Maria Ruthilia along with her husband Marvin Danilo and their three children, Marvin (14), Vivian (10) and Axel (2) live in a small community in Chimaltenango. Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive a smokeless stove, Maria used to cook over an open flame “pollo”. The smoke affected her and “whenever it rained, the fire was hard to maintain, especially when there was wind.” “Now it doesn’t matter if it rains, the fire is in one place and it’s protected.” “We also use very little wood now.”

Her favorite thing to cook with the new stove is frijoles, “because it’s what we eat the most,” she says, “I can make 3 or 4 things at once and still have room to make my coffee or atol (a hot traditional drink).”

To the volunteers that helped to construct her stove, Maria Ruthilia sends this message, “honestly I will never forget them because I am so grateful. They came to build and I feel like I have won something. Thanks to God we are doing well now.”

Maino Gálvez, his wife Sandra and daughters Dulce (24) y Sabrina (26) live in El Tejar, Chimaltenango. Sandra is a homemaker and Maino is a mechanic. Their eldest daughter, Dulce recently started a ministry “Changing the Generations” along with her husband. Their second daughter, Sabrina is a worship leader at the church. She writes, sings and plays both the piano and guitar.

Before living in their current house, they lived about one mile away. “We wanted more space for our family,” Sandra says. In their old house there wasn’t enough room for the family and with two adult children, they knew their daughters also needed space. “This house is a great joy and great blessing. We prayed a lot for a house and thanks to God now we have it.”

They’re especially grateful to the volunteers who came to build the house and they remember the group very well!

It’s the outside space of their house that has become a favorite for Maino and Sandra and they are especially grateful for the space they now have for a garden. Plants and flowers fill the front entrance to the home, and they hope to add more in the future. To the group who came to help them build they send thanks and gratitude for the change in their lives to now have their own home.

Maria Flora and her family of six live in the village of Xesuj San Martin. She and her husband Wilson have two sons, Pedro Antonio and Carlos Alexander. Wilson’s mother, Ellie and brother, Romeo also live with the family. Almost one year ago, they moved into their current house and shortly after, received a smokeless stove, which they built together with a small group of volunteers.

The kindness of these volunteers is what Maria Flora remembers most and she says she has never forgotten them. When we asked what the greatest difference the stove had made in her life, she mentioned the lack of exposure to smoke, saying “the smoke leaves the house very well and I haven’t had any problems (inhaling) it since.” It has changed her daily life because the food cooks a lot sooner.

She used to cook for five or six hours while doing other house chores because they were limited to a single fire. Now she has more of her day to do other things and to spend attentively with her children. Maria Flora expresses how grateful she is for this change and says the volunteers who came made it possible.

In a small community called Las Lomas in Chimaltenango, Doña Blanca lives with her husband  Jose, and their two girls: Naydelin (7) Darlin (10). José works in agriculture, the girls are studying and Blanca is a homemaker.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive her smokeless stove, Blanca used to cook over an open flame stove; causing smoke to be inside her kitchen, irritation in her eyes and respiratory diseases to the girls too.

When asked how she feels with her new stove, Blanca responds: “I feel happy, it is very different now! There is no more smoke inside our kitchen and I can prepare my tortillas while cooking our beans and rice.”

The family have good memories of the time shared with the volunteers, “It has been a big blessing to receive them in our house and spend time together, we had a great day!” says José.

José and Blanca finish by sharing a message to the volunteers: “Thank you all for your big heart and support, may God bless you! Receive our greetings and feel welcome to come back and visit us again.”