Even though this is my fourth time in Guatemala, I have never experienced the amount of joy I saw in five children I met today. My group was given the opportunity to take a family consisting of a single mother, three boys, and two girls on a shopping trip for basic necessities. All of the children had smiles painted on their faces from the minute met them to the minute we drove off. 

We took the family to a mall that has been in the city for many years, later to find out that they had never been before. We helped them select shoes, undergarments, toys, and even followed the afternoon with ice cream sundaes. It was amazing for me to see that these children did not have basic necessities that are even cheaper than what we purchase them for. I found out later that the family previously had been working to scrounge up 20Q, which is less than three dollars, to find a school dress for the youngest girl.

After the shopping trip we got the opportunity to go into their home. Living in a tiny box, the mother that struggles to find work has to manage to feed her kids on about three dollars a day. It was shocking to see how little they had, but how they managed to keep positive attitudes throughout their daily lives. I am thankful for the opportunity to share joy and love throughout this community. 

-Noelle

Today my team had the chance to lay the foundation of a new house for a family in Guatemala. I have done this task 3 times before on my last trip here however, each time I do anything here there is always many new faces and stories. As we began to work we were told a little about the family that would soon call the new house home. The family consisted of a young mother and her son. The child’s father left the family and his mother makes and sells tortillas so she can provide her child with an education. When the house is built this family can live in a safe and clean new house and the mother can continue to provide her son with the education he deserves. I am very happy to have had a chance to impact this family’s life for the better and I am excited to see what other amazing things our team will do throughout the week.

-Ryan Enoki