I have a special request that I would like to post. This
request will only be presented once so I hope someone can respond to this need.
For the past 8 years Carol and I have been helping a family close to Antigua. We began
this relationship by sponsoring their daughter Anna Maria through Christian
Children’s Fund. Besides providing tuition and clothes for Anna Maria we have
help the family start a small store, connect to the municipal water system and
bought them a cooking stove and bedding. Their life has improved year by year
and it is great to see this growth. In comparison to the families we work with
in the Ixil region this family has a much higher standard of living. They have
running water, a three room concrete home with a fence around it. Yet they have
encountered a financial difficulty that jeopardizes their security. Last
February Oscar, the father, became ill and needed an emergency operation. This
was a potentially life threatening illness involving stones from his liver.and the family made a quick decision to take out
a loan of $1330 for the operation to remove these stones. This loan has a “grace” period of two months
with only 10% interest. In May it increased to 20% per month. This kind of high interest rate is not
uncommon in Guatemala but is a horrible burden to the poor. What I am looking
for is someone to give Oscar a new loan. He has returned to work now and has the
ability to make payments of $60 per month which would be personally managed and guaranteed by myself, not TRE. The mission statement of TRE directs
us to use our funds to work in the Chajul region so this is outside of the
scope of TRE and personally I do not have the finances to do this loan at this
time. If this touches your heart please consider helping protect the gains this family
has made and contact me.
Here is an earlier photo of Anna and one of her sisters and mother weaving while she studies. The building made with small poles in the background is now a concrete block bedroom with cement floor.
Their family lives in San Antonio Agua Caliente which is only 30 minutes from Antigua. This area is famous for its weavings. Look closely at the design of Sandra's weaving. It is an intricate picture of birds in the forest and will take her 60 days to complete. After she finishes she will sell this to a co-op for $175. Two years ago they sold for $200.
But the day most of these photos were taken were for the celebration of Dia de Santos. Here we get to eat tamales. Maria's brother Marvin is pictured here reading a manual from the company where he works. It is a national company which encourages it's employees to be active in their communities and has vacation pay on this holiday. He might only be making gunny sacks but is very fortunate to have a good employer. Most of the improvements on their home are due to his help.
Maria in front of their kitchen ready to go to the cemetery and place decorations.
Her grandmother is tending the grave of her husband. Her passed away last year. For Guatemalans Dia de Santos is like our Memorial Day in which we remember our loved ones and decorate their graves.
Finally here is Oscar getting water to fill the flower vases. You can see by the care put into this wealthier part of the cemetery how important caring for these sites is to the families.
Oscar looking over Maria at a well tended family grave.
There are many traditions in this celebration. All during the day favorite foods and bread are set out for the fiesta. Early in the day a candle and incense are lit to symbolize their prayers.
Today I called Beatrice and told her I was posting the request and this would be another good day to light them again.
UPDATED NOTE: We have a sponsor for this loan. When I called Beatrice the next day with the good news you could immediately hear the gratitude and relief in her voice. We even had multiple offers which demonstrates the good caring hearts of our readers. Mucho Gracias.
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