Written by Sharon Smart-Poage /
Posted and edited by Dwight Poage, Sharon's Husband.
Check out the Mayan Families
Connection BLOG also at:
http://mayanfamilie
APRIL 10, 2008: THE MOTHERS DAY BASKET!
At last , here is :
THE MOTHER'S DAY BASKET.
ONE BBQ CHICKEN.
OATMEAL.
PASTA
RICE
COFFEE
BLACK BEANS
OIL
TOMATOES.OR OTHER VEGETABLE.
1 DOZ. BANANAS.
ONE PINEAPPLE.
ONE PACKET OF INCAPARINA.
ALL THIS HELD IN A USEFUL PLASTIC BASKET.
THE COST IS $30 TO PROVIDE THIS NUTRITIOUS AND VERY MUCH NEEDED GIFT TO A
MOTHER AND HER FAMILY.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL GIFT TO DONATE IN HONOR OF A MOTHER IN GUATEMALA!
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APRIL 9, 2008: Sick little 5 year old girl!
This little girl has been through a very rough ride. She was
unconscious for several days. Her father called yesterday to say that she
woke up yesterday afternoon and was moving her legs and arms. She has
been very, very ill and we have been in contact with the social worker and
the doctor at the hospital. It is still unsure, to me, whether she is HIV
positive or whether she has the full disease. Her father and brother
are being tested but we have not received the news about them yet.
We have been continuing to supply this little girl with the
medicines that she needs. She had a fracture of the skull, she
had an infection in her cerebral, she had a urinary tract infection and a
stomach infection - this is what the social worker from the hospital told
me.
Her father is by her bedside the whole time, the only
time he leaves , he comes to get money from us for more medicines,
this is a 6 hour round trip by bus, ( He is a very good father, he runs to
the bus, he runs into the office, I can see how anxious he is when he is
here, he gets the money and runs back to the bus and then calls us when he
gets back to the hospital ) all these medical costs are confirmed with the
social worker at the hospital and he brings us all the receipts.
The father sleeps on the floor next to her bed. They do not provide
a chair or a cot nor a blanket. He is just sleeping on the bare floor in his
clothes and anyone who has been to Quetzaltenango knows that it is pretty
chilly there at night and early mornings.
So far we have spent approx. $500 on medications for this little girl. We are fortunate that we could do this for her, I know that without this medical help that they have received that this little girl would probably not be alive . When the father came to us he was completely without money or any way to raise any more money to pay for the medical bills. His family is very poor, he is the eldest of a large family , he has many small brothers and sisters at home and his parents did not have any more money to help him with. The hospital would not have given her any of this medication without it being paid for.
I
don't know what her outcome will be. We are just trying to give her a
chance. I know that if this was my child - I would want to do everything
that was possible.
Thank you for thinking about her,
APRIL 7, 2008
A new service is now available for Mayan Families
contributors -- Automatic Recurring Donation Payments.
By contacting Harold, anyone can set up an arrangement to have monthly or
quarterly fixed amount donations automatically processed through a one-time
transaction.
WHAT EXACTLY IS "AUTOMATIC RECURRING DONATION PAYMENTS"?
Basically, you establish an ongoing payment plan for a fixed amount that you
would like to contribute to Mayan Families each month on an ongoing basis.
In your plan, you identify how much you would like to automatically
contribute each month (or quarter), and how you would like to have those
payments applied.
Through a phone call made to you from
Guatemala, all
of the necessary information is entered into a system.
Your first monthly payment will be made for verification during that call.
Once we know that you've successfully received your first payment receipt,
you're on your way.
Your fixed monthly donation payments will be made automatically by the Mayan
Families Accounting System every month unless you say stop.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WONDERFUL SERVICE?
Other than a valid credit card, there are only 2 basic requirements.
One is that your recurring payment is at least $15 per month, or $45 per
quarter.
The other requirement is that you agree to allowing Mayan Families to bill
your credit card automatically for a minimum of 6 months.
The 6 month agreement is honor system. If at any time you are dissatisfied
with the service or Mayan Families, you can have your recurring charges
discontinued without penalties.
HOW WILL I GET MY TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPTS IF I USE THIS SERVICE?
Via email. When you set up your recurring payment plan you will be asked to
provide an email address to which to send your monthly payment receipts.
As the monthly charges are made, you will automatically be sent your Mayan
Families receipts.
IS THIS SERVICE SECURE?
Yes. Your credit card information will only be taken over the phone or
postal mail.
The service applies CSV (Card Security Code) and AVS (Address Verification
Service) standards.
ONCE I GET THE SERVICE STARTED FOR ME CAN I CHANGE MY RECURRING
AMOUNT?
Yes, but we do ask that you try to minimize your changes once you begin
using the service.
The service is designed to automatically make fixed amount charges on a
scheduled basis.
It is not designed to work from scheduled payments that vary from month to
month.
Changes to the fixed amount should be minimized, but increases in the fixed
amounts are always gratefully accepted.
CAN I SPREAD MY FIXED AMOUNT OUT ACROSS MULTIPLE CAUSES?
Yes. But this is also something which is part of your basic payment plan, so
again not something that should be changed frequently.
CAN I PAY FOR A STUDENT SPONSORSHIP THIS WAY INSTEAD OF SENDING IN
ANNUAL LUMP SUMS?
Yes. However, the minimum fixed amount for use of this service is $15 per
month. So if you're thinking about paying $10 per month for an annual $120
sponsorship, then you should think about which Program to direct your
monthly difference of $5 towards if you go with the minimum. (All
contributions to the Operations Program [sometimes called general fund] are
very gratefully accepted and needed.)
WHICH CREDIT CARDS CAN I USE FOR MY RECURRING PAYMENT PLAN?
Accepted credit cards are: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and
Discover.
Bank cards with Visa and
MasterCard
privileges are also accepted.
WILL THIS SERVICE ACCEPT ANYTHING OTHER THAN U.S. CURRENCY AND
ADDRESSES?
Yes. Well, it's claimed to do so. Friendly testers from non-US countries
are welcomed to help us verify this claim.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Contact Harold on his
Google email
address. Harold's
Google address
is not the address set up on this blog.
The email address to use is hwb0415@gmail .com (without the
space)
Send Harold a message with a subject title "Automatic Contribution
Payments".
In your message, include your exact name and postal address as it is known
by the credit card company or bank you will be using for your recurring
charges.
Also include the fixed amount you would like to have set up for your plan,
and your preferred day of the month to have those fixed amount charges made.
Choices for day of month to be charged are currently limited to the 1st and
15th.
Do *NOT* provide your credit card information in your email
message to Harold.
Harold will get back to you to set up your recurring payment plan and
complete the processing.
APRIL 6, 2008: Healthy Pets Program:
Hello
Everyone.
With so many new people joining MFC, I felt this would be a good time for me
to introduce myself and the Mayan Families Healthy Pets Program.
My name is Selaine and I've lived in Panajachel for about 16 months with my
husband Harold. In January of 2007, we met Sharon and Patti through a
volunteer experience coordinating the visit and clinic activities for a
group of RAM vets and vet techs. As the two-day clinic came to a close, it
was decided to develop the sensitivities introduced by Zoe,
Our first year brought many wonderful success stories for animals and
humans, alike! By September, we were partnered with the only licensed and
practicing vet in the area. We began conducting monthly sterilization
clinics in September. Prior to that, they were ad hoc when a visiting vet
was available.
Dr. Miguel, in turn, approached the
The University admits that they can not afford to provide much practical,
hands-on experience for their students. So this is an ideal
opportunity for them to conduct pre- and post-op exams, practice
incision-making and suturing, as well as gain experience working directly
with impoverished indigenous families and children.
The Dean visited the clinic we held on 29 March and was so impressed that he
now wants to involve 2nd and 3rd year students, perhaps in our Humane
Education program. The program is now in two schools in Panajachel, Capulin
elementary and Centro, a public elementary school. This is such exciting
news for us! We love the idea of providing opportunities for budding
professionals to get involved in helping their communities! I'll share more
news on this collaboration as it develops.
The relationship with Dr. Miguel has also enabled him to hire an additional
employee, and Healthy Pets employees one, young indigenous boy to help out
in the afternoons.
Aggressive action to reduce domestic animal overpopulation and suffering,
addressing the public health issues of overpopulation, education, job
creation, supplies and equipment purchased in Guatemala and food for needy
animals – we feel this is the way to build a sustainable, long-reaching,
infrastructure-
Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions about Healthy Pets.
If anyone would like more information, please contact me at
selaine.atitlan@gmail. com.
Why does MF have a special program for animals when there are so many people who need help?
This is the most commonly asked question and the answer is simple.
Mayan
Families believes in taking a complete look at the needs of an individual or
family and we view companion animals as family members and valued members of
the community. Evaluating the complete needs of individuals, families and
communities without addressing the health concerns of their pets, we feel,
leaves a gapping hole in a holistic approach.
Additionally, by controlling over-population through sterilization, there is
no need for inhumane poisonings, a dehumanizing experience for the local
population and visitors. In the past, strychnine-coated meat was
indiscriminately thrown to any dog on the street. Many family animals sent
out to forge for food where caught up in the act. Children witnessed the
long hours of agonizing deaths. Then the bodies where thrown onto the backs
of pick-up trucks and hauled to the dump. The lesson learned: Animal life
has no worth.
We
believe compassion, empathy and kindness towards animals is a vital step in
building a loving, nurturing community.
Doesn't
Several years ago, Zoe initiated a rescue project, primarily for the many
abandoned dogs in the Panajachel area. Working closely with AWARE, a shelter
located in Sumpango, Zoe and
In
March 2007, it was decided to formalize the pilot project launched by Zoe
and Sharon into a permanent program of Mayan Families. Selaine named the
program Healthy Pets and took on the development and directorship as a
volunteer.
Exactly
what does the Healthy Pets Program do?
Free
and low-cost sterilization clinics in Panajachel the last Saturday of every
month.
Ad-hoc
free and low-cost sterilization clinics in surrounding villages
Free
and low-cost vaccinations clinics
Emergency Services
Humane
Education in area schools, through call-in radio programs, and if all goes
well, through a regularly scheduled program on one of the local television
stations
Food
Supplement Program, a subsidy program for needy families
Adoption and Foster Care
What
are some of the accomplishments of Healthy Pets?
From March 2007 – February 2008
Sterilization of dogs and cats 446
Hospitalization and Treatments 326
Vaccinations
182
Adoptions
43
Schools
in Humane Ed Program 2
Why
doesn't this program do animal rescue or have an animal shelter?
We
do a form of animal rescue through emergency services; however, we do not
have an animal shelter – they are too easy to fill and too hard to empty. We
believe trained foster care homes are a far better way to address abandoned
or homeless animals and that through regularly scheduled sterilization
clinics, the number of abandoned animals will decrease. We sterilize,
vaccinate, and release street animals and then encourage local citizens,
businesses, and government offices to create feeding stations and to keep an
eye on them.
What
kinds of Healthy Pets things can be sent down through Medrano shipments?
Vet Supplies:
Syringes, IV tubing, Vin Cristine (chemotherapy drug), antibiotics, Ivermectin (broad-spectrum wormer), vitamins for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens, formula for puppies and kittens, steri-strips, bandages, gauze wrap and tape, large incontinence pads (Chux), Flea & Tick spray and extended protection Flea and Tick treatments (Frontline, Advantage, etc.) and flea collars.
General Care:
Toys,
chew bones, collars, leashes, blankets, towels and grooming supplies.
How can
I help Healthy Pets?
Talk
with your local veterinarians and their assistants about:
The
Healthy Pets program and the in-kind donations we seek
Do they
belong to an association that might want to help as a group?
Do they
have any old equipment they'd like to donate? Ie: Autoclave, Endoscope
Raise
funds for the program through traditional and creative new ways:
Bake
Sales
Yard
Sales
Car
Washes
School,
church and service organization fund drives
Or,
come up with your own fun idea! Here's one that works:
Recycled Gardens:
One
thing that's working well for the Oregon Neutermobile is plant sales. "We
have a whole nursery,"says Celeste Crimi. "It's called Recycled Garderns.
People donate plants and cuttings. Our slogan is Adopt your plant, and
prune your pets! Our first year, it grossed $25,000. . ."
What
volunteer opportunities are available when visiting Panajachel?
If
you are planning an extended trip to Panajachel or the
Check
with us ahead of time to see if there are any animals that need transport
back to your area of the country. More and more good-hearted folks want to
adopt an animal from here, are willing to pay the expenses, but need help
getting the animal to them. The cost for transporting an animal alone is
much more expensive than transporting with a ticketed passenger.
Plan
your trip around "Dia de los Perros" our annual awareness and fundraising
event and help out with the fun! This year the event will be held on 8
November.
There
are always dogs that need to be exercised every day. If you enjoy walking
with a companion, this is a great way to see Panajachel!
Does
Healthy Pets have some kind of relationship to Best Friends Animal Society?
Mayan
Families Healthy Pets maintains a community on the Best Friends Network site
where news articles are posted on a regular basis. Best Friends also showed
its support for Healthy Pets by pledging ½ the cost of an x-ray machine to
initiate the fundraising campaign for this critical piece of equipment. The
additional funds were raised and the machine is in use.
Why
isn't Healthy Pets on the Mayan Families web site?
While we have developed the program and awaited our much anticipated new
website, all Healthy Pets news is posted at
http://network.
How
much does this program cost to run?
The
budget for the 2008 fiscal year is $45,000. This covers 16 sterilization
clinics, 4 vaccination clinics, treatment of 5 CTVT cases per month,
boarding for five animals per month, humane education supply costs, weekly
food allowances for 100 animals and all administrative costs. Healthy Pets
was founded and is directed by a volunteer. All veterinary services are
contracted with
Here
are our goals for 2008:
Spay/Neuters 500
Rabies/Combos 500
Adoptions 100
Animals in Food Program 100
Emergency Services 5-10 patients/mo
Humane Education classes in 5 area schools
Trained Foster Homes 15
How
much of this program contributes to MF's overall costs?
The new
fiscal year began on 1 April 2008. The budget for Healthy Pets represents
less than 6% of the total Mayan Families budget.
What
new things does Healthy Pets have planned?
Street
Dog Program – A Wish for 2008
Businesses and individuals are asked to feed and provide clean water for an
"adopted" street dog on a daily basis. Food, flea treatments and worming
meds provided by the Healthy Pets program.
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Donations being
received. For more great photo's please go to the home page and click on: NEW
SHOES & CLOTHES, MEDRANO SHIPMENT, PHOTOS OF DONATIONS BEING
RECEIVED
APRIL 5, 2008: The start of the Tierra Linda Learning Center!
This is the beginning of the work for the learning center
in Tierra Linda!! The community has really been pitching in to help unload
the materials and carry them to the building site.
They are very excited about this project and all the possibilities
that it will have for their community!
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Work under way in San Jorge:
The land has been cleared and construction has started for the community /learning center in San Jorge!! Land is very hard to come by in San Jorge and we were lucky to be able to get this piece. The foundations are being built strong enough for four floors but we have plans so far to go 2 or 3 to begin with. Construction material costs have risen sharply in the past few months so it will be decided by how far the money can stretch.
The community is very excited about this project and they have been helping carry the building materials to the site.
Thank you for everyone who donated to make this dream
come true!
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Providing milk for undernourished babies and toddlers.
This little girl is receiving milk because she has been sent to us by a pediatrician who is concerned that she is very malnourished and underweight.
It costs us $17 US for this can of milk.
If you would like to provide formula or milk for malnourished babies
, please send a donation to our Food and Milk Program.
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Medical Program:
Our Medical program enables us to buy much needed medicines for people who cannot afford it.
If you would like to be able to help people receive the
medications they need please consider donating to our Medical Program!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is a story about "The Breakfast Club" as we
affectionately called the three children that we helped many, many years
ago. This family lived in an appalling situation.
The father was an alcoholic who sold everything he could and beat his
family.
They lived in a dilapidated tin shed. The mother was known as
"Dirty Juana", this was because her clothes were always dirty. I
found out that she did not have a change of clothes- that she had to wash
her clothes at night, that they would not dry and she had to put them back
on wet. She and the children would come to our house bringing
their small amount of pathetic goods with them when the husband was drunk
and dangerous. They would hide out for a few hours and then go back home.
Two children in the family had already died of malnourishment.
As Dwight said we had the children come every morning for breakfast, bathed them , dressed them and sent them off, they would come back for lunch, take their school uniforms off and leave them at the house, otherwise the father would sell them. We did their homework with them and sent them back to the horrors that they lived with. One of the little boys told me one morning that the piece of tin that he was sleeping under "did not even hurt him last night". We had given them blankets but the father sold them.
We left Guatemala. When we came back for visits the family had
moved and we did not know where they were. So it was not until 2001 that I
saw them again. The changes were amazing, the father had
stopped drinking. With the father, mother and all
three of the boys working, they managed to get a loan and buy a tiny piece
of land and build a house. ( Unfortunately, it was swept away in the
Hurricane in 2005, Hurricane Stan ) .
The father had played the Marimba before when he was sober. Now he
was sober he taught the boys how to play, they formed a musical group and
would play at many events. They were good, people hired them for
functions.
Juana was always clean and nicely dressed. We now sponsor
their youngest son to go to school. He is around 12yrs old.
The family came to visit me and the affection the boys had for
us was very visible in their eyes. The kindness and the opportunities
to see another world had stayed with them all their young lives. It
had given them hope when life was very bleak. We had given them a safe place
and they knew that there was someone out there that cared.
Tragedy struck this family in January, the father and boys
were on their way home from playing music in a nearby town when they had a
car accident. Mynor, the eldest of the boys, now 20yrs old and engaged to be
married was killed instantly.
I can still see his incredibly sweet face when he was just 6yrs old
and his excitement at eating breakfast every morning!
The family is carrying on, they are in debt after Mynor's funeral,
they are rebuilding their house, there is terrible sadness but fortunately
the father remains sober.
In retrospect, this family was probably the inspiration for our
sponsorship program and the family aid. We realized that you couldn't
just send a child to school, that they had to have food, clothing, medical
care, a bed , tables and chairs etc.
This family was fortunate, they turned their lives around. But the
inspiration for turning their lives around came from Juana. We
had many, many talks with her during the times that she was seeking shelter
at our house. We told her that she had rights. That the husband had to
support his wife and children, give them food and provide shelter.
This was not something that she had heard before - that she may have a legal
right.
When we left we turned the schooling of the boys over to a friend
who was kind enough to manage the schooling of the boys but did not want to
have any other involvement with the family. Years later Juana told me
that after we left she felt very desperate and alone but she remembered what
we said about the legal situation and she finally went to a Judge and talked
to him I think that her husband was called before the social
worker and the Judge. Fortunately, this man heard whatever message was
delivered to him by the social worker and by his family and he did manage to
turn his life around.
Nobody who knew him would have expected this and we certainly had no
hope that this would happen. It is a very unusual situation.
But it gives us hope that these situations can happen.
Which brings us to the Sicay - Choy situation. I can understand that
some people are very angry with these parents. I don't like their
choices either. It is hard to understand these parents actions.
It is definitely hard to have sympathy for them but quite often we have
situations come up here that Gloria and I discuss. We do not like the
actions that the parent's have taken but we always recall that it is the
children that we are trying to help. We always look at
what is best for the child. It is hard when the
fathers are alcoholics - we have the struggle,- are we taking
responsibility from the father ? Are we enabling him to have
more money to drink with ? If we do not sponsor the child and the father has
to send the child to school - will he send the child to school ? will
he have less money to drink with ? Will he take more responsibility ?
Unfortunately, it has been our experience that the father is already
not taking responsibility .
He knows that the children do not have enough to eat, that they
cannot afford to get medical treatment and that he is drinking the money
away that could help his family. The children are either not in school or
cannot afford to continue. We are not capable of dealing with
the problems of the father and this is not an area that we want to get into.
There are AA groups here, there are many church groups that try to help
with the large problem of alcoholism but as you know - this is a problem
that people have to want to help themselves.
We decided long ago that we cannot hold the child responsible for
the action of the parents.
So while I dislike the parents actions, I am sure that they are both
uneducated, that they may have grown up in situations that are probably not
too dissimilar to what they are now living under. As Bonnie said - we
will never know what it is like to have walked in their shoes.
Yes- there are many families that need help and we could just move
on and forget about this family.
But these children are living in this reality every day.
The wet season is coming soon. It rained last night.
I know that I am going to think about this 4yr old and the 18 month
old every day living in a damp hovel with water running through it ,
the floor will turn into mud and they will be sleeping on it every night.
They will get sick. They will be hungry.
So the choice is send the social worker and get the children taken away. But
where are they going to? I don't know if the 10yr old is being abused
or not. I don't know whether she will tell the truth if we ask her. I would
like to take her to a doctor and have her examined. I am talking to
Olga, the social worker who used to work with us this week and see what our
options are. I would like to take all three children out of the
situation that they are in but where do they go ? Will these children thank
us for taking them away from the only family that they know, putting them
into an orphanage that may be good, that may not. These children only speak
Tzutzil, they do not speak Spanish.
We also have to be very careful in this community. The people
are very fierce, they are not used to having foreigners or even Guatemalans
who are not from that area going in there. So we have to tread gently.
This is what I would like to do - I would like to build a house for
the family but I would like the piece of land to be put into the three
children's names which means that the parents cannot sell it. I am not sure
if we can accomplish this or not. I would like to give
them a bed, a stove and a water filter. I am not sure that the mother
will be able to care for these things but we have to give her the chance.
This family is about as rock bottom as a family can be. I
would like to give them the chance to pull themselves up. They may or
they may not. But at least the children will have a dry, warm place to
sleep. I will not just give them the bed, stove and water filter. I will get
them to sign a piece of paper saying that if these goods are sold then the
family will owe us a certain amount of money. This paper is not worth
anything but the act of signing an official looking piece of paper may cause
them some concern. I don't know why they sold the piece of land
that they received in exchange for the daughter. They may not have
had anything to eat. We may never know the whole story .
The smile on the 10yr old girls face stays with me. When she
realized that they were not being taken away from the lives that they know,
when she got new clothes and a backpack and a gift of food, her face just
lit up.
I am hoping that we can give the same thing to
her and her sisters that we gave to Mynor and his brothers. Kindness,
comfort, hope and a chance. Who knows what differences this
family may undergo if they have some help........
I know that some people will not like this decision and I am sorry
for that but I can't turn my back on these children.
If
you made a donation to this family before we knew the whole story about them
and would prefer now that your donation go towards a different family, that
is totally understandable and if you let us know, we will definitely make
sure that your donation does not go to the Sicay-Choy Family.
Sharon
APRIL 1, 2008: Photo update on Sicay-Choy Family.
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MARCH 31, 2008:
Ingrid Mishel is 5yrs old. She lives in Aqua Escondida. She lives with her father, Nehemias Santay 29yrs old . They live with his stepfather and mother. Ingrid's mother died 1yr and three months ago.
Ingrid has an older brother, Melvin Otonel who is 7yrs old. He is in first grade.
Ingrid is not in school.
Nehemias is a builders assistant. He earns $24.US per week.
Since Ingrid was born she has had a medical problem. It has been increasing with time. I am not sure exactly what the diagnosis is but the doctor in the hospital said she was very close to having a cerebral hemorrhage.
Last week Ingrid was at home when she started having convulsions, she became unconscious , she did not regain consciousness quickly, they took her to the hospital. They did several blood tests, urine and
feces - Nehemias was able to pay for these. They decided that Ingrid
needed to have cerebral examinations that they were not able to perform in the Solola hospital. They do not have the equipment.
Ingrid has to be sent to the city. The ambulance goes once a week.
It is going tomorrow with Ingrid, her father and another patient.
But Ingrid's father did not have the money to pay the $110 US needed for the examinations in the city.
He happened to talk to a woman who was minding her daughter in the next bed. Mayan Families had helped her daughter. She gave him our phone number and we told him to come down and talk to us.
We confirmed the story with the hospital and Oto went back to the hospital with Nehemias to take photos of Ingrid.
Nehemias is very worried about his daughter, he stopped work to take care of her in the hospital and he has lost his job.
Ingrid will probably be admitted to the hospital Roosevelt in Guatemala City.
Nehemias does not have any more money to pay for her examinations.
If you can send a donation to help with the medical care for Ingrid - please send it to the Medical Program in honor of Ingrid Mishel. The exam that she has to have tomorrow is Resonancia Magnetica Cerebral.
I don't know what that exam is in English. (Magnetic Resonance exam?)
Any donations will be greatly appreciated.
MARCH 30, 2008:
She works full time as a cleaner in a hotel. It is quite a ways out of town, she walks there to save money. The family is just scraping by. Both the boys work before school and on the week ends. Alejandra and Jakelin take turns minding Elisabet. Amelia is very concerned because she has fears that the male neighbor has sexually fondled Elisabet and she hates to leave the girls at home alone but she has no other choice.
They are renting their house. It is very small, basically only one room and an alcove - it is too small for them, there is only room for one double bed, the other children sleep on the floor. They have been very fortunate that a person from this group has been helping them with their rent. But their rent has increased.
Amelia's health is going downhill. She has been in hospital once last month, last night she was taken to hospital again. She is having very bad stomach pains and she has a lot of skin problems.
The five children were left alone last night.. Samuel took his mother to hospital, she was very dizzy and could not stand the pain in her stomach. Being 16yrs old and lots of activities in the street for Easter, he then went out with his friends. I met Jonathon on the street at 6pm when he was going out to buy tortillas to have for dinner. I asked him what else he had to eat and he said that was all. I told him to bring the children to the house tomorrow and we would feed them and arrange food for them.
The reason I am writing this story about Amelia
is because we recently had the opportunity to buy a three roomed house. It
is in the same compound that Gloria and Julio live in. It has
two bedrooms and a kitchen. It is much bigger than the house that
Amelia and her children are living in.
When this opportunity came up - we discussed that this would be a great
house for Amelia.
The boys could have one room, the girls and Amelia another room and there would still be a living/kitchen space and it has an indoor bathroom with a shower.
A great advantage is that it is in the same compound that Gloria and Julio live in, the house is literally a few feet away. If Amelia has health problems then Gloria and Julio would be there to help her, if she has to be taken to hospital, Gloria would be there to look after the children. Amelia would not be alone and neither would the children. Gloria and Julio know that Amelia is HIV positive and they are willing to help her......most people here do not want to have anything to do with a person that is HIV positive or has AIDS, they are really shunned by society. Amelia has kept her illness a secret from everybody but us. Samuel knows the illness that his mother has and it is very difficult for him, he is embarrassed , ashamed and scared that he will lose his mother.
If Amelia does become very ill and pass away, the children will be left alone. They have four different fathers and none who have ever been or will be responsible for them.
We would like this house to be for them. We would like for Amelia to have a safe place to live and for her to know that her children have a home.
This has been a dream of hers for a long time.
I have taken another leap of faith - I have put a deposit on this house. We had to act quickly because this house was being sold very cheaply because the owner needs the money. The house costs $8,000.US. - I have given him an $800 deposit- which we will lose if we cannot come up with the rest of the money.
I feel very strongly that we need to get Amelia and her children into a safe environment.
I want to make it very clear that I will not put this house in Amelia's name, it will be the property of Mayan Families. The reason for this is that if Amelia does pass away then we need to protect the younger children. The boys are too young to be able to have the responsibility for the girls. We are all hoping that Amelia will have a long life ahead of her but if not then we need to have control and be able to supervise the situation.
I have seen too many situations here where siblings cheat each other out of property. The older sibling is the one who would be in charge and I do not feel comfortable leaving the younger ones unprotected. Samuel works here at Mayan Families before school and on Saturdays. He is a good kid but he is not responsible enough to raise the younger children.
I am hoping that this situation will touch your heart as it does mine. If this is meant to be a home for this family then we really need to raise this money as soon as possible.
With appreciation for all that you do, Sharon
MARCH 28, 2008:
First, I have to give you a little background. The father has not completely abandoned the family. He still appears to live there part-time. The land belongs to his mother but she has said that she is giving it to him for his house and that for all purposes that the land belongs to him except that they cannot afford to do the paperwork to put the land in his name legally.
We talked to the wife and explained to her that we would really like to build the house but first the land has to go in both their names. This man is an alcoholic and if it is just in his name - he could sell it anytime and the wife and children would not have anywhere to live. If it is in both their names then they both have to sign the paperwork. She is going to talk to her mother - in- law and see if they will do the paperwork. Mayan Families will pay for it.
Julio and Gloria are going over to Cerro de Oro on Monday to talk to their family and if possible, take them to a lawyer to get the paperwork done. There is a chance that the mother in law will not agree to put the land in both their names. We will have to cross that bridge when we come to it.
As soon as we have the paperwork done, we can start building the house.
The mother told us that it is very cold in the house, which it must be because it is barely a shelter at all. She told me that her 6 month old baby boy died 3 years ago during the wet season. That he got a cold, became very ill and died.
We also found out that she gave the other daughter away when she was 2 years old and that she is now 8 years old. Not as we first understood - that she had given away an 8 year old. She is living in Guatemala city.
The 10 yr old is mostly living with the grandmother. I am not sure of the living conditions that the grandmother has. The mother says that she is in school. That she is in first grade.
We asked her if she would keep the children if she had enough food. She said that she did not want to give away her children. That if she had enough food for them to eat that she would want them with her.
We gave them a large amount of food. I am sure that they have never had that much food in their lives. They could not believe it!
We gave the mother two second hand Cortes and Guipils - traditional clothing - and she loved them. She threw off her old tattered clothes very fast and was so happy to have these! We gave the children lots of clothes - they put a strange selection of them on all at once.
Her sister came with her and brought her three children as well. One of her daughters is 7yrs old. I gave some clothes out for the baby and the 7yr old put on one of the tops that was meant for a 12 month old and it fit her! They are all malnourished.
We told the mother that we would also be able to give her a bed, an Onil stove and a water filter . But the first thing is the house to be built. She says that she can live with her mother while the house is being built.
I am sure that the mother is probably home now pinching herself wondering whether this was all a dream!
The greatest thing was seeing the 10yr old Juana smile! After seeing the gut wrenching photos from Monday- it was just a delight to see how she blossomed with the excitement of receiving shoes and clothing.
So now we wait till Monday when Julio and Gloria go to Cerro de Oro and find out what the answer is from the mother-in-law. Julio will be able to do the quote on the house at the same time.
Thank you to everyone who has sent donations, prayers, good wishes and kind thoughts to this family. Thank you to everyone who spread the word. It really made a big difference.
I am posting the photos to Bonnie and you can see the difference in the family! Sharon
MARCH 27, 2008 Re-Posted with update!
A Sad family situation.
This family was brought to my attention over Easter. Teresa , a woman who has her children sponsored with us heard about this mother who wanted to give her children away and was asking who could take them.
The family had no food and the mother could not afford to feed the children.
We sent Oto, a Mayan Families Staff member with Teresa today. This
family does not speak Spanish, they speak Tzutzil and Teresa acted as the translator.
When Oto came back this afternoon, he told me that after he walked out of this house, he cried.
The 10yr old and the 4yr old know that their mother wants to give them away and they thought Oto was coming to take them.
The mother gave the 8yr old girl away a few months ago to a family in Guatemala city.
The fear and sadness is so heartbreaking to see on their faces.
There are three children in the family:
Juana 10yrs old.
Juanita 4yrs old
Graciella 1yr old.
The father is an alcoholic and does not live with the family and does not support them.
The mother works weaving and earns $3.50 US per week.
This is not enough to feed the family.
It is not enough to feed one person. Oto said that the children look very malnourished.
We are having them come to Mayan Families tomorrow, we will give them blankets, food , shoes and we will talk to the mother. If she wants to give her children away because she does not have enough to feed them, then we want to be able to keep this family together. We will need to be able to supply them with food, and this family needs a house. The wind and the rain must make the living conditions inside
totally miserable. The house would just be one room for them. Their
land is very tiny but at least the mother owns it.
They do not have a bathroom, they use the bushes outside their house.
The house is made of cane and a few sheets of aluminum for the roof.
They have no electricity or running water.
The house has a dirt floor.
They cook overan open fire with a piece of tin on the ground.
They have do not have connected.
The mother says that the older girl is in school but there was no
evidence of a backpack or any school supplies. She was not at school
when Oto arrived.
Their clothes are very old and worn.
This family needs urgent help. If you can help please send a donation to our Food and Milk program and/or our Construction Program - note it in honor of the Sicay Choy family.
The stove that the Sicay Choy family is using.
The house of the Sicay Choy family:
This is the house that the mother and three children are living in .
This is their bed on the floor. They have no tables and
chairs, no bed, no pila, they really have nothing.
This is the water supply that the Sicay Choy family has.
Sicay Choy Family:
The family told Oto that they had not eaten all day. This is the
reason the mother wants to give away the children. She does not have food to feed them.
Oto took the mother, children, sister in law and her
children out to eat before he left.
UPDATE with other News!
Thank you everyone for being such a wonderful support group, you have really
moved mountains here! There have been so many miracles happen because
of you and the extra mile that you are willing to go. Because of you
all today, I was able to tell the Sicay - Choy Family that we are able to
build them a house, give them a stove, buy them a bed. This was
a big miracle for the mother!
W
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MARCH 25, 2008:
Food and Milk Program:
6 month old Alex is one of the babies receiving formula regularly with
our Food and Milk Project. He is pictured here with his grandmother
and his 18yr old mother. His grandmother also has a baby the same age as him.
Alex is malnourished and we are providing him with formula to nourish
him and build him up for his upcoming trip to the U.S. He is going
to be operated on for his cleft palate, he will be fostered in the U.S. with a family that is very excited to have him come.
If you would like to make a donation for babies to be
able to have formula - please send a donation to our Food and Milk Project.
Student #518 Yoselin receives her gifts.
Yoselin receives the gifts that were sent to her by her sponsor.
Thank you! Sharon
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#324 Yessica receives her gifts from her sponsor! Thank
you so much, Sharon
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Student #379 Sulmi's siblings receiving their gifts :
Brothers of #379 Sulmi received their gifts sent by their sisters sponsor!
They were so thrilled!
Sulmi also received a water filter and her sister a pair of shoes!
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Chabeli and the chicken project:
Chabeli was so happy to show me the new traditional
outfit that she had bought her daughter. She said that her daughter, almost
three had been asking for a new Corte and Guipil - one that was especially
from her village. Chabeli said that she would cry because she wanted one so
badly. Chabeli is a single mother and cannot afford these kind of luxuries.
She had been part of the chicken project. She received 10
chicks, she sold them when they were of market age and with the money she
bought more chicks and she was able to buy her daughter the much wanted new
outfit!
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Student #526 Marlon receives his gifts.
Marlon receives the gifts from his sponsors! Thank you so
much for these wonderful gifts! Sharon
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Student #600 receives a water filter for her family:
MARCH 24, 2008: A Sad family situation.
This family was brought to my attention over Easter. Teresa , a woman who has her children sponsored with us heard about this mother who wanted to give her children away and was asking who could take them.
The family had no food and the mother could not afford to feed the children.
We sent Oto, a Mayan Families Staff member with Teresa today. This
family does not speak Spanish, they speak Tzutzil and Teresa acted as the translator.
When Oto came back this afternoon, he told me that after he walked out of this house, he cried.
The 10yr old and the 4yr old know that their mother wants to give them away and they thought Oto was coming to take them.
The mother gave the 8yr old girl away a few months ago to a family in Guatemala city.
The fear and sadness is so heartbreaking to see on their faces.
There are three children in the family:
Juana 10yrs old.
Juanita 4yrs old
Graciella 1yr old.
The father is an alcoholic and does not live with the family and does not support them.
The mother works weaving and earns $3.50 US per week.
This is not enough to feed the family.
It is not enough to feed one person. Oto said that the children look very malnourished.
We are having them come to Mayan Families tomorrow, we will give them blankets, food , shoes and we will talk to the mother. If she wants to give her children away because she does not have enough to feed them, then we want to be able to keep this family together. We will need to be able to supply them with food, and this family needs a house. The wind and the rain must make the living conditions inside
totally miserable. The house would just be one room for them. Their
land is very tiny but at least the mother owns it.
They do not have a bathroom, they use the bushes outside their house.
The house is made of cane and a few sheets of aluminum for the roof.
They have no electricity or running water.
The house has a dirt floor.
They cook overan open fire with a piece of tin on the ground.
They have do not have connected.
The mother says that the older girl is in school but there was no
evidence of a backpack or any school supplies. She was not at school
when Oto arrived.
Their clothes are very old and worn.
This family needs urgent help. If you can help please send a donation to our Food and Milk program and/or our Construction Program - note it in honor of the Sicay Choy family.
The stove that the Sicay Choy family is using.
The house of the Sicay Choy family:
This is the house that the mother and three children are living in .
This is their bed on the floor. They have no tables and
chairs, no bed, no pila, they really have nothing.
This is the water supply that the Sicay Choy family has.
Sicay Choy Family:
The family told Oto that they had not eaten all day. This is the
reason the mother wants to give away the children. She does not have food to feed them.
Oto took the mother, children, sister in law and her
children out to eat before he left.
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Carla and her family were very happy to receive this wonderful gift of food from Carla's sponsor.! Thank you for sponsoring this family.
MARCH 21, 2008
Family Planning Event:
We were very happy to welcome the organization Wings to Panajachel and San Jorge. Two female instructors came who spoke Kakchiquel and Spanish and were able to tell the more than 100 women present at each gathering the benefits of family planning and womens health.
13 women signed up for birth control and nearly every woman present asked to have a pap smear. Most women had never had one.
We are now arranging a clinic in July with Wings where they will come for two days and have a pap smear clinic.
Thank you so much Wings for doing such wonderful work.
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Celebration at Tierra Linda School:
We were treated to a wonderful celebration at Tierra Linda school.
This was the inauguration of the two classrooms and the kitchen that has been built.
This was indeed a joyous celebration with a marimba, lots of dancing and speeches. Afterwards the community had prepared a delicious lunch of BBQ chicken for us.
I want to thank everyone who has donated towards making this school turn around from being the school in the worst condition that I have encountered here in Guatemala to now being a school that the community is so proud to call their own.
This school had water pouring onto the dirt floors, the floor was mud, there were huge holes in the ceiling and the walls did not meet the roof. The teachers had no desks, the pupils were sitting on upturned buckets and pieces of wood.
It now boasts four new classrooms, two staircases, they
have new desks, they have books, they have lots of school supplies, they
have put in a beautiful new kitchen complete with two gas stoves and they
have built an arched wall with a real gate, they have classrooms with lots
of big windows that let in the light, plus the windows have safety railings
so the glass will not be broken. This school is now in great shape and
getting better all the time.
Tierra Linda School.
The unveiling of the plaque!
The kitchen and the gas stoves in the school in Tierra
Linda.
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Student #524 receiving her gifts:
Hi, Here is Lucia receiving the gifts that her sponsor sent for her.
She is one happy little girl. Thank you! Sharon
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MARCH 20, 2008:
Family in need:
This family of 16 was found by Kathy. Kathy has been here volunteering
- she has been teaching English to the Mayan Families Staff and in one of the schools here.
She saw this family on one of her walks and could not get them out of her mind. She asked us to investigate. We found that there are 16 people living in this one large room. Both daughters are single mothers, one is a young widow and the other an abandoned wife, they have 7 children between them, they live with their parents who also have four children at home.
The young children are mostly left at home alone, the mothers both have to work to be able to provide food. One mother works 6-7 days in a restaurant, the other washes clothes and sellls tortillas. The grandparents still work hard to support the children.
They are renting the land and have built this house themselves.
We have now found sponsors for four of the children.
This family often does not have enough to eat, with the
rainy season coming soon, their living conditions will be really horrible.
Ibate family in Panajachel:
This is where the family is cooking. They do not have a stove.
The Stove Program that we have is giving families like these a decent, safe stove to cook on.
To donate a stove to this family or to a family that is
living like them - and unfortunately, there are many, many families cooking
under just these circumstances - it costs $135 US.
The Abate family home:
Inside and outside the Ibate family home in Panajachel. This family
needs help with tin sheeting for their roof before the
wet season comes. The floor is
dirt and it will turn into mud inside if they are not able to prevent the
water from leaking in.
Inside and Outside of the toilet
This is the outside of the toilet. It has plastic hanging to give some privacy.
Inside the toilet , there is a large hole with two pieces of board for the feet.
This is a very large hole and very dangerous for the little children.
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Chingo Tale Family.
This family is the extended family of one of the children that is
sponsored to go to school. This family lives on the coast. The
father had a job as a manager of one of the departments of a finca ( a
large farm.) His father was kidnapped and held for ransom.
The kidnappers demanded approx. $1,300 US for the release of the father.
The family managed to get the money together, they paid the ransom and then they all fled the town.
The Chingo family left with just the clothes on their backs. They did not even bring a blanket or a change of clothes with them. They were very scared that the kidnappers were coming back for another member of the family.
They are now trying to make their home in Panajachel.
They are staying with relatives that are very poor. They are sleeping on the dirt floor, they had no blankets for the children, coming from the heat of the coast , they are finding it very cold in the Highlands.
Thanks to all the donations that we receive we were able to give them some blankets, shoes, clothes, and a week's supply of food.
They need help to be able to buy beds, a table and chairs and to be
able to rent a room to live in. If you would like to help this
family it would be greatly appreciated by them.
The Xingo family who fled their village after a family
member was kidnapped, receive clothes and food to help them start their new
life in Panajachel.
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Your Donations being received:
Thank you to everyone who sends shoes and clothing . These donations make a huge difference to the people who receive them.
Food and Milk Program
Little Isabel came to one of our clinics and the Pediatrician was very concerned about her because she was very underweight and malnourished.
The mother did not have enough breast milk to be able to maintain Isabel.
She is now in our feeding program. It costs $17 US to buy a large can of milk for Isabel. We have many other babies like her who are in our program - we have many more who really need to be in the program but we do not have the funds.
If you would like to help a baby like Isabel - please send a donation to our Food and Milk Program.
MARCH 19, 2008: Student #238 Luis Alfonso receives his food.
Thank you to his sponsor Luis Alfonso and his family received a supply of food.
The family was very grateful to receive this wonderful
gift. Thank you!
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#268 Irma Chumil
Irma and her family were thrilled to receive the pila that her sponsors sent them. This is a wonderful gift and a very practical one.
A pila is a very important part of the home for every Guatemalan.
A pila is used to wash the dishes, wash the clothes and the water is used for cooking , bathing etc.
Many thanks to the sponsor!
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Irma Yolanda Student #315
#315 Irma and her family were thrilled to receive their Onil energy efficient stove. This stove was a gift from Irma's sponsor. This stove will really help the family.
Thank you so much for this wonderful gift!
Sharon
MARCH 18, 2008: Students #330 and #348 receive their food.
Ana and Silvia receive the food supply that their sponsors sent them.
This is a wonderful help for this family.
Thank you!
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Student #405 Sindi Elisabeth receives food from her sponsor!
Thank you so much to the sponsor of Sindi Elisabeth. This family was very happy to receive this big box of food.
MARCH 15, 2008: Sara #548
Sara received her beautiful new traje from her sponsor, Nikki. She was so excited and her mother was so happy. Her mother said that this was just in time for her to have new clothes for Semana Santa ( Easter ) and that the color of the guipil is the traditional color of Semana Santa.
It is a big deal to get new clothes for Semana Santa but sadly most girls that we work with cannot afford them.
Thank you so much Nikki for making this dream a reality
for Sara. She has made a
drawing for you and we will send it to you.
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#315 Irma receives her stove!
Irma Yoland and her family received an onil energy efficient stove from Irma's sponsors. The family was so thrilled to receive this stove! Thank you for such a wonderful gift!
MARCH 14, 2008: Students 10,11 and 12 receive their bed!
This is a Tuk Tuk.
Students Fidelina, Sarina, Selena and Victor receive a bed from their sponsors!
They took it home in a tuk tuk , one of the busy little taxis here in Guatemala.
Thank you so much for sponsoring this family for a bed. They were just thrilled.
Sharon
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3 Sisters get new traditional clothing:
Dear Hazel Family,
These are the three children who were chosen to be the very happy recipients of your kind gift of traditional clothing. These three children have never had new clothes in their lives. They are three sisters and the clothes that they were wearing were frayed, ragged and had many holes.
They were so excited when they saw these clothes!
They are especially excited to have them for Easter as it is a tradition to have new clothing if it is possible.
These photos were taken inside our office.
Thank you for this wonderful gift for these children.
Sharon
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#138 Lidia. How one family is living.
This is the inside of Lidia's house. This is where they keep their clothes in the cardboard boxes because they do not have any closets.
This is the bed that two children sleep on.
Lidia is pictured with her water filter.
The kitchen area does not have any tables or chairs.
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Sandra receives a water filter for her family.
Thank you!
Sharon
MARCH 10, 2008:
This family is the extended family of one of the children that is
sponsored to go to school. This family lives on the coast. The
father had a job as a manager of one of the departments of a finca ( a
large farm.) His father was kidnapped and held for ransom.
The kidnappers demanded approx. $1,300 US for the release of the father.
The family managed to get the money together, they paid the ransom and then they all fled the town.
The Chingo family left with just the clothes on their backs. They did not even bring a blanket or a change of clothes with them. They were very scared that the kidnappers were coming back for another member of the family.
They are now trying to make their home in Panajachel.
They are staying with relatives that are very poor. They are sleeping on the dirt floor, they had no blankets for the children, coming from the heat of the coast , they are finding it very cold in the Highlands.
Thanks to all the donations that we receive we were able to give them some blankets, shoes, clothes, and a week's supply of food.
They need help to be able to buy beds, a table and chairs and to be
able to rent a room to live in. If you would like to help this
family it would be greatly appreciated by them.
MARCH 6, 2008
Hi everyone, I will be out of Panajachel
today, I am taking Zoe back to the doctors. I will probably not be able to
answer emails until tomorrow.
There were lots of giggles and the two instructors who spoke
Kakchiquel did a terrific job of involving the women in discussions.
13 women signed up for family planning in Panajachel, I am not sure of the
numbers in San Jorge but all of the women from both groups were asking if
pap smears could be made available to them. Most of them have never had a
pap smear in their life but after listening to the talks they all want to
have one.
We are now organizing for WINGS to come back in June and we will be
arranging clinics for the more than 200 women who want to have the pap
smears.
One of the people attending the talk in Panajachel was a young girl
who is 14yrs old. She is 6 months pregnant and she actually came to the
veterinary clinic that we were having because she wanted to receive medical
attention, she has not been able to afford to see a doctor.
We arranged for her to go to the medical clinic and she has had one
appt. and the doctor wants her to go back next week. He is concerned about
the problems that she will have in giving birth.
The father of the baby is a 39yr old married man who has left his
wife on the coast and brought the girl to live here in Panajachel. He
has also brought his young son from his marriage, a boy about the age of
4yrs old. The girl told us that the wife left the man and left the little
boy with him, taking the daughter with her, saying that she didn't want the
boy because he was a male. Both Gloria and I felt that it was probably
not the truth, that he has abandoned the wife and taken the son because he
is a boy. She says that he is a builder's assistant and
that he doesn't earn enough money for them to have enough to eat.
She is very pale, thin tired. She said that she had not eaten
all day. We fed both her and the little boy. I feel
very sad for her and feel that the path that she is choosing will not be
easy.
Sharon
MARCH 5, 2008
This family in Santa Catarina received their pila
yesterday and a large supply of food sent by their sponsors.
It was impossible to deliver a cement pila to this location so we
bought them a heavy duty plastic pila. These are more costly but it was the
only option for their location.
This family is very, very happy. Thank you to the sponsors for making such a difference in their lives.
MARCH 3, 2008
Carole - thank you for all your hard work ! This week the desks and chairs were delivered to San Jorge. The kids helped carry them to the school. They were very excited!!
You can see from the photos how much these were appreciated.
This is a really wonderful gift you have given the children.
There was a special bonus that a little boy with Spina Bifida who is in wheelchair, wanted to go to school, the school at first did not want to accept him because they do not have the facilities but then they said if we could get him a special chair - with sides and padding - then they would accept him.
So thanks to you, Carole, we were able to get Carlos Enrique a special seat and he is now in school!!!
Thank you for all the work you did. It is so appreciated by so many people.
Sharon
MARCH 2, 2008
Two students from Panabaj were thrilled to receive an Onil energy efficient stove from their sponsors.
These stoves make a huge difference in the life of the family. Jose , Pablo and their parents were very, very happy. They will have no more smoke inside their house, they will not have to carry huge bundles of wood, these stoves cook on a very small amount of wood.
Thank you to the sponsor for this wonderful gift.
FEBRUARY 28, 2008: Sponsored Students receive food.
Aracely's sponsor sent food for the family.
As you can see the family was thrilled.
This was a wonderful treat for them.
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Irma Cecilia receives her stove!!!
This lucky student's family received their energy
efficient Onil stove. A gift from Irma's sponsors!
This is a wonderful gift. Thank you!!!
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#454 and #455 sponsored students receive their stove!
