Rayo de Esperanza | Mission Finder

Provides a loving, Christian home for orphans who have been rejected, neglected, abused, and left without a family.

Our philosophy is that children thrive best in a house-parent setting. We can accommodate up to eight children per set of house parents. Our houses and other facilities are designed to foster growth and youthful experimentation in all types of weather in a ranch setting with horses, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, and cats.

We are located on 70 acres of rural property near Rio Dulce, Guatemala. We have a large chapel on the property to serve the local community plus two orphanage houses and two small houses (2 bedroom) as well as a shop and a water purification plant. We are in need of house parents who want to make a long-term commitment to orphaned children in this area.

Our History

Mike and Karen Rhea left the U.S. on their boat from St. Petersburg, Florida in 2001, with a new-found faith in Christ not knowing where they would land. They had a desire to serve wherever God would have them and eventually, after much prayer, God called them to the Rio Dulce region in Guatemala.

They really had no idea exactly what God has in mind for them, just that they should go. After spending time in the local community, they quickly saw a need for a clinic to serve the sick and the hurting in the area. Karen’s background was in nursing, so they scraped together the resources and started a clinic.

They operated the clinic for five years. During that time, it was evident that the only place provided for orphans was a poorly-run orphanage. Not only were the children being raised without an understanding of the Gospel, but the orphanage itself was also involved in questionable activities. We saw this as a need being so great that we began to pray for an opportunity to start our own orphanage in the region

Our Values

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he was born of the virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilot, dead and buried and that he rose on the third day to sit at the right hand of God in heaven. We believe that we were saved by his sacrifice and will join him in heaven when we are called home. We believe the Bible is the inspired written word of God and we endeavor to replicate its principles in our lives.

Our History

Our Mission

Our Values

What We Do

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