Marina and her husband, Cruz, live with their five grandchildren, Kevin (15), Jessica (12), Jayro (11) and three-year old twins Keylor (3) and Lady (3), in the community of Cerro Alto, in San Juan Sacatepéquez.   

On a daily basis, Doña Marina and Don Cruz work very hard to generate income in order to feed their family. They adopted their five grandchildren when their mother passed away. Keylor, who was born with a visual disability, requires additional care and attention.    

 The Top family home, similar to those in the area, was built in a high-risk area, with small rooms made from corrugated metal sheets and dirt floor, causing several health issues and hazards for the children. 

Thanks to the support of Byran/College Station HFH, Habitat Guatemala was able to build a new house, in order to provide Keylor and his siblings with a healthier environment. When asked how they feel about their new home, Marina responded: “We are grateful and happy my grandchildren can grow in a safe environment.”  

She sends a message for the donors: “Thank you all for caring about my family. There are not much people in this world that will help you to build a house like this one. May God bless you!”  

Claudia (43) welcomes us with a smile in her well-kept house on the outskirts of Retalhuleu . She is single and has no children of her own. As a primary school teacher, she guides many children who are on their way to adulthood. 

“In the morning I work in the elementary school, and in the afternoon I work in an office as an accountant. I am very satisfied and also proud that I have my own house. Before, I lived with my parents. Now I have my own home” – she says contentedly, while alternately petting Lassi and Chispa, her two adopted dogs.” 

She heard from friends a few years ago about Habitat for Humanity Guatemala and the possibility of paying to build a home in installments . She then contacted our offices in Retalhuleu.  

Within 7 months, she was the proud owner of a Habitat home! “It was a wonderful experience weeks with the volunteers. We had a lot of shared experiences, learning about each other’s cultures. They helped us a lot, gave a lot of strength and effort. Thank you for this experience and help! Now I have my own house!” – Claudia Alvarado.

Since she works a lot, she is happy to be able to relax in a pleasant environment in her sparse free time. 

“The material used is of the highest quality! And with the support of the volunteers, we were then able to build the house very quickly. I hope to be able to get in touch with them again. You are always welcome!” – Claudia tells us.  

Daniel, her wife Marta, and Cruz, their three-year-old child are living in Cerro de Oro, Santiago Atitlán. Daniel works in the fields nearby, while Marta stays at home with Cruz. When Cruz was born, they discovered that he had Cerebral Palsy, so they worked hard to cover his needs and provide him with proper care. 

Cruz has attended ADISA’s therapies twice a week for over a year and a half now, and they have noticed some big improvements: “Now he can stand and walk on his own, he is also starting to speak,” mentions Marta. “We want Cruz to have a normal life, first of all, trusting in God. We want him to be the same as others, that is why we are supporting him. In the future, I hope that Cruz can continue studying to be a professional and also to support children like him”.  

With regards to their old house, the family was living in a small room that was in poor condition. The family’s kitchen was built out of corrugated metal sheets, and the stove was in poor condition; these circumstances caused the family to suffer from respiratory diseases too. 

Thanks to the support of ADISA, Habitat Guatemala has built a new house for the Gómez family! And Marta shares with how they feel: “It has been of great improvement for our family. Now, the smoke no longer stays inside, we have our own bathroom and specially a safe, clean space for Cruz to play inside and continue improving. Now, he walks more and plays a lot, without any dirt!” 

The family shares a message for the donors: “We are very happy with our house. We thank everyone who has supported us. May God bless you and your families. When Cruz grows up, we will explain everything that you have done for us.”