The Agaclon Colo family is in desperate need of some assistance on many fronts.

The Agaclon Colo family is in desperate need of some assistance on many fronts.

Last year, the father of the family, Fermin, went to visit the doctor after suffering some pain in his stomach. He was prescribed medication which he continued to take for several months despite the fact that the pain was getting worse and worse. Finally, when the pain became almost unbearable, he went to hospital where they discovered that in fact none of the pills he had been taking had dissolved and had formed a massive ulcer in his stomach. 

He was forced to have a colostomy, now has a colostomy bag and has been unable to work since. In order to get back-up and working he needs to have a large number of tests done to see if the colostomy bag can be removed, however these are prohibitively expensive ($500 US dollars). His wife washes clothes for a living earning less than $3/day and has no hope to be able to pay for these fees while still keeping the family afloat. 

However the family’s problems do not stop there. Last year their 12 year old son Brian Jose was diagnosed with Leukemia. With his father not working the family is struggling to pay for his transport expenses to the city to attend his chemotherapy sessions ($30/month). This is life saving treatment that is not available anywhere locally. 

On top of this, the family lost their home in the 2010 floods. They have been in sheltered accommodation ever-since waiting for permanent housing to be available to them. By a stroke of luck they have just been told that a house has been allocated to them however in order to claim it they need to pay $300 in legal fees – if they do not process the paperwork by the end of the month the house will be forfeited to another family. With their combined medical situations it is extremely unlikely they will be able to do this on their own. 

If you can support this family in any way please donate online at http://www.mayanfamilies.org/DonateNow and quote FA-312.

San Antonio Palopo Receives Aid

San Antonio Palopo was once again one of the hardest hit by mudslides. The people of San Antonio were deeply appreciative for the food and clothes you donated.

This community remains cut off from stores and roads by mudslides.

Mayan Families staff and volunteers went by boat to San Antonio Palopo yesterday to hand out food, baby clothes, and diapers, to so many grateful families who have lost their homes or had their homes filled with water and mud once again.

Over 50 families, received food yesterday-thanks to you. Over 100 people spent the night in the cemetery, where they felt a bit more secure from landslides.

This community has suffered fatalities once again, perhaps 4 people, now missing. Mayan Families was the only non-profit able to respond in San Antonio, because we were luckily able to get a boat to take us across, loaded with volunteers and donations.

The particularly urgent need right now in San Antonio is money for food and for traditional clothing. This community, like many we serve is 100% indigenous, and the women and over half the men wear exclusively traditional dress. Your donation for traditional clothing will help the families who have lost all their possessions maintain their dignity. Many of them only have the clothes that there were wearing when they evacuated.

Tropical Storm Fiona

The shoveling has begun again.
It rained without stopping until yesterday, day break! We really thought it would never end. People, still traumatized from Agatha evacuated their houses, and over 160 people were still living in the Panajachel gymnasium yesterday when Susie visited. Many people spent the day shoveling mud and scooping water out of their home. . . once again.

Nine of those sleeping in shelters were Mayan Families sponsored students, including families along the river we started evacuating Friday. We have let sponsors know of each families situation, but we have distributed all our food stores, and would greatly appreciate food donations.

Your donations are serving these communities tremendously right now. Mayan Families staff and volunteers were in San Antonio Palopo yesterday handing out food and clothing, and diapers, to so many grateful families who have lost their homes or had their homes filled with water and mud once again. Over 100 people spent the night in the cemetery, where they felt a bit more secure from landslides. This community has suffered fatalities once again, perhaps 4 people, now missing. Mayan Families was the only non-profit able to respond in San Antonio, because we were luckily able to get a boat to take us across, loaded with volunteers and donations. The particularly urgent need right now in San Antonio is money for traditional clothing. This community, like many we serve is 100% indigenous, and the women and over half the men wear exclusively traditional dress. Your donation for traditional clothing will help the families who have lost all their possessions maintain their dignity.

Here's a story of a mudslide north of us that threw a bus down the mountain. People came immediately from all around to help and continuing mudslides killed some of the rescuers, as well. This report says 12 were killed.

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/deadly-mudslides-in-guatemala/19621759

Keep Guatemala in your prayers, today as the sun comes out and people start coming together and moving forward.

The Road to San Andres...from Panajachel, Guatemala.

Many of you who have visited have experienced the stomach churning fear of passing over the San Andres Bridge ....well, it no longer exists. It was washed away in a torrent of water, mud and rocks. This is what it now looks like.
Three Mayan Families staff members cross this bridge twice a day. They take a pick up to where the road is blocked, cross over this huge mess and then take a pick up on the other side down to Panajachel. The three of them go through this trek every day to get to work and the amazing thing is that they are always punctual!

They are always concerned when it rains as they fear a mudslide or the dirt below them just falling away as they cross it.

Mayan Families staff members, Susie and Roberto went with volunteer,Thomas to welcome the "Trekking for Kids" group to the Hogar "Casa Feliz".

We are hoping that the govt. will be able to repair this road and bridge for the people of San Andres and Panajachel.

Ana (#1244), Adriana (#1246), Luz (#1245) Sahon Matzar Survive the Storm

Agustin and Luz Sahon Matzar have 8 children, including Ana (#1244), Adriana (#1246) and Luz (#1245).

Like many other of the poorest, struggling families in Panajachel, the best piece of land they are able to afford, and call their own was not the safest. They lived in the river bed on the dangerous side of the stone retaining wall, along with many who have lost their homes, and all their possessions inside.

Storm Agatha knocked down a wall around the perimeter of their home, and carved out from underneath the foundation of their home, leaving them essentially homeless.

They were luckily able to escape the raging river together. But it all happened so quickly, they were not able to save many of their things inside.

Anything you can give to help this family find temporary shelter, and new or used shoes and clothes, would be greatly appreciated.