What Will You Do?

  As 2010 ends and 2011 begins, it's a good time to ask ourselves what we can do to make a difference in the life of someone else.  Once way would be to sponsor a child so that they may attend school and have a nourishing meal.   

Did you know that
Guatemala has the fourth highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world and the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

Approximately 75% of Guatemalans live below the poverty level, which is defined as an income that is not sufficient to purchase a basic basket of goods and basic services.

Approximately 58% of the population have incomes below the extreme poverty line, which is defined as the amount needed to purchase a basic basket of food.

Approximately 50% of Guatemalan children under the age of 5 now suffer from chronic under-nutrition.

In the nation's highlands, where many indigenous people live, 70% of children under age 5 are malnourished.

Only primary school is required by law, so most children do not study past the 6th grade.

The average number of school grades completed for adults is just 4 years... ranked number 88 out of 100 countries. 

Jacqueline, Jefri, Maura, and Reily are waiting for sponsors. Will you make a difference in a life today?

 http://www.hishandsforguatemala.org

The Guatemala team is back home in Maine and Utah! The trip went extremely well with 8 stoves being built (more than we expected) the additional classroom completed (again, with more done than the original planned), all the children in the program updated and 25 new children added in El Membrillal as well as in San Lucas, where a new school will be starting up in January.

 



Part of the team worked with the school children doing crafts, which was fun for all involved.




  




The sponsorship team went out to the homes of new children to gather information which includes measuring the children. This child will be attending the new school in San Lucas.

  The stoves are a big blessing for the families who receive them.  They have been cooking on open fires, sometimes inside their homes which causes many health problems.  The new stoves allow a better cooking area on top and have a stove pipe to ventilate the smoke.

 
 
The classroom was build next to the existing building and made out of materials so that when the school is able have a build it's own  land, it can be dismantled and rebuilt. 







Joel & Janna were able to perform 5 time: at a youth meeting on Friday, church on Sunday, 2 schools on Tues & Wed, and at another church Wed night. They were a blessing to all who heard them.






We are thankful for all God prepared for us and allowed us to accomplish.
Thank you for your prayers.

Tables and Desks Needed

We will be going to Guatemala in just 26 days, leaving on Sept 2! We'll be taking a team of 26 people to visit our partner in Guatemala, Pastor Merari Rodriguez, and his wife, Lucky.

As previously noted, we will be working on some construction projects as well as child sponsorship.  Generous donations have made it possible for 6 stoves to be built plus another classroom!

Pastor Merari and Lucky have also asked for financial assistance so they can purchase tables and desks for the school in Membrillal as well as the new school they'd like to start in San Lucas.

If you are interested in helping with this need please send an e-mail to info@hishandsforguatemala.org or to jamied@hishandsforguatemala.org.

Please feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested.  Thank you!

Goals for the Next Trip

We are excited about our upcoming trip which is just over 2 months away!   As mentioned in the last post,  Joel and Janna will be joining us.  Because we have over 25 team members going, we expect to accomplish multiple projects.  In addition to updating and adding children for the sponsorship program in El Membrillal, some of the team will be working on constructing a new classroom at the school, while others help build cooking stoves for families in need.

Many homes have open fires to cook on inside their homes.  This of course leads to respiratory and eye problems. The cost of each new stove is $150.  The team is raising money for this project and well as for the classroom construction (estimated to cost about $1,000).

If you or your church, youth group, Sunday School, office, family, etc. would like to donate toward these projects, please go to His Hands for Guatemala or visit us at His Hands Support Ministries

This photo shows you an example of an indoor cook stove - cooking on hot coals.

Some of these stoves in El Membrillal and Magdalena have already been replaced, but other families are in need.



Below is an example of a new stove.  This makes life so much easier and is much healthful than the open fires.

There have been many improvements on the building where the school meets since we were there in December.

 

In December

After painting  (no matter what I do, I can't get this photo to rotate!!!)

                              Some very happy school children at recess!!

Please pray for this trip and for the projects. Donations of any size are appreciated.

Jamie D.

Lots of News!

His Hands Support Ministries is thrilled to announce that Joel & Janna will be joining us on our upcoming His Hands for Guatemala team trip September 2 - 9! They will be doing youth concerts in conjunction with one of our Guatemalan partners, Tono Rodriguez, and his band, Tiempo Progresivo, as well as helping with our child sponsorship and construction projects....... We are looking forward to the good works God has planned for this team!

Also, all of the children have been sponsored or are pending.  That is wonderful news!!  But, we are still looking for sponsors for 2 teachers/staff.  This would be a great outreach for a church group or a business. Please pass on the information to others so we might find the needed sponsors. Thanks! You can see more information at http://hishandsforguatemala.org/sponsor_a_teacher.asp 

To give you a little view of Guatemala, I have included a few photos . 

Hope you enjoyed them!

Jamie D.

Our new website!

Our new website is up and running! You can find it at www.hishandsforguatemala.org! Please go there and check it out! There are still children and teachers who are waiting for sponsorship.

Won’t you consider sponsoring a child in Guatemala today? Or a teacher?

Thanks everyone!
Jamie

(below) Photo of Noemi D. – the first grade teacher – still waiting for a sponsor

New Year's update!

We have found sponsors for 15 children in the His Hands for Guatemala Child Sponsorship Program - 9 girls and 6 boys!! There are just 4 boys still waiting to be chosen! Here's a little bit about each one -

Byron L. - age 6 - lives with parents, 3 brothers and 1 sister.

Marvin M. - age 9 - lives with parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Brother Nery also waiting for a sponsor.

Nery M. - age 4 - lives with parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Brother Marvin also waiting for a sponsor.

Jose P. - age 6 - lives with parents, 3 brothers and 4 sisters.

We're also still looking for sponsorship for 3 teachers/staff members. The sponsorship fee for each of them is $175/month so this would be a great project for a church or a business. Sponsorship donations are tax deductible and we do issue receipts!

Would you consider sponsoring a Guatemalan child today? Would you help us spread the word about these children and the teachers? We need to find sponsors soon so they can start school at the end of this month!

So sponsor a child in Guatemala today :-)

Thank you so much!

Jamie