SEWING PROJECT NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

Santa Julaju during the class (she is the sister to #739 Walter)

 

The sewing project promotes the economic advancement of women by providing vocational training in sewing. We have trained over 150 women in the Panajachel and surrounding areas since the program's inception in 2006.

In an effort to meet our goal of training 80 women with sewing skills in 2012, we offered a second group of women an opportunity to join the sewing classes that started mid February.  The women have already been chosen to participate based on their commitment to learning and utilizing this skill in order to help themselves and their family.  We are looking to find "sponsors" for 20 out of the 33 women who are currently taking the sewing classes. 

 

Please help us to empower these 20 women by choosing to donate to this cause.  Sponsoring a woman into the program is very easy, just follow these simple steps:

1) Follow this link: http://www.mayanfamilies.org/DonateOnline

2) Enter $ 75.00 in the "other" box

3) Write "Sewing class" in the "details" box

4) Click  submit form

Another way in which you can help:

If you are interested in having the mother of your sponsored child take the sewing class, please send an inquiry to mayerlin@mayanfamilies.org, that includes your sponsored child's number and name.  She will find out if the mother of your child is interested in receiving the classes.  If the mother of your student is interested in receiving the classes, she will be placed on the waiting list for the classes that are anticipated to start in May 2012 or Aug 2012.

Sewing Classes are the best way to make a lasting gift to a family that might be struggling financially, because the benefits are seen long after the classes are over.  In addition, this training promotes confidence, empowerment and self-sufficiency amongst the participants.  To read about the benefits of the sewing project, please follow this link:  http://www.mayanfamilies.org/TheSewingProject

Feeding Program

Nayeli is 5 yrs old. She was adopted from Guatemala and has grown up in the U.S.  She has received good food and good medical attention since she was born.

The other little girl is from our pre-school/feeding program in Tierra Linda.  She is also 5 yrs old.

You can see the difference in the height and weight....This little girl has not received good food or good medical attention ( or probably no medical attention would be more like it ) since she was born.

The reason that we do the pre-schools/feeding programs is because these children are in such need of food....thank you to the people who are able to sponsor children so that they can receive at least two nutritious meals at least five days a week.

Group building a house in Guatemala

Today, Mayan Families has a group who has arrived to build a house for a family of three, an elderly grandmother, a single mother and a teenage daughter. This family has been struggling for so many years to be able to have a home to live in. They have been evicted several times because they do not have sufficient money to pay the rent. Unfortunately, the grandmother was hit by a truck in a very slow moving accident..... but has been injured. The driver who hit her on Friday , went with her to the local health center where the doctor said that she was o.k. just bruised.. but they had no ultra sound or x ray machines to do a more thorough investigation. 
The driver paid the grand total of $12 for pain medicine and left.

The grandmother has taken a turn for the worse and is now in the hospital with hip pains. We do not have any more news of her right now but thank goodness that they will have a home to live in when the grandmother is released.   The family will now be in worse situation because they do not have the money for the medical care needed for the grandmother. 

We are so thankful to this group to come and construct a home for this family this week.

The grandmother is part of our Elderly Program and quite often the food that we have delivered to her home she has shared between the three of them.

We are trying something new with this group.
We are building the house in one week so that they will be able to turn the keys over to the family on Saturday.
We have had a small crew dig the foundations and build the walls up a to about knee high level but the group will be doing the rest of the work.
So it will be a lot of work to get it done in one week but this group is very motivated and I think that they will do it.
We have actually built this house strong enough so that we can put a second floor on it so that we will eventually be able to have another family live upstairs.  We have so many single mothers in need ..and we already have a waiting list.

This house is being built on the property that Mayan Families owns. The houses are for families in distress or families that it is just impossible for them to pay the rent and survive.....we have three houses on this piece of very small property. We have been offered two small pieces that are adjoining for the sum of $7,000....we do not have the money to purchase this property but would love to be able to get it and build at least another four houses on it for families in need.

If anyone is interested in more information , please contact me.
Sharon

Alejandro has passed away.

Alejandro has passed away.

We're deeply saddened to report that Alejandro has passed away. After fighting for several days he is now at peace, but his family is obviously grieving his loss. Alejandro passed away in the public hospital in the capital.

His body now has to be transported nearly 3 hours to Panajachel by a licensed car certified to carry deceased bodies.
It's very expensive and the family doesn't know how they will afford it. Plus, they are planning the funeral and paying the medical bills that Alejandro incurred during his hospitalization. A Mayan Families employee visited Alejandro's family today and they had nothing to eat.

The family is grieving the loss of a loved one and also faced with nearly impossible financial burdens. To pay for the certified transport, the funeral, and the medical bills, the family needs $300.

For more information on how to help Alejandro's family, please visit:

http://mayanfamilieselderlycare.blogspot.com/2012/02/alejandro-has-passed-away.html

Thank You!

Grace of Guatemala Mission Trip.

We have had the pleasure of having Connie and her recent group of 20 people here.  For some it is the first time to come to Guatemala ...for others, we are happy to welcome back old friends.

Connie has taken the little agricultural village of El Barranco under her wing....she focuses all her attention and groups on this village....and it has made a huge difference to the people who live here.

The groups that Connie has brought have now sponsored over 50 children.  This present group has topped the record and for a group of 20 people, they have sponsored 17 children!

They brought wonderful donations and gave all the children shoes, clothing, goodie bags full of exciting things for the children...it was a great day for the them all.

Here is a link to Connies blog.....we have lots more photos but we will get them up soon.
http://consguat.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-trip-to-el-barranco.html?spref=fb
If anyone would like to join Connie's next service trip or would like to organize their own...we would be happy to see  you here and help you with all the arrangements.
Please contact me at Sharon@mayanfamilies.org

Flabio is 17 years old and has kidney problems

Flabio is 17 years old and has kidney problems. He has been to several doctors who tell him that one of his kidneys is failing. He has an appointment on February 20 with a nefrologist in the capital and he needs $109 to go to the capital and have his appointment.


Flabio's parents, Maria and Jose, have three children. Jose works in a supermarket and Maria stays at home to care for the family. They try their best to provide for their children, but Jose's wages have not been enough to care for the family and pay for Flabio's medical expenses. Flabio's doctor visits have strained the family's budget and they are really struggling.


Amidst Flabio's medical troubles, he still earnestly wants to stay in school. However, given his medical bills he is afraid that he may have to drop out because his family can't afford both medical bills and school payments. Flabio needs a school sponsor for 10th grade, which costs $490 for the entire year.


For more information on how to help Flabio receive school sponsorship or the medical attention he needs, please visit:


http://familyaidprogram.blogspot.com/2012/02/flabio-has-kidney-failure-and-needs.html


Thank you!

Valentines Day!

Our Valentines Day Newsletter can be found here! Please make this wonderful day extra special!

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs024/1103559743325/archive/1109208747576.html

Miguel and Elderly Care in Guatemala

Miguel is a sweet member of our elderly program.

He lives with his brother and it is always a delight to visit these two gentlemen because they are so friendly. Recently, however, Miguel has been having health problems with his prostate.

We took him to the doctor who prescribed various medications for him, which will hopefully help him greatly. However, Miguel also needs a prostate exam. The cost of his consult, his medications, and his future exam is $173. Please consider helping Miguel with his health problems.

for more information on how to help Miguel, please visit:

http://mayanfamilieselderlycare.blogspot.com/2012/02/miguel-needs-medical-help.html

Thank You!

Mayan Families Elderly Care program.

This thoughtful profile of one of the elderly in our Elder Care program highlights the need for help ...and how much just a little help goes a long way.
This story was written by a wonderful young woman, Ronny, who had done so much to help the Elderly here in Guatemala.
http://mayanfamilieselderlycare.blogspot.com/2012/01/ramon-lopez-cumes.html