Play it Forward Golf Tournament

 Play it Forward Golf Tournament

      Beautiful toasty weather, good friends, and 18 holes. The First Annual Play it Forward Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 4th at Three Ridges Golf Course was a great success and a lot of fun. 

     After registration and some practice hits, players enjoyed McAlister's lunches and Salsarita's chips. Nuestros Ninos would like to thank everyone for their great contributions to making this event so special. Triax Data donated event t-shirts and golf clubs that were given as prizes. Food City stocked us up with wonderful drinks and snacks. A big thanks goes to Bailey International for being a major sponsor and bringing so many players out. Although, no one made a Hole in One on Hole #16 to win the prize, thank you to Fox Chevrolet for offering the beautiful light blue Chevrolet Cruz to anyone who could earn it.

     A BIG thanks to our Gold Hole Sponsors:

• PC2 (Professional Construction Consulting Inc.)
• Knox Trailers Inc./John & Corey Studer
• Globus / Keith Clements 
• Coverall of Eastern Tennessee
• Scripps Networks

    And our Silver Hole Sponsors:

• Webster Motors
• Frazier Carpet One
• Bryant Research
• Sign-N-Such

     The players received great Goody Bags at registration that included a cooler, visor, coupons, t-shirt, water bottle holder, pad of paper, and Callaway Gift Card with Test Drive). Not to mention the great raffle prizes after they had conquered the course including rounds of golf, gift cards to restaurants, Regal Movie tickets, and so much more. The two teams with the best scores received plaques: Team Fox and Team Brooks.

THANK YOU to our 12 teams of players. We look forward to seeing you next year at the 2nd Annual Play it Forward Golf Tournament in May of 2012. Maybe someone will win that car! 

(written by Chelsea Kautz)

Gift of Food

Mother Teresa taught that if you can’t feed 100 people then feed just one. 

Malnutrition is rampant in Guatemala, but the current need for food is even more acute.  Because of Tropical Storm Agatha in the summer of 2010 and the destruction it caused to the corn crop and land, the corn shortage has now begun in earnest.  Guatemala now has to import corn from Mexico, driving the cost of corn up and making it scarce. 

Instead of worrying about what to cook for dinner as we do in our country, many families in Guatemala worry about IF there will even be food for dinner.  Some days only a plain tortilla and some salt is all the food a child may eat for the day.  Even children often work under the hot sun for meager amounts just so they can buy some food to eat for the day.

One of the ways we can help is by providing sponsored food baskets to those most in need.  A typical food basket might include chicken, incaparina (a fortified cereal), squash, carrots, fruit, beans, rice, corn and whatever else has been identified as most needed.  This all comes in a reusable plastic basket.  Mayan Families, our host group for our service trips, buys the fresh fruit and vegetables from other families in their programs to help support those families too. 

As many of you know, Nuestros Niños is going to Guatemala this summer on a service trip to help with various programs.  One of our goals is to provide a minimum of 10 food baskets to 10 families while we are down there.  Each basket is only $35.  Think of how easily you often spend $35 on refreshments at a ball game or a new pair of jeans.  Then think of how much a basket of healthy food would mean to an entire family that has no food to feed their children.  Normally my biggest problem at dinnertime is what we are going to fix – not IF we are going to have food to provide to our family…

Please consider a sponsorship of $35 to provide nutritious food to a family (by June 5^th).  We will gladly take a picture and card from your family to the family that receives the basket – and provide your family with a picture and information on the family that receives it. 

Protein and nutritious food are vital to a child’s ability to learn.  Though we can’t feed everyone, we can start by feeding one…

blog by: Sharon Grussing

Chickens!

Last week our oldest daughter came home and informed us that her teacher has told them to have eggs for breakfast this week.  Why?  Because they are taking their state standardized yearly testing and need to have protein from the eggs to help their minds and bodies with the testing. J

Hmm…kind of interesting since one of Nuestros Niños projects is to provide chickens to families in Guatemala!  The whole reason is to provide protein to families.  Some families literally have nothing to eat.  I have seen children whose black hair has turned blonde due to the malnutrition.  Others subsist on tortillas and salt.  Some will scourge the woods for edible plants.  By supplying chickens, it provides a nutritious food source – EGGS.  If there are extra eggs, families can sell them at the market to provide a source of income.

The chickens provide a sustainable source of protein.  They are easy and inexpensive to care for – making it a good choice for families.  I remember going into homes on our first service trip in 2008 and thinking how strange, but cute it was to have baby chicks running around by my feet. 

Now I can appreciate what a life changer these chickens can be for families.  Malnutrition is prevalent in Guatemala.  As we have all heard – protein and nutritious food is vital in our ability to be ready to learn in the classroom!

At first we planned on providing 10 chicks to each family, however, it has been determined that it is better to provide 3 chickens to each family.  The chickens are more likely to live in the harsh summer rainfalls than the chicks – and they are already providing eggs.  Many families have an egg or two by the time they have walked to their homes.

Families are identified as good recipients for the chickens, and then arrive early at the Mayan Families’office  anxious to receive this precious gift.  Recipients are instructed on how to take care of the chickens by the staff.  The children and adults on the service trip scoop chicken feed into bags to be given to the families. 

Then the fun begins!  Our kids get to figure out the best way to catch the chicken and move it into the receiving family’s basket.  For some kids, it seems like they have been doing it forever.  For others, it is a treat to see them master the feat and gain the confidence to catch the chicken.  Each family receives three chickens from Nuestros Niños.

 

Our goal is to provide 30 families with 3 chickens each.  Each chicken is $10 – so for one family to receive 3 chickens it is $30.  If you are interested in providing a family with chickens (or even one chicken), please let me know!  A nutritious food source is a great gift to give a family!  If you are interested in giving a chicken in honor of someone at Easter, I have little fuzzy chickens that could be given as a representative gift.  (See picture below.)

Sewing Machines Given Out - San Jorge la Laguna, Guatemala

I was so happy to hear last week that 10 of the sewing machines were given out to women in the village of San Jorge la Laguna!  These are women that have been taught how to sew by Alberto, the Mayan Families sewing teacher.  With the help of several people - from those that donated the sewing machines, the donor that covered the shipping fees, and the volunteers that helped pack the sewing machines into boxes for shipment – a huge difference was made for 10 women and their families!  Thank you!

I hope you enjoy looking at the photos of the celebration.  I love the fact that Mayan Families celebrates the women’s accomplishments.  The women were treated to lunch and cake (not a normal occurrence as it is here!) and received a framed certificate to honor their achievement.  You can see their smiles as they had the chance to finally receive and begin to open their sewing machines!  Their new skills and sewing machine empowers them to help support their family.  What a great gift – and goes along with the Nuestros Niños motto of Service – Compassion - Hope.

Teresa Cojtin

Maria Concepcion

Alberto, the sewing teacher, travels to Panajachel from Aldea Chaquijyá, a rural area of Solola (similar to a state in the US).  He has nine children, and by working with Mayan Families, he is able to help others – and to make a living (cover his transportation costs, food, electric bills).  They live in a mud brick home with a small outside kitchen where they cook over an open fire.  Many of their children are sponsored for school through Mayan Families – as there is not “extra” money beyond the necessities - and they value education.  Mayan Families as of last summer had 43 employees with all but a few being indigenous Guatemalans.  This is just a glimpse into the life of one of the families that they help – that in turn helps others.  It is an amazing circle of giving…

Enjoy the photos at the below link!

https://picasaweb.google.com/mayanfamilies/Febrero10De2011FortosDeGraduacionDeLaClaseDeCosturaEnSanJorgeLaLaguna?feat=directlink#

Valentine’s Day: The Gift of Health – ONIL Stoves



For some reason in February each year, I always think about the greatest gift you can give yourself is to take care of your heart.  Now, I know certain years I am better than others about taking care of myself, but this year I began thinking about another gift that can be given…an ONIL fuel efficient stove.

This is a traditional fire used to cook on in a home.  We could still feel the heat from the morning fire.  Some of the ash is taken from the old fire and spread on top of the pumice that is put in the ONIL stove.  The ash helps to seal the pumice so it doesn't burn.



Just picture… a room the size of a bedroom with a campfire going in it.  Can you imagine the smoke?  The walls are black from the soot.  The smell of smoke is overwhelming.  Now, add in a couple of young children in the room.  Or imagine always needing to bend over to do your cooking over a campfire with a child strapped on your back – I know it would take a toll on my back after a while. 



Angela, Tara, & Carlos installing an ONIL stove in San Antonio Palopo.  There were two young girls that lived in this home.



The ONIL stove (plancha type) makes an amazing difference to the families that receive them!  First, it cuts down on respiratory issues as the smoke from the stove is directed out of the house through a metal pipe.  The World Health Organization has estimated that 1 in 5 children do not live to see their 5^th birthday in Guatemala.  The number one cause is respiratory issues due to breathing in the heavy smoke!   

One of the young girls that would be benefitting from the ONIL stove.  There was an amazing view of Lake Atitlan and the volcanos from the home.





Two volunteers putting the stove pipe and mesh wire protector together.  This will vent the smoke and dangerous gas out of the house.



Second, burns are reduced as there isn’t an open fire for children and adults to fall into (or have their skirt or hair catch fire…or get popped in the eye with a spark).

Third, as it needs less wood, it cuts down on deforestation by 60-70%, which also results in less cost to families or less time to collect wood.  There are other benefits, such as a larger cooking surface and the decreased need to be continually bent over the fire.  Carbon monoxide emissions are reduced from 160 ppm to 3-5 ppm (in the United States 15ppm is considered “poor” and less than 9ppm is considered “good)).   

Installing the pipe that will vent the smoke to the outside of the home.



The ONIL stoves can be life-savers!  Just think -  11 concrete blocks, 3 precast concrete pieces, several adobe bricks, a metal chamber and stove pipe, a bag of pumice, and a metal top – can increase quality of life, but most importantly save lives!  The cost for 1 ONIL stove is just $160 (and is tax deductible).

Our goal is to install 30 stoves this summer – and change the lives of 150-300 people in the process!  We have already received funding specifically targeted for 6 stoves.  Please consider a gift of a stove in honor of someone you love this year.  Or maybe a Sunday School Class or a Book Club could get together and sponsor a stove. 

We would be more than happy to take a card to the family that receives the stove you donate.  Families enjoy getting a picture of the group that donated the stove to them.  After the trip this summer, we will also provide you pictures and a write-up on the family that receives it.  Even, if you can’t donate an entire stove, think about a “portion” of the stove…



We watched many families carry heavy loads of materials to their homes.  This wasn't an easy climb and the materials were very heavy!



Matt & I have installed these on a past trip to Guatemala. They take about an hour to two hours to bring the materials to the house and install.  It is humbling to go into a person’s home and help them in such a profound way.  It is inspiring to see a woman crouched on the dirt floor scrubbing the metal top with pride for 20-30 minutes with rain water she has collected. It is heartwarming to make a connection with a family across language and cultural barriers…

Please consider making a donation…we would love to have 5 more stoves donated in the month of February!

A woman utilizing an ONIL stove to cook tortillas and beans for the San Antonio Palopo Preschool.

Putting the pumice into the stove.  The adobe brick heat chamber is on the right.

More information can be found at:

http://www.onilstove.com/default.htm

Here is a great video that shows one of the villages that we work in...and installed stoves last summer.  It is a village built on the side of the lake, and it is a workout to just climb up through the village.  It also shows information about weaving, making tortillas, and the ONIL stoves.

Play it Forward Golf Tournament

Save the Date!

Play it Forward 

Golf Tournament

to benefit Nuestros Niños Non-Profit

When:  June 4th, 12pm check-in/lunch, 1pm tee time

Where: Three Ridges Golf Course

Who:  Teams or Individuals

Cost: $250 per team or $65 per individual

Let us know if you would like to participate (team or individual) and

“Save the Date” - by Friday, February 11^th

(More information & registration form to follow in early March.)

Door Prizes, Lunch, Shirt Provided

More Students Wishing to Receive the Gift of Education

Student #1746
Name: Antonio
Status: Needs Sponsor
School Level: Elementary School
Sponsorship Fee: $180

Antonio is 9yrs old. He is in second grade in 2011.
Antonio lives in a small village in Santiago.
He lives with his father, Diego. 33yrs old and his mother, Concepion 23yrs old.
Antonio has two brothers and one sister.
They are:
Jose Carlos (student #1322) was born July 5, 2000.  He passed 2nd grade and will be in 3rd grade in 2011.
Ana is 3yrs old.
Nicolas is 9 months old.

The father works breaking rocks in Santiago Atitlan.
He earns $4 US per day.
The mother stays at home looking after the children.
In early 2010, Jose Carlos had an accident.  They were cooking over a fire and the oil caught on fire and badly burned Jose Carlos.on his neck and shoulder.
They took him to the hospital but he then developed an infection.
Mayan Families supplied him with medical care and medication.
They own the house they live in.
It is made of cement block.
It has one room and a kitchen.
They are cooking over a wood burning stove.
They do not have an onil stove.
They have a water filter.
They have a pila.
They have electricity and pay $8 US per month.
They have water connected and pay a quota when the villages asks for it.
They  have two beds for them all.
They have three chairs and one bed.
They  have a closet.
They do not have sufficient food , They need more medication and medical care for Jose.

Student #1772
Name: Francisca
Status: Needs Sponsor
School Level: High School
Sponsorship Fee: $480

Francisca (b. 4-Jan-1987).  She will be in 11th grade in 2011.  She is studying high school and will have a technical degree in computers when she graduates.
She lives in Santiago Atitlan.
She lives with her family: her father, Cruz (b. 1945), and her mother, Maria (b. 1950).
Cruz is a farmer on other peoples' land, earning $3/day.  He never went to school, and doesn't know how to read and write.  Maria makes a traditional dish of small minnow-fish or crabs that she fishes out of the lake, wrapped in a leaf with a tomato sauce.  She steams the dish, and travels to Panajachel to sell this popular dish on the streets.  She makes about $3/day from her sales.  The cyanobacteria outbreak of 2009, has affected her ability to get fish out of the lake, and been detrimental to her sales.  She also did not go to school and does not know how to read or write. 
Francisca has two brothers and three sisters:
Dolores (b. 4-Feb-1972) is married and has two children. She was only able to study until 3rd grade.
Nicolas (b. 11-Apr-1975) is married and has two children.   He only studied until 2nd grade.
Gaspar (b. 11-Aug-1978) is married and has three children.  He never went to school.
Elena (b. 12-Apr-1984) is married and has one child.  She dropped out of school after 3rd grade.
Dora Concepcion (student # 1516) was born on May 17th, 1990. She will be in 10 grade in 2011.
The family owns a piece of land on the river that was lost in Storm Agatha in 2010.  However on the land where they live, they were secure during the storm.  They had hoped to be able to sell this land to pay for Dora's schooling, but now this land is in the river bed.
The family had already put the title of the land where they are now living in the name of their daughter, Dolores.  Dolores, her husband, and family live together with the rest of Dora's family on this land.
They have 2 rooms, made of stone, with a tin roof, and a cement floor. 
In one room, Dora, Francisca, and Dora's parents live.
In the other room, Dora's sister Dolores, and her husband and children live.
They all share a kitchen.
They have a traditional fire stove, but they would like an onil stove to save firewood.
They do not have a water filter.
They have a pila.
They have electricity connected, and pay $15/mo.
They have water connected, and pay $3/mo.
They pay for trash collection .50/mo.
They have 2 chairs.
They have one table.
They do not have any closets, so they store their clothes in cardboard boxes.
They have 3 beds, but they do not have any mattresses.
They do not have enough blankets.
Dora embroiders on traditional blouses to help the family with food expenses. She can do the embroidery in about 3-8 weeks, and her mother goes out and sells them for about $20 for one blouse.