This past week I had the opportunity to go to a squatter camp with some of our missionaries and a group that was here. Our missionaries have connections with a church/pastor who lives and works up there. Working through the church we were given a few projects and, working with the locals, we helped improve three houses up there. I got to help the house pictured above. As you can kinda see, the house doesnt have a front wall, so we dug a hole and helped to build a block wall in front of their house. I think the projects were really good because the people were willing to help us as well and it wasnt us fixing their problems. it was us coming behind them to help them get it done faster. I really hope to be able to work up there with them more before i leave.
We can see the village in our backyard. its crazy how close to home it is and yet how different they live. i was told that about 50% of guatemalans are living in chronic malnourishment and it is the 4th highest in malnourishment in the world...even more so than Haiti...When i was told this, I couldnt believe it. How is it that I am living in a country so beautiful, yet filled with such poverty, such despair...
The little boy in the picture is Paco, or Franko, he went by both names. He was the youngest of the kids living in the house i worked on, and he was such a precious boy. I got to play with him and i think it was the highlight of my time up there. He was a boy with very little material things, but the happiness i saw in him, i will not forget...
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