Wednesday, July 11, 2012

$3,000 Donation for Homes in Agua Escondido!







There is a small town of Agua Escondido in Guatemala.  Recently a church sold some plots of land to Mayan Families for families to build homes on.  This land was put into the names of 8 families.  It was an absolutely amazing day for these families to have something to own, that no one could take from them.  This in and of itself is a huge deal!

The land was the start...but there are no houses on the land.  The families have been excavating the land by hand, and living under simple sheets of tin or pieces of plastic they have found.  I think there are some that are just living on the land, with no real shelter.  

Some of the families are eating every other day as they don't have the money to buy food.  I can't imagine that, especially when I think of my own children.

It was determined that a basic house (cement floor, concrete block base, wooden walls, and a tin roof) will cost $1,469.  Others had donated $9,000, and they were short $2,752.  So, the board approved the money for us to help these families have a basic living situation.  

These families will most likely still not have beds, tables, Onil Stoves, water filters, and other basic needed items.  If anyone is interested in contributing to help with these items it would be appreciated.  

Pictures of the families and land and some basic materials originally given to the families can be found at: Agua Escondido Land and Families

and here is one when the families are looking at their land and some of the primitive structures that were built: 

Cost of Items:
$35     Large Basket of Food
$200   Food to feed a family for one month
$50     100lb bag of Corn (This makes tortillas for a family of five, 3meals a day, for approximately two weeks)
$80    100 lb of Black Beans 
$5      Carton of 30 Eggs 
$50     Double Mattress
$170   Bed and Mattress 
$170   Onil Fuel-Efficient Stove  
$55     Small Table with 2 Chairs
$93     Medium Table with 4 Chairs  
$120   Pila, a two sided cement wash basin/sink for Washing
$63     Water Filter Complete

Nuestros Niños will also be purchasing one ONIL stove and one complete water filter...bringing our total contribution to $3,000!  Thanks to everyone who has helped make this possible!