Mayan Families Stoves Program News

New Stoves by Families for Guatemala08

Ayuda — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:34:02 +0000

These two women are among the many who have been waiting to get an
onil stove. As you can see their cooking conditions are very
difficult. They were both fortunate to receive a stove yesterday.
Thanks to Families for Guatemala 08!

Heartland South District of United Methodist Women

Ayuda — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:48:02 +0000

This stove was one of others enabled through the Heartland South DIstrict of United Methodist Women.

Thank you Kim.

Below the photos is a message from Kim which provides some interesting background about this project.

I first heard about Mayan Families on another yahoo group when I was waiting for the adoption of our Angi Grace. I took an extra suitcase of clothes on my trip and wrote Sharon who sent someone to pick them up. Of course, I fell in love with the Guatemalan people during the visit trip, last April, and was trying to think of ways to give back already.

When we took Angi Grace to church ( Archie Missouri United Methodist Church ) the first time when we got home, a cool thing happened. One of the church ladies said the group wanted to give me a shower for Angi Grace. I thanked her and said I would rather the ladies not spend the time or the money. I said I would much rather each of them give me a dollar or so to send to Mayan Families. After church another lady named Pat Reed came running down the sidewalk and called out to me as I was putting Angi Grace in the car.

When she got to us, Pat pulled a $100 bill out of her wallet and said she wanted to give this to me for the children where Angi Grace came from. She said it was the strangest thing but her Dad had died 3 years ago. Just a few weeks ago, she was cleaning out his wallet and found $600 in new bills. She told her siblings and they all said they didn’t want the money, for her to choose what to do with it. Pat had given most of it to other good causes and had this $100 in her wallet today and didn’t really know why.

Pat went onto say that she wasn’t planning on going to church that day, but her Dad “came to her” and told her to go, so she did. (This is not odd to me as my Daddy passed 30+ years ago and he still “comes to me”). She sat in the pew behind us and she entertained our year old Angi Grace much of her first church service by making faces and giggling at her. She said while she was in church, her Dad “came to her” again, as clear as day, and told her to give that $100 to me, for “Angi’s People”.

I sent the donation in time for a tamale basket at Christmas. Soon after, Pat asked me if I would speak to the Heartland South District of United Methodist Women about our adoption experience and “Angi’s People” Well, I hate public speaking, truly. However, I really do remember begging God for this little girl. I made lots of promises and God had delivered. So, I accepted knowing I had to get past my fear.

Pat is the Secretary this year for this area group of United Methodist Women. She planned this years district conference around our adoption Angi Grace and the Guatemalan people. The (between 75 and 100) ladies took a love offering for Angi’s people before I spoke. They also prayed for me and I didn’t even cry during my speech, an amazing feat in itself. Another adoptive parent came and spoke about her recent trip, the extreme poverty, and the challenges of the women and children specifically. Anyway, this is where the $757 came from and Sharon thought it best used in 5 stoves, and I agree. The check should be on it’s way.

Pat is feeling the need, as I am, to do more for Guatemala . She is trying to get a local group of younger Methodist Women together to fellowship and do some projects to raise more money. She has asked me to speak at the first gathering and, of course, I said yes. I’ll know more about it in the next month or so.

My husband has also given me a $500 annual budget to sponsor a child. I am waiting for Carmen to come up with a boy around my sons age (11) with a younger sibling that we can (hopefully) help through school and make a positive difference in the lives of a family. It is my hope to organize a mission trip someday too, but that is a long way down the road.

In my speech, I talk about starting this journey for a purely selfish motive. I wanted a daughter and a sister for my son. As I have learned about Guatemala and the wonderful people, it has become so much bigger than that. I want to, need to, find ways to give back. It’s the least I can do to express how grateful I am for my blessed child.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Use any or all of it, however it might help.

El Barranco Says Muchas Gracias

Ayuda — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:43:11 +0000

The womens group of El Barranco made this beautiful gift for us. This gift was in appreciation of having recently installed Onil stoves in their community.

The community of El Barranco is a very rural, agricultural community and this is the first time they have ever received help from outside.

It was a pleasure to install so many stoves in their village, many people had been cooking over open fires on the ground.

Stoves for Many Needy People

Ayuda — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:21:28 +0000

Through your donations and the help of visiting volunteer groups many families have recently received new Onil cooking stoves. Having these stoves means no more crouching over the open fires on the ground. It means not having to worry about one of the little children falling into the fire and it means no more smoke
filling the house. Below are photos of some of the families who have recently received new stoves.

Marta Morales Suy

Sponsored Student 174 Oneida Marily

Stoves From Florence and Her Team

Ayuda — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:24:05 +0000

Florence and her group are very busy putting in stoves. These are some of the families that will be receiving stoves in the agricultural community of El Barranco.
Some of the women are cooking over open fires on the ground, some are cooking over tin drums, others have huge wood burning stoves that take an enormous amount of wood to make them function. You can see the amount of smoke that is in the house when they cook and do not have a stove that removes the smoke. This causes severe respiratory problems for all of the family.
They will all benefit greatly from these energy efficient Onil stoves.

Gladys Receives a New Stove

Ayuda — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:39:33 +0000

The family of sponsored student Gladys has received a new stove.

Stove for Young Mother

Ayuda — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:36:37 +0000

This young mother was cooking on the ground with this makeshift “stove”. She was very grateful to receive an onil energy efficient stove. Thanks to your donations to the Stove Program we are able to give stoves to families like these.

Carlos and Abram Receive a New Stove

Ayuda — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:02:31 +0000

The family of students Carlos 458 and Abram Jacob 459 was thrilled to receive a new stove today. You can see what they have been cooking on and what a major difference this stove will make to their lives. Thank you so much for your donations to the Stove Project.
If you would like to change a family’s life – please make a donation to our Stove Program.

Mike Estuardo and Blanca Receive a Stove

Ayuda — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:34:10 +0000

Students Mike Estuardo 494 and his sister Blanca 493 and their family was so happy to receive this energy efficient Onil stove. You can see the makeshift stove that they were cooking on beforhand. This stove will make a big difference in the life of the this family!

Panajachel Family has a New Stove

Ayuda — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:24:15 +0000

From cooking over a tin drum to having an Onil stove! What a huge difference.

The family of sponsored students Griselda Noemi, Josue, and Evangelina receive a new cooking stove.

New Stove for Maynor #20

Ayuda — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:30:45 +0000

Sponsored student Maynor #20 and his family were very happy to receive this gift of a fuel efficient Onil stove from his sponsor.

Reina and Her Family Get a New Stove

Ayuda — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:23:33 +0000

PANAJACHEL–The family of sponsored Student Reina Angelica #371 recently received a new cooking stove. This valuable improvement to their lives was made possible through a contribution by Shirley J. The new stove will help the family financially by greatly reducing their need to buy expensive firewood, as well as preventing dangerous respiratory problems caused by lack of smoke ventilation.

The family’s old food cooking arrangement

Reina and her new stove

Click here to learn more about Reina and her family

Click here to return to the fuel efficient stoves web page.

Juana

Ayuda — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:23:08 +0000

Juana and her family who live in Panajachel, were thrilled to receive an onil stove yesterday. They were cooking over a makeshift stove before this great gift arrived.

Their old stove had no ventilation and it would cause the house to fill up with smoke. The new stove has
a pipe that will take the smoke out of the house and it will greatly reduce the amount of firewood needed to cook.

Click Here to Stoves Program page

Very Poor Family Receives a New Stove

Ayuda — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:34:13 +0000

PIXABAJ–The family of school sponsored Petronila recently received the gift of a new fuel-efficient stove.

This new stove will help the family with their household expenses and provide a more healthy environment for them through the important smoke ventilation capabilities of the Onil stoves.

The family kitchen

Petronila and her sister. The 50 lb bag of sand is used as internal insulation to contain the heat and help the wood burning efficiency of the stove.

The MF Staff appreciated the help in hauling the heavy stove parts to the house

Petronila and the new stove.

Click Here to learn more about this family

Click Here to go to Stoves Program Page

Kayla Vanessa Has a Fuel Efficient Stove

Ayuda — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:21:32 +0000

SAN JORGE–Kayla Vanessa is one of the students sponsored under the Mayan Families Student Sponsorship Program. Through contributions to the Stoves Program, Kayla and her family have received a fuel efficient wood burning cooking stove. This simple amenity will greatly help with the family’s expenses and enable a healthier living environment.

Click Here to Learn More About This Family

Click Here to go to Stoves Program Page

No More Burns for Jose Estuardo

Ayuda — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:59:35 +0000

PANAJACHEL–Little Jose Estuardo and his family recently received the gift of a stove made possible by his school sponsor.

Jose Estuardo began kindergarten this past January. He lives with his parents, 2 brothers, and sister.

This gift will significantly reduce the family’s daily expenses for firewood and no long expose them to the health hazards cause by poor smoke ventilation. Mother Marta began cooking tortillas on her new stove as soon as the installation was complete.

The family’s cooking arrangement before the new Onil stove

Jose Estuardo and his family with their new stove

CLICK HERE IF YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS FAMILY

Click Here to go to Stoves Page

New Stove for Marta and Family

Ayuda — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:24:01 +0000

PANAJACHEL–The family of sponsored student Marta #389 recently received a new stove. This was made possible by Shirley J. Marta lives with her widowed mother, grandparents, and her sisters and brother.

This new stove will greatly benefit the family by realizing savings on the cost of firewood and prevention of respiratory problems caused by poor smoke ventilation.

MF Staff members Julio and Juan assessing their installation work

Marta watching the installation from her front door

The cooking arrangement to be replaced by the new stove

Marta and her new stove

Click here to learn more about Marta and her family

Click here to return to the Stoves Program web page