A bittersweet celebration - Carlos Herrera Family

Tuesday we celebrated the home of Carlos Herrera.  You can see an intro video to the family here. Carlos was blinded 10 years ago while working on the roof at their church.  He fell, damaged his optical nerve and was never able to see again.  When we met them we knew immediately that they were a candidate for a home - it was in terrible condition.  

We began construction on the home 5 weeks ago.  During the last week of construction when I was visiting a few times Carlos was in bed.  They had told me he had a bad cold and was feeling terrible.  No one was aware what was also happening at the same time.   Carlos had always been a diabetic.  He had a sore on his leg that had become severely infected.  The last day of construction I visited and he had been taken to the hospital where they had decided to amputate his leg, but complications with his diabetes delayed the surgery.  Then last Wednesday they performed the surgery and Thursday afternoon sent him home. (I know what you are thinking, I thought it too) He arrived home at 4, knowing he was not doing well he said goodbye to his family and grandchildren and around 8pm he died. 

As we met with the family this past Tuesday we thanked God for the blessing of a new home and we talked about how we believe that God has purpose in everything.  Even when we can’t make any sense of it. This is certainly one of those examples… A loving father, blinded while giving his time to the church.  Plunged into greater poverty with no way to earn a living and then dying of a preventable complication…  

 Jose has been working for a cabinet maker for 8 years. He told me his only wish is that he had the tools to work at home, his mother who had been caring for his father for the past 10 years is suddenly alone during the days while he is at work and Carla is at school. Pray for Ricarda - 59 (wife and mother), Carla - 15, Jose - 19 as they move forward without Carlos.

April Stove Project

You may have seen the stoves on our website.  In the past from time to time we would receive a donation to build a stove for a family.  It’s common for families here to do their cooking on an open fire and many times right inside the living area. Obviously this creates a dangerous situation, more so from a health perspective.  Imagine having a newborn strapped to your back, standing in front of an open fire in an enclosed area making tortillas for a few hours a day.  Talk about second hand smoke…  It really is as bad as it sounds. 

Long story short, about 6 months ago we decided to purchase a few pre-fabricated stoves (a modified rocket stove) from an organization (Helps International) that has manufactured thousands of highly efficient wood burning stoves here in Guatemala.  We found we were able to install a better product at about half the price!  Since then we have purchased and installed around 20 stoves.  In April we received funds for 25 more stoves.  We’re in the process of installing them now. 

The impact these stoves are having is incredible

1. We’re removing all smoke from the home
2. We’re reducing firewood consumption by over 50%! It’s not un common for many ladies here to spend a few hours a day hiking up the mountain to cut firewood with a machete.
3. We’re reducing the risks of burns to children

We want to say thank you to the sponsors that worked and gave to make these stoves possible.

• A couple from Word Fellowship Church in Stratford, NJ have been working for several months to raise funds for stoves.  This month WFC sent funds for 18 stoves! 
• Just two weeks ago a team from Church For The Beach in Indian Harbor Beach, FL was visiting with us.  They were so moved by the impact of the stoves they sent funds last week for 5 stoves.
• A friend of the ministry was telling his co-workers at British airline about the impact of these stoves and they raised funds to install one this month.  Thanks Daniel!