MAYAN FAMILIES

Marcos is studying computer engineering at the university on weekends.
He works at Mayan Families during the week.

Maria and her mother

Talking to Irma and her mother

Irma and her family

Ester and her family (sponsored by Garrett and Bayra)

Nicolasa just received her report card from school. She is doing very well.

Nicolasa and her mother, Ninette (sponsored by Genevieve and Scott)

Here in Panajachel, we were able to meet all the students we sponsor through Mayan Families, including the two that are sponsored by Genevieve and Scott and Garrett and Bayra. It was such fun to actually hug them and talk to them. All of them were with their mothers, and we met a few siblings, as well. I especially loved talking with the mothers. A mother's heart is the same all over the world. They want the best for their children, and here in this area, it is impossible for many of the indigenous families to send their children to school. Young girls are particularly vulnerable, since they are the ones required to stay home and tend younger siblings when parents need to work. The illiteracy rate is very high in Guatemala. The welfare of girls and women across the globe is an issue dear to my heart, and our family is very glad to have this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these few students and families. Over and over, the mothers hugged me and expressed their gratitude that their children are able to go to school. They know it's important. Mayan Families makes it possible.

Please take a minute and check out the website at http://www.mayanfamilies.org/. They have some great programs and it costs so little to make a huge difference in the lives of the families here. We talked at length with the director, Dwight Poage (Sharon, his wife, is currently out of the country, though she is usually the one running things here) and were very impressed with what they have accomplished in the 3-4 years they have been in operation here in the Lake Atitlan area. Mayan Families sprang into existence after Hurricane Stan obliterated many homes and businesses here in October 2005. Genevieve's sponsored family has been in temporary housing since the hurricane, but the mother told me that their house should be ready to inhabit in the next month or so, which was welcome news.

I am not sure how the pictures will post (the layout of our posts is always a bit of a surprise and I still haven't learned how to move things around very well) but here are pictures of us meeting

Marcos, Irma, Maria, Ester, and Nicolasa. Please consider sponsoring a student of your own, or contribute to one of the other important programs of Mayan Families. I promise you will love the experience.