I love this photo taken years ago of my youngest child. The word “joy” comes to mind when you see it; unadulterated childhood pleasure while playing with new puppies. An all-American scene of a treasured child who has the freedom to abandon herself to an afternoon of playtime. Guatemalan cousins Sebastian and Pedro lost…
Jennifer with Manuel’s manager and owners. When Jennifer McNevin in Austin decided to dream big, and raise $10,000 for our organization, she already possessed a passion for changing the lives of our FFF clients. As my sister, she had listened to my stories of the women we assist. When our brother Mike (our vice president)…
Ana, being interviewed by AAV Staff member, 2011 In 2011, when Finding Freedom through Friendship first accepted Ana into our program, we needed to know more about her in order to help her with her most acute needs. How much schooling did she have? What was her upbringing like? What skills did she have that…
I pride myself in my photography, especially when I am in Guatemala,a country rich in visually compelling photographic moments, but this little boy’s face, photographed last week while interviewing his mother, has been left intentionally blurry. His mother can’t be indentified by the viewer, which is what I intended. I need to be able to…
If I lived in the circumstances that our Finding Freedom through Friendship families endure, I have to question whether I would have the emotional capacity to find joy in the holiday season. How many prayers from the women we help have remained unanswered? What endless empty promises from local Guatemalan governments that insist they will improve the…
Maria (center) and 4 of her 5 children, with monthly food donation. As the holiday season approaches, I’ve found my ears perking up when a moment of inspiration is spoken on the radio, or by an acquaintance. I heard the perfect phrase for the holiday season:Don’t focus on what you don’t have, but instead, on…