Visiting with Luis and Miriam

One of the highlights of this trip was getting the opportunity to meet the families of the children we have been sponsoring for school. Luis Alfonso and Miriam Josefina were sponsored for the 2007 school year in honor of my parents and I am proud to say that we will be sponsoring them again for the 2008 school year. In Guatemala, the school year starts in January and ends in October. Both children did very well in school this past year, and will be continuing to the 2nd grade in January.
On our first day in San Jorge, we were able to briefly meet with the children at the community center at which time we gave them all the gifts we brought for them and the food that was purchased for them. I was completely overwhelmed over this process. We were in a small community center that isn't much bigger than my living room with no windows and little lighting. The room was packed not only inside but also by people at the doorway waiting and looking to see what was going on inside. They were so greatful for the gifts they received, and I think they were a little overwhelmed at the scene as well. I can't imagine what it must be like from a 8 year old perspective. Someone you never met before coming and giving you gifts in front of all the other people in the community who aren't getting anything, or if they were lucky, a piece of candy or a rosary that Catherine brought from her church to distribute.
Here are pictures of Luis Alfonso and his mother: He loved the Redskins cap I brought for him and was still wearing it the next day:This is Miriam Josefina and her mom both in beautiful traditional clothing: Miriam has such a beautiful smile and such an innocent face.Finally, a picture of all of us together: The following day, we were fortunate enough to be able to visit the homes of our sponsored children. We first went to the home of Luis Alfonso. Although I had brought him new clothes, I was disappointed to see that he was still wearing the same dirty clothes from the prior day. Most other sponsored children were wearing all their new clothes.

This was the start of the pathway to the home from the main street of San Jorge. You had to cross over a narrow unstable piece of cement.

Then, up a dirt path that must be just horrible during the rainy season which took a sharp turn to the left where you went up some stairs.This is the bedroom where Luis Alfonso sleeps along with his sisters. His father was upstairs in the parents room. He is very ill suffering from diabetes and cannot leave the room. In Guatemala, the homes are very unique in that each room has a doorway to the outside and very few homes have inside passageways. Access to other rooms is done through the outside. This family was a lot better off than some we saw as they actually have separate bedrooms for the kids and the adults, have another room for the kitchen. They have a small chicken coop outside along with a unique small building that you have to crawl on your hands and knees to get in or out which is a like a sauna and is the way in which this family cleanses themselves.

The final picture with Luis before we said goodbye

We were also able to visit the home where Miriam lives. It actually belongs to her paternal grandmother who is allowing them to stay there, but the whole family shares one room. The parents sleep on the bed and the kids (5) sleep on a mat on the floor.

This is the kitchen and I was very sad to learn that the pila (wash basin) that we bought for them earlier this year does not fit on this property. Miriam's family does own a small piece of property however nearby and the pila sits there. They bring their laundry there and do all the wash there. They hope one day to be able to build thier own home on that land, but do not have the money. I hope one day to be able to help them do that.

This picture is of their bathroom facilities with the lids covering the holes in the ground. And, finally, one last picture of Miriam Josefina with her mother.