We are Ovidio and Derida Ochaeta. I am from Guatemala and Derida is from Albania. We met and married in Galveston, Texas while serving with Park West Children’s Fund aka Friend Ships International. For over 9 years, we traveled around the world aboard the “Spirit” and “Spirit of Grace” ships, spreading the Love of Jesus and delivering needed supplies to impoverished, war torn and disaster stricken countries.
In 2003, the Lord called us to my home country of Guatemala where we continue to serve as directors of The Good Samaritan Association, a nonprofit organization registered in Guatemala. Networking with other mission agencies and in partnership with local and US churches and believers, Good Samaritan Association’s goal is to see God glorified in our efforts to bring His ministry of Hope, Love and Healing on earth, by responding to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people we minister to.
In a time of increasing instability and violence, accelerated by drug dealing and gang activity, the Lord gave us the vision of the Discipleship and Vocational Training Center “Paths of Hope”. Since 2007, we have been working with young men who have dropped out of school at an early age and are not working because of lack of skills and training. Most of them come from dysfunctional families with very limited resources. Our goal is to instill in our young men a sense of belonging in Christ, by experiencing His love through the discipleship program; and to offer them an opportunity to make an honorable & decent living by learning trade skills & work ethics, through the vocational training program, in the areas of carpentry, welding, mechanics, plumbing & electricity. All our boys continue their formal education at a private Christian high school, with several of them attaining a college degree. Due to the government imposed restrictions during the pandemic, we implemented mobile trainings modules which we continue to offer to churches, communities and schools in various areas of Peten.
In addition, as part of our efforts to unite the Body of Christ and encourage the believers in their walk with the Lord, Good Samaritan Association works closely with more than 25 different churches, of various denominations. Assisted by many US visiting teams and ministry partners, we have organized and hosted yearly marriage, women’s and leadership conferences, in addition to counseling and conflict resolution training seminars in various local churches. Pastoral Care is a vital part of our ministry and throughout the year, various fellowship gatherings and spiritual retreats for pastors and their wives are hosted by Good Samaritan Association through our “Oasis of Peace” pastoral care ministry.
