Children's Day in Guatemala

Children's Day in Guatemala is celebrated on October 1st. 
It is a big occasion and getting bigger every year.
The local council is holding a big party for children in front of their offices.
They will have pinatas and entertainment.
They have been collecting money and goods from different business and organizations.
Mayan Families has  donated one pinata to them.
Today our pre school in Panajachel is celebrating with their fiesta. 
They have chuchitos and Jello in little bags.
They will all be receiving a little stuffed toy to celebrate Children's Day....thank goodness for Beanie Babies!!!!
We are also having all the children in our Orphan program at the office today.
They will be receiving clothes, shoes , underwear  socks, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Thank you to everyone who sends these goods so that we are able to give these much needed items to these children.
The children are also seeing the doctor and receiving vitamins. 
We have found that many of the children in the program....need help with food.  If you would like to donate a bag of food....just $10 will make a difference to these children, we can give it out to them today.
Thanks, 
Sharon

Sharon Smart-Poage
MAYAN FAMILIES

a registered 501.(c).(3) Non Profit Charity

www.mayanfamilies.org

Longer lasting water filters

Hi, we now have access to a new water filter that has been tested and the results have been excellent.

This water filter supposedly will last for 10 years!!!!!!!!!!!!

This new water filter, which is called a Sawyer filter,  will cost $96 US. for us to distribute to families.

If you would like to give one of these water filters to your family, we have them available now.

Now I think, even if these filters last 5 years , they are a great advantage to the families who receive them.

The only thing that the family will need is a small table to put have these filters. Many of our families do not have a table or somewhere to put them.

A small table will cost $18 .....they are a small table that we will make so that they will be able to hold the water filters.

You can give a water filter without a table ....but it is very important that the family has somewhere to keep the water filter so it is not touching the ground.

Sharon

Sharon Smart-Poage
MAYAN FAMILIES

a registered 501.(c).(3) Non Profit Charity

www.mayanfamilies.org

Shoes

These are some of the shoes that children were wearing when they came to our office today! Their sister who is the sponsored child in the family came to ask for shoes for her brothers but said that would be fine without them. But we told her that she also needed a pair. Such a sweet girl who did not want to ask for too much. Sharon Sharon Smart-Poage MAYAN FAMILIES a registered 501.(c).(3) Non Profit Charity www.mayanfamilies.org

Sandra from San Antonio Palopo

Sandra from San Antonio Palopo lived in a very dark house. She doesn't
have electricity connected.
She was thrilled to receive a "liter of light" to have in her house.
This is a soda bottle half filled with water and bleach.
When installed in the roof, the natural light pours into the dark room
and lights it up.....for free!!!!
As you can see from Sandra's face she was very excited to see this!

Young Family

Hi, I want to let you know what has been happening with the young family.

First off, the young mother , who I thought was around 19 years old ...is only 16 years old and she will be giving birth next month to her second child.
We have been making sure that they get three meals a day.
We have been supplying the baby with diapers and with clothing.
Thanks to a wonderful donation , the family was able to receive a bed....which makes it a lot better for them rather than sleeping on a cement floor.
They also are no longer homeless!!!!  They now live in a room....the room was empty but it now has a bed!!!
They will be receiving a small stove tomorrow so that they can now cook their own meals.
We will be , thanks to your donations, be able to give them food to take home to cook with.
We also have been able to find a very small part time job for the young man.  
Just a reminder - both these young people are orphans. The young mother was an only child...her mother passed away, her father had left when the mother was pregnant....and the extended family appears not to exist.
The young man, 22 years old...is also an orphan now. His mother died earlier this year. His father died many years ago. He receives no help from his extended family...so they really are alone in the world.
Also the young man is being sponsored to start carpentry classes.
So thanks to you ...this is one amazing group of people...this young couple and their very young child ...and unborn child....have a much better life right now and hopefully, they will be able to move ahead and get themselves on their feet.
with deep thanks,
Sharon
Sharon Smart-Poage
MAYAN FAMILIES
a registered 501.(c).(3) Non Profit Charity
http://mayanfamilies.org/DonateOnline

Ana Maria

Hi Everyone,

Ana Maria has suddenly become the single mother of a seven month old boy, Marlon Alexander. After a year and a half of marriage, her husband left her a month ago and has offered no help to the family since. His mother on occasion comes by the house to see the baby, but gives no financial assistance to the struggling young mom. She has been left alone, with no way to feed herself or her little boy.

After her baby was born, the problems began. Complications during the delivery left Ana Maria unable to breastfeed her son, putting an economic strain on the already troubled couple. Milk is a luxury item that most families in Guatemala cannot afford to buy. The child also suffered from pneumonia for the first few months of life, adding further stress to the tormented new mother. Ana Maria was constantly worried for her baby's health and her husband provided no emotional support, often becoming very cold and distant with his wife and child. Months of fighting and unhappiness culminated with him leaving without an explanation or the intention of feeding his son.

Ana Maria now has to worry about how she is going to raise her child alone. Not only does she need to feed her baby and herself, she also needs to pay for the rent. At $100 a month, with no means of earning money and no family to help, she has no idea how she will continue to pay her housing. She is afraid she and her son will end up on the streets. She would like to work, but unfortunately does not know what she can do.

For more information on how to help Ana Maria and her son, please visit:

http://familyaidprogram.blogspot.com/2012/09/ana-maria-cant-feed-her-baby.html

Thank you!

Juana, a new member of our Elderly Care program

Hi Everyone,
, suffers from constant migraines. She was hit by a motorcycle earlier this year, leaving her with lesions on her feet and face. Despite being taken to the health center and receiving care after the accident she still experiences debilitating headaches. She needs to take her medicine or the pain is excruciating.

Unfortunately, the little money she makes cleaning her neighbors house is not enough to cover the cost of the medicine, which is about $24 a month in addition to her rent, which is about $25 a month. She has four grown children who are unable to offer any support because of their own family costs: one is diabetic and has 14 children of her own, two others with 7 children each, and a son who has fallen out of contact. She separated from her husband about 35 years ago because of his drinking problem. She lives alone in a house without a water filter, chairs, a table or a closet for her clothes.

Like most of the other elderly in our program, Juana has worked her whole life to afford what little she has. After having dedicated her life to raising her children on her own, Juana deserves the same care in her time of need. However, the impoverished state of her family disallows them from returning her years of attention and care. She humbly eats her meals in her bed, the only piece of furniture she owns.

She is most in need of food and medicine. If you would like to help For more information on how to help Juana cover the costs of the food and medicine she desperately needs, please visit:

http://mayanfamilieselderlycare.blogspot.com/2012/09/juana-needs-medicine-and-food.html

Thank you!