Day 9: Contagious Smiles

Doña Fortunata

Written by: Olivia Deeken

Doña Fortunata

Today, we made our final home visits to this year's remaining families. Thanks to your donations, two families, Doña Fortunata and Doña Enma, received new wash stations and access to their own supplies of water for the first time!

Doña Fortunata's excitement and pleasure about her new pila and water supply was palpable. Since her waterline was successfully hooked up, our team was able to make quick work of filling in the ditch where the water lines lay and smoothing out her yard. Doña Fortunata expressed her gratitude with soft drinks and a delicious lunch of mole chicken, which she simply wouldn't let us refuse! We enjoyed our lunch in the shade, gathered around Doña Fortunata's new pila, sharing in her and her family's happy glow while discussing the good fortune of owning a black cat. The things you learn!

Doña Enma was similarly pleased with her new pila and water supply. Before this project, Doña Enma would walk up a steep hill to her parents' house to get the water she needed for the day. Imagine how many trips it would take to gather all the water an entire family would need to cook, bath, clean, and wash clothes! Doña Enma has five children, three of which still live at home. She also takes care of two of her nephews. Doña Enma expressed how much easier the simply acts of life would be - cooking and washing up the kids - now that she had a wash station and a steady supply of water right outside her home.

Doña Enma

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Doña Magali 

Written by: Franco

Doña Magali and her children are the recipients of an additional room to their home which will be used as a kitchen. She has been waiting for almost two years to move from her mother's home into her new home. First, she needs a space where she can prepare and cook meals for five hungry little mouths. 

After a bitter divorce and a bout of depression, Doña Magali stood up for herself and demanded her ex-husband help her financially and provide food and clothing for their children. In spite of this, he has only helped her with some construction materials to build a small house. From time to time he gives her about 200 Quetzales (about $40 US) which is not enough money to support their five children; much less to improve her house so she and her children have a place to live. Therefore, she lives alone with her children and works washing clothes and cleaning houses to make ends meet.  

Even though she lacks almost all basic home services, Doña Magali’s priority is to have her kitchen so she can move into her home and have a place to cook for her children. Thanks to everyone who has donated to our humanitarian campaign, her kitchen is under construction and almost finished. Although quiet and shy, Doña Magali sends warm thanks you's to everyone in the US who helped make her kitchen a reality.  

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Doña Andrea 

Written by: Diana Loera

As you have been able to see through our pictures and blog posts, Guatemala is a beautiful country. Some of the families that we were able to help this year live along beautiful country sides and on top of hills and mountains with beautiful views.

Doña Andrea’s home was like most families homes; small, simple and humble. It too sat on the side of a hill with a beautiful view of the mountains and the Tajumulco volcano. But, this time it wasn’t the views that captivated me... it was Doña Andrea’s bubbly personality, positive energy and contagious laugh. She shared with me how happy she was for her new multipurpose washing station and latrine and how having those things will help her since she lives alone. Her husband passed away five years ago and while she misses him terribly, she doesn’t feel alone. She has grandchildren that come and spend time with her and she has a beautiful space filled with flowers, chickens and herbs.

We spoke for a few minutes about the herbs and flowers in her garden and how she uses them to help treat certain ailments such as cuts, tummy aches and ear aches. It reminded me of my grandmothers since they too relied on herbs for their healing properties. I told her that she reminded me of my grandmothers and she was very touched. She said that she feels happy that her grandchildren love her and come around to keep her company from time to time. I told her that she is very lucky. She corrected me and said, “No, I am blessed.” Her words of gratitude were sweet and so heartfelt.

When I hugged her goodbye, I couldn’t help but remember my grandmother’s hugs as well. She repeated words of gratitude over and over to us and to the people who donated the funds to help her and the other families who were helped as well. So, on behalf of Doña Andrea, thank you very much!

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