By Brendan Dwyer | National Director
The Alonzo Camey Family lives in Parrojas, the Vista Hermosa village of Parramos, Chimaltenango, 7,150 feet up a mountain in a house that was made of plastic, dry corn cane, metal sheets, wooden support beams, and dirt floors. They have no electricity, cook over wood, and shared one bed. The father Angel takes care of his three girls, 9-year-old Yesica, 8-year-old Josselin, and 6-year-old Melanie Yesenia. Angel was left to look after his three beautiful daughters on his own after his wife passed away 6 years ago from a heart attack. He says life has never been the same for the family since their mother passed, but that each day he continues to fight for the girls and give them the best life he can.
Señor Angel, who is 30 years old, works tirelessly in the fields to provide for his daughters and, in order to support the family a little more, he also works side jobs to provide a extra food, clothing, and essentials for them. The death of his wife has made it much more difficult to make enough of a living to take care of her children.
Angel approached Asociación Nuestros Ahijados to inquire about a house because during the night it gets extremely cold up on the mountain as the wind blows right through the corn stalks and leaves the family, especially his young daughters, prone to illness. His dream came true when a ServiceTeam from various parts of the United States arrived at the end of February to finance and build the home, side by side with Asociación Nuestros Ahijados and the family itself. After three grueling days of digging 2-foot trenches, hand-mixing cement, laying a cinderblock foundation, cutting wood, and nailing on the walls and roof, a bright blue 12x16 foot house stood for Angel, Yesica, Josselin, and Melanie.
The ServiceTeam consisted of health care workers and long-time volunteers from North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and each and everyone of them was so humbled by this experience to be able to build a new future for a family that has suffered so much. What struck this group the most was that despite all of the family’s struggles, they have maintained a positive attitude and smiles on their faces. When the group wasn’t building, they were found blowing bubbles, coloring, or putting together puzzles with the three little girls. For these volunteers it is a monumental blessing to be able to give Yesica, Josselin and Melanie a new home, new bunk beds, toys, and groceries. They were more than happy to donate a little bit of their time and resources for a family in such great need.
There are so many more houses to be built for families in need, and we cannot build them without your continued love, compassion, and support. Please visit www.GodsChild.org to learn more about how you can be involved and organize your own home-building team.
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