marked a turning point — a place of safety, love, and healing, where she could finally experience the simple joys of childhood.
Before long, Marcela had made new friends, built trust with her caregivers, and immersed herself in new experiences. She learned to tend the family garden, care for calves, milk cows, and ride horses. She began to excel academically, and for the first time, she learned about Jesus. Marcela became deeply involved in church, and in 2012, she gave her life to Christ and was baptized.
Marcela thrived at the Refuge, both spiritually and academically. She set her sights on college early on, determined to build a better future. Four years ago, she began her studies.
Unlike many children’s homes around the world, which require residents to leave at age 18, the Mission Lazarus Refuge has no forced exit strategy at that milestone. Instead, as long as young adults are pursuing their education and actively participating in life at the Refuge and the ranch, they have a home until they finish college.
From Refuge to Role Model
Just this past May, Marcela proudly graduated from college with a degree in psychology — a dream she had nurtured for many years. She shared that the counseling and therapy she had received at the Refuge was a true blessing in her life, and it inspired her to give back by helping children who have faced similar hardships.
We are incredibly excited for Marcela and proud of her accomplishment. She is the first child from the Mission Lazarus Refuge to graduate from college, and she serves as a role model to every young person in our care. We look forward with anticipation to see what God will do through Marcela and the countless lives she will touch in the years to come.
Your Gift Can Be the Turning Point
Marcela's story, and the stories of so many orphans, does not happen without your help. Right now, children at The Refuge are waiting for someone to believe in their potential, to invest in their healing, and to stand in the gap. Your gift today doesn’t just provide food and shelter - it plants seeds of hope that will grow for a lifetime.
Give now. Be the reason a child, like Marcela, discovers they are safe, valued, and deeply loved.
