Enough Done for A Guatemalan Family

For some families in developed countries it is never enough. There are never enough closets, or items to put in them. Or garages, with enough cars parked inside. Or acres, with nothing on them but the ability to claim them as property. In a culture seeped in ownership of things, ironically, there is lacking. Lacking of enough, of a feeling of fulfillment, of being just right.

Manuel's daughter, in former home shared with relatives
Manuel’s daughter, in former home shared with relative.

We don’t encounter this problem very often in “Finding Freedom land”. Indeed, we rarely feel like we can budget for the complete set of items needed to furnish the very rudimentary households we build. If we are able to fund two beds, a table and four chairs, pots, pans and a stove, we celebrate right along with the family who received the donations.

But for one family in particular, we now feel like we have done enough.

Manuel, in hospital 2015
Manuel, in hospital 2015

When Manuel’s family was first referred to us, he had just fallen off of a train, and had suffered traumatic amputation of his right leg and arm. You may have read about them in a former post: (Read here). His wife and family lost their home to the coyote fee, and the family was homeless and hopeless. Due to the urgency of this particular situation, FFF stepped in with a donation of land, a new house, medical care and food donations. The family went from the abyss of depravity to the pride and hope that accompanies home ownership within a year, thanks to a generous FFF donor.

Manuel and his wife now have school sponsorship for both of their children. Their 19 yr old is working and contributing to the family income. Manuel enlisted the help of neighbors to add onto the house we built his family and the family was able to purchase 100 baby chickens as a micro business. The well-being of this family has changed so dramatically that we are doing something we have rarely had the privilege of doing; we are stepping back and allowing this family to do exactly what they are good at: surviving and making something be just enough.

In new kitchen of donated house.
In new kitchen of donated house.

The rocket speed projectory of this FFF sponsored family’s success lies in our mutual partnership, Findng Freedom donations of land and housing, and in their determination to utilize the gifts we gave them to the fullest extent possible in order to improve their children’s future. Finding Freedom will continue school sponsorship for the children, so that Sandra and Aldelso can take the family trait of determination, mix it with education and continue to enjoy well-being. The benefits of our time together felt just right…a hand up, a relationship built, a future more secured. It was perfect. It was enough.