Walking with the poor - notes from Guatemala

MISSION AWARENESS TRIP TO GUATEMALA

Christmas 2007

Heartfelt greetings from this very special group of CFCA sponsors and CFCA families. It is a great joy to be in touch with you from this holy ground and during this sacred time.

Beautiful smiles welcome sponsors.

Long-term sponsorship steadies family

Such is the story of the one family with three sponsored children. They shared a breakfast with us in Guatemala City on day one of the trip. Mother (Mayra), son Edy, who turned 15 today, daughter Marie Elsie, 13, and daughter Heidy, 7 were accompanied by Natividad, the CFCA social worker from their area. Natividad is a former CFCA scholar, now working full time with us.

This is not a dramatic rescue story, but rather the story of a good steady sponsorship relationship over many years. There are nine children in the family. The mother maintains that their membership in CFCA has enabled the children to continue their studies, and has enabled the family to live in a more dignified way. Mayra herself cleans a school and earns $197 per month. With this modest income, and with the help of the CFCA sponsorship program, Mayra was able to negotiate and purchase a small piece of property for her family, with legal papers in order. All three of the sponsored children confidently addressed our group and expressed their thanks. Edy said that seeing the sponsors made this his best birthday to date.

The children are also involved in our nature preserve called “El Biotopo.” On their visits to the CFCA Biotopo San Lucas Toliman, sponsors can appreciate how CFCA families live on four continents.

The December 2007 Guatemala Mission Awareness Trip group at the CFCA Biotopo, an environmental exhibit.

Lots of hope and a new bicycle

Seven new children were sponsored on this journey. Emilio’s sponsorship turned out to be very providential. He is the oldest of four orphan boys living with their aunt in Sta. Cruz del Quiche. We are told that the father abandoned the family some years ago. The mother became depressed and drank herself to death. This sponsorship of Emilio is a gift from God. Sheila and Randy, his new sponsors, sent Emilio back to Santa Cruz with lots of hope and a new bicycle. As professional educators, both expressed to Emilio their hope that the bike would serve as transportation to school and motivation for excellent efforts in his studies.

Final thoughts

On our way through the highlands on Jan. 1, and in spite of a cold wind out of the north, we enjoyed several hours with the sponsored children, families and staff of Santa Cruz Balanya. I am encouraged to see their emphasis on Mayan tradition and folk music.

Thania and her two spontaneous and natural little siblings confidently giggled their way through the song "La Tortuga.".

With gratitude for a safe, healthy and inspiring mission awareness trip, we welcome in the New Year and bid farewell and Godspeed to our friends. We have felt your presence, too, in solidarity and prayer. Please know of our love and best wishes for the New Year.

God’s blessings.

Bob Hentzen
Guatemala
Jan. 3, 2008

Sponsor a child in Guatemala

Read the notes from other mission awareness trips