Meet our families – Page 16 – Hábitat para la Humanidad Guatemala

Emiliana García – Twin Cities – Noah Keller

20 March, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Emiliana is a single mother living with her six children, Ana (24), María (21), Verónica (20), Joselyn (18), David (16), Vilma (13), and her grandchildren Nelson (2), in their new Habitat home in San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. Emiliana works as a housekeeper, and also sells fresh cow milk around town every morning.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to build her home, Emiliana and her family lived in an adobe house for 23 years; it was in poor conditions. “All of us shared only one room, we all slept together, the ceiling leaked when it rained and we suffered from colds.” Emiliana learned about Habitat through her employer, who also has a Habitat house. After doing some research and speaking with all of her children, they decided to invest in a better future together.

When asked how she feels with her new home, Emiliana smiles and responds, “I feel happy! Very very happy, in my Habitat home! It is all I wanted; a safe and comfortable space to sleep and to rest in peace. Everyone has their own bed, their own space.” She continues, “Thanks to Habitat for their support and for helping me fulfill this dream.” What Emiliana and her children enjoy most about being at home is, “… being able to rest, being able to feel at peace.”

Regarding the week of construction shared with the volunteers, Emiliana shares, “They are hard workers! We advanced a lot with the construction process because of their help. We shared a lot of laughs and happy memories too.”

She finishes by sharing a message to the volunteers, “Receive all our love and greetings! Thank you for your support. May God bless you.”

Viviana Monterroso – HFH Memphis – Cameron Sanford

20 March, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Vivian and her son, Ismar (5) are the proud owners of a new Habitat home in San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. Vivian works as a teacher at the public town school, and Ismar is in first grade.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, the family used to live with Vivian’s parents. “I was living with my parents, and then I decided to build this house, to have a better future for my son, Ismar,” says Vivian. She learned about Habitat Guatemala’s programs through her parents, who are also owners of a Habitat home.

When asked how she feels with their new home, Vivian answers, “I feel very happy, content to have a place to live in the future with Ismar. A space just for the two of us.” In the future Vivian would like to add tiles to the floor, recessed ceiling and paint the walls of the house.

When asked about the time shared with the volunteers, Mausebio, Vivian’s father, recalls, “We felt happy to welcome them and work together.”

They finished by sharing a message to the volunteers, “Thank you all for your support. We will always carry you in our hearts. Feel welcome to come and visit us whenever you come back. May God bless you.” Vivian adds: “May God bless you all, thank you!”

Ronald Aguilar – Maumee Valley HFH – Willie Nemeth

19 March, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Ronald, his wife, Jazmín, and their two children, Ronald (4), and Liam (4 months), are now living in their new Habitat home in San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. Ronald works as a security guard, while María takes care of the household chores and raises their children.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, Ronald mentions that they used to live in a house that belonged to his mother, “All this land belongs to my parents, so when they distributed it we received the plot of land where we built the new house.” He continues, “This was one of the main reasons that we built our own home. The other house was given to my sister, and we had no place to live.” Ronald explains that they learned about Habitat Guatemala’s programs through one of his siblings. After doing some research, they decided it was time to invest in a space of their own.

When asked how they feel with their new home, Ronald smiles and answers, “We feel at peace! we love it here. It’s very calm. We can do whatever we want here, in our own space. Ronald can play safe and happy!”

Ronald explains that what they enjoy most as a family is, “… playing with my boys! Because of my work I am often not at home. So, when I come back, we enjoy our time together.” He continues, “Our life has changed on many levels. For example, at the old house, we did not have running water. Ronald constantly got sick because it was too cold. Now, it is completely different! We have running water, the house is comfortable and Ronald is not getting sick anymore. As I mentioned before, we feel at peace.”

When asked about the time shared with the volunteers the family recalls, “They were really kind! All of them formed a great connection with my family, especially my mom. They all played with Ronald, too!”

He finished by sharing a message to the volunteers, “Thank you all for your support! We are grateful for you and your visit. We are looking forward to seeing you in the future. Please feel welcome to come visit! You came in the moment when we needed it the most. We urgently needed to finish our home, and you made it possible.”

Saulo Alonzo – Bryan College – Jane Sherman

19 March, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Saulo (32), his wife, Rocío (28), and their two girls, Alisson (6), and Gabriela (2), are now living in their new Habitat home in San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. Saulo works as a credit advisor and Mirna works in a pharmacy.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, the family used to live in Saulo’s parents house: one small room for the four of them. “It was hard to decide to start building our house. I had plans to migrate to the United States to work. Then, I was given a job here and we could afford this piece of land. So, my wife and I decided to build, whiel our girls are still little,” explains Saulo.

The family found out about the opportunity through one of Habitat Guatemala’s promoters, “I have known Santos for a while now. He talked to me about the programs and requirements. That is why we decided to jump into this adventure!” shares Saulo.

When asked how they feel with their new home, Saulo answers, “We feel happy! We are in a nicer environment, we are comfortable. Everyone has their own space; we also have the opportunity to harvest here.”

In the future, the family is planning to add ceramic floor and doors to each room. What they enjoy the most as a family in their new home is, “We play with the girls and as a family we like to exercise! So on the weekends, we play inside, play in the backyard and also go for long walks,” mentions Saulo.

“As a family our lives have changed a lot, now that we are living in our home. Our prime motivation are our daughters.”

When asked about the time shared with the volunteers Saulo recalls, “They worked really hard! It was a great experience. They came here solely to help us, without asking for anything in return,” he continues, “as a family, we would like to follow your example in the future.”

“We are very grateful to each one of you. We send our greetings! We hope that you will continue supporting and helping other people. May God bless you.”

Kevin Castillo – Johnson High School – Leslie Helman

19 March, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Kevin (27), his wife Maribel, (23), and their two girls, Scarlett (1), and Ashley (7), are the happy owners of a new Habitat home in San Juan, Quetzaltenango. Kevin works as a truck driver while Maribel takes care of the children and house chores.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, Kevin mentions that they lived for six years at his parent’s house, sharing only one room. “We found out about Habitat programs through an aunt who built a house with Habitat. Also, my grandparents have a Habitat home.” He continues, “that is why we decided to build with Habitat, to continue the family tradition, and also because my father gifted us with a piece of land to build.”

When asked how they feel with their new home, Kevin answers, “I feel content, because we know that we are paying for something that belongs to us. In the future we are planning to add a second story.” Maribel adds; “I feel happy because I have my own space, I can do what I want here. I enjoy every single part of it!” What the family enjoys the most in their new home is being able to play with their daughters, in their own space.

About the time spent with the volunteers the family recalls, “We had a fun week! The volunteers worked really hard – everyone of them.” They finish by sending a message: “Thank you all for your support! We will always cherish the memories shared. We will have you in our heart forever.”

Gabriel Mazariegos – GuaBuildja – Marijee Minderop

17 March, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Gabriel (24) and his fiancé, Adayansi Reyes (20), are the happy owners of a new Habitat home in San Juan, Quetzaltenango. Gabriel works as a tuc tuc driver and Adayansi owns a beauty salon. The couple is planning on getting married soon!

“We found out about Habitat programs through my dad, he told me: “son, build your house before you get married, so you can have your own space and no one will bother you; And so we did.” – Gabriel. That is why this young couple, partnered with Habitat Guatemala to build their home and start their own family; to have a space to call their own.

“My biggest wish is to keep our families united; to maintain a relationship with my parents and with Adayansi’s parents, because family is important,” he continues, “I am grateful to my father and father–in-law. They both have helped us a lot. My father gave us the land, and my father-in-law, who is a mason, helped us place the floor and the ceiling,” Gabriel mentions.

When asked how they feel about their new home, Gabriel answers, “To be honest, I feel a little nervous, but exited to start this new journey with my fiancé,” he continues, “We feel joyful. Since the beginning of the process until it was finished and ready to move. We feel very happy!” Adayansi adds, “I feel grateful to have made our dream a reality. Thanks to Habitat for their support,” she continues, “I say to Gabriel that we are going to start from zero, just the two of us, and it makes me happy, to think of planning our family.”

In the future, the family is planning to add a garden in the front yard due to Adayansi’s love for plants and flowers, fence around the house and plant a lemon tree as the same as they have in Gabriel’s parents’ home. And of course, in a couple of years, a big family, with children running all around the house! “One of my biggest dreams is to marry Adaynasi and have children with her, because I would love to watch them grow here!”

Regarding the time that the family spent with the volunteers, both Adayansi and Gabriel recall, “It was a good experience, because I had not had the chance to meet people from another country. They were very kind, full of joy and hard workers! Our house was built faster thanks to them.” Adayansi adds, “They are willing to help others without getting anything in return. In just a week, we felt like family among them.”

They conclude their story by sending a message to the volunteers: “Thank you all for your support! I am very grateful to all. May God bless you. We may not get to see you again soon, but we will always remember you.” Gabriel adds, “From the bottom of my heart thank you! As we say in Guatemala, they were ¡Buena onda! (cool people). We look forward to seeing you soon. We now have these memories to cherish and tell our children in the future; that their home was built by people from the Netherlands, Dank u wel.”

Angélina García – GuaBuildja – Marijee Minderop

17 March, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Angelina, her mother Enriqueta (92), and her children, Juan Carlos (11), Rudy (17), Ana María and her grandson Gudiel (2), are now living in their new Habitat home in San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. Angelina is a single mother and she works as a janitor in the municipality.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala, Angelina mentions that they used to live in a Habitat house, built by her mother Enriqueta, over 20 years ago. “We needed more space, and that is why I decided to build a new home so that each of us has our own space,” says Angelina.

When asked how they feel with their new home, Angelina smiles and answers, “We feel happy to have a prettier and bigger house now. Everyone has their own bed and I have my own kitchen!” Angelina is planning to paint the house “bright orange” in the future.

When asked about the time shared with the volunteers, the family recalls, “It was a fun week! all of them were hard workers. We are grateful to them for their support,” she continues, “Thank you. May God bless you!”

Simona Atz – Thrivent Builds – Fred Ebbesen

28 January, 2020/in Meet our families /by profiles

Doña Simona lives with her husband Agapito, in a small community in the department of Chimaltenango. Simona takes care of the home, while Agapito works in the field.

Before partnering up with Habitat Guatemala to receive a Smokeless Stove, Simona used to cook over an open flame on the floor called “pollo”. “With the old stove, we consumed much wood and it was uncomfortable,” says Agapito. It caused her and Juan different respiratory diseases and red eyes because of the smoke.

Simón feels really happy with her new stove; “I feel happy. I only have to worry about flipping my tortillas now, I used to burn my hands a lot before, now I don’t burn myself anymore,” she continues, “We save wood too! We do not need to buy it so often, and the smoke stays outside.”

About the day of construction, Agapito recalls; “We had a good time with all of them.” They finish by sharing a message to the volunteers: “First I want to thank God, and then to all of the volunteers that supported us. We are very grateful, not everyone just comes and give you this kind of gifts, thank you!” – Agapito.