A pila is a wonderful thing!

This mother was so happy to receive a pila. It is a 2 sided cement sink that is an essential for any home in Guatemala.
It is used for water storage, for washing dishes, washing hair,
washing people, washing clothes, dishes and to dry the dishes that have been washed.
They are very heavy, it usually takes about 6 men to be able to move one.
But they will last a very, very long time.
Thank you to the sponsor who donated this very useful gift!

Birthday smiles!

These two students were so thrilled to have something special this birthday. One got a bag of corn, a cake and a doll...and the other a beautiful pair of shoes! These things are very, very special to children who have probably never had a birthday present before. Thanks to their sponsors for making this a special day for them.

Land for all 7 families!

We are so thrilled to announce that we have raised enough funds to purchase all seven plots of land! A huge thank you to every person who donated and helped spread the word. Thanks to your efforts, seven families will soon be land owners, with deeds in their names - a dream come true for these families. Thank you so much for being part of these families journeys and for investing in each of them and their future generations. We at Mayan Families, and these seven families, are forever grateful for your help!

So close to being able to buy all 7 plots of land!

Thank you so much to those of you who have donated to purchase land for our families!

We can't believe it, but we are only $230 short of being able to buy ALL SEVEN plots of land for seven families in need! This is a dream come true for so many of our families! Thank you to everyone who helped.

If you haven't already, please spread the word. We're just $230 short of buying the last plot of land and we only have a few hours left!

We've currently raised enough money for 6 plots of lands for 6 very needy families, including Lucinda (#353) and Ana Alicia (#1241)! We have the opportunity to purchase a total of 7 plots of land. We still have 1 family waiting and hoping to receive a plot of land. Please consider donating to them! Thank you!

Lifes big comforts!

These are just some of the lucky families that received beds and or mattresses this week!
While a bed and a mattress is something that most of us take for granted......many, many families in Guatemala sleep on straw mats on a dirt floor or on a bed on a bed of bare boards.
What a difference it will make for these families to have a real bed and the warmth of a mattress!  Thank you to the people who were able to give these wonderful gifts!

Yes, we are doing Mother's Day Food Baskets in Guatemala

Hi, we have received several emails asking if we will be doing Mother's Day Baskets.   Yes..we will!
We are probably a little late getting the announcement out but we should have it out today. It felt like we just finished the Semana Santa baskets and then Mother's Day was upon us!
We will also be offering the $10 bags of food for the Elderly ....the grandmothers...that made such a difference to them and brought so much joy!
We also hope to be able to give each Orphan family a basket of food...while it doesn't take the place of having a mother , we hope that it will bring some comfort and happiness to know that people care about them and that they are special to us.
If you would like to go ahead and send in your order for  your sponsored family...please do so, the baskets will be $35 each and the food bags will be $10 each.
If you would like to give this gift in honor of your mother or someone special , please let us know and we will put the announcement on our website and also send out a greeting card if you give us the email address.
Thanks,
Sharon
Sharon Smart-Poage
MAYAN FAMILIES
a registered 501.(c).(3) Non Profit Charity
http://www.mayanfamilies.org/DonateOnline

Land for our families!

If 23 people make a one-time donation of $50 then we would be able to purchase a plot of land for a family in need! Please consider donating today - we only have until tomorrow!

Click here to read about Lucinda, the first one in her family to be able to read and write. She, her mother, and grandmother live on land that used to be a cemetary in a home made of corrugated aluminum. They have no door, no lock, no security. They are in desperate need of a safe and secure plot of land. Please consider helping them!