OCTOBER 2020

      Although we had only returned to Guatemala on September 22,  October was filled with much work and many blessings.    While the nation of Guatemala is still in a partial shut-down,  life is going on.  Most businesses that sell food, supplies, materials, and other necessary items are now open.   Their hours are somewhat limited but we are still able to purchase what is needed for the feeding center and the building of homes in Santa Maria.  

Every business that we enter has a disinfectant station for your hands and the bottom of your shoes, as well as a guard or an employee taking your temperature.  In addition,  on the drive up the mountain, as you enter Santa Maria they have a washing station consisting of bleach water that you must drive through,  even if you are on a moto.

 

While businesses are open we only see locals for the most part.   This past week we only saw 5 or 6 backpackers that were from out of country.   While it takes a little more paperwork and a Covid test within 72 hours of entry,  the airport is open but as of yet not many tourists have entered Guatemala.

The Feeding Center

The children's feeding center is open.   The children are still not allowed inside so they line up along the walls outside where songs are sung and a message about Jesus Christ is shared with them each day.  Only one child from a family can come to the center.

Before the center begins the distribution of food we place large and small portions in plastic bags to hand out.

Rita bagging Rice Milk with Wendy and Tomas

Bags of Rice

Bags of Beans

 

 Bags of Rice Milk

Four tortillas are given per child,  about 1000 are made each day we feed the children

Each child has a number for large and small placed on their hand,  they then go through the line and we place the bags in one large bag and put in their backpack, basket, or whatever they may have brought to carry the food back home to their family.

House Build in Santa Maria

We were blessed this month to be able to build a home for Marcaria, age 15, and her family.   Marcaria comes to the feeding center every time it is open and she always has a sweet smile.  Her father Cipriano, age 60, works in the fields and her mother Maria, age 60, stays at home.   Marcaria has 7 brothers and 1 sister.  The house that we built will be lived in by her father, mother, herself, and one sister.  The other siblings are older and live independently.   She attends the Catholic church in Santa Maria and her parents have been married 42 years.

 

We have built many homes for families and they all had dirt floors.   This family has the cleanest property of any family we have built for to date.   Even though the floors were dirt, Maria swept daily and picked up any trash that may have fallen.  They were very conscientious of having a clean home.

 

 

Whenever possible, we encourage the family to help.   One of Marcaria's brothers is helping secure the sill plate

His first time using a drill

His first time using a circular saw

Marcaria's mother weaving while we build the house

Marcaria's cousin playing with the wood we cutoff

Marcaria and her ever present smile

This home had obstacles that required us to completely build two walls before raising

The walls were heavy because the wood was still very wet

 

After the house walls were in place we let the men of the family start on the kitchen

Marcaria and her family helping build the beds

Even her mother Maria got in on the action

The men helping us cut the last piece of lamina for the roof

With the extra scraps we had left over we had the family build a table for the water filter

This is the largest table to date we have had built by a family

The children had no toys but these blocks made for hours of fun

Macaria's sister washing dishes at the pila with her baby patiently on her back.

Macaria and one of her sisters

Cary with Fidel.  Fidel helps us on our house builds, not only does he help build but he is also speaks Kaqchikel.  Many times in Santa Maria the parents of the children speak Spanish only sparingly, their natural language is kaqchikel

Marcaria and her family all smiles after the house build.

Life goes on in Guatemala,  fuel is expensive and many do not have trucks.  Men are paid to carry funiture, bamboo sticks for homes, and anything else one could carry on their back.   

Lorena and José with their newborn baby.   We were blessed with the opportunity to bring them home yesterday from the National hospital.   Lorena served with us at the feeding center and was unable to become pregnant.   We had taken her to the doctor on two occasions.  She was low in a hormone that would allow her to become pregnant.   We were in the process of getting her the necessary medicine when Covid hit and we were unable to get the medicine to Guatemala,   but,   God  worked in her life and she was able to become pregnant.  We often think we need to do something but He showed us once again that prayer and His timing are always perfect.

It is such a blessing for us to be able to serve here in Guatemala.   There is so much need with the poverty, hunger, orphans, and the need to share the grace and hope of our savior Jesus Christ.   While some days are better than others,  we have never had a day that we were not able to see God move in our hearts and the hearts of those here in Santa Maria.   We let them know that their conditions here on earth are nothing compared to the glories in heaven.   

Thank you for allowing us to serve here in Guatemala and your continued support for the children and families here in Santa Maria.