Lorena and Wendy

Lorena is 37 years old and has been a single mother since her first husband abandoned his family. After some time, she decided to find another husband who took responsibility of them, but he also abandoned them a year ago.

Lorena has three children: Wendy Lorena Gonzales (13), who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after birth; Gilmar (21), who lives and works in Guatemala City; and Evelyn (19), who works in Coban in order to help her mother with some of the expenses.

Life for Lorena and her daughter Wendy has not been easy, because Lorena cannot find someone to take care of Wendy while she is working. For this reason, she sells candies on the street and in the markets in order to have some income at home. What she earns is not enough for all her household expenses, including medicine for Wendy and also for Lorena who was recently diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy   and arthritis.

Bethel has been doing everything possible to support Lorena with a food bag every three months and sometimes with medicine for Wendy.

Lorena and her daughter came to us looking for medical support, which is too costly for them.

Need:

Sponsorship for medicine

 Lorena’s medical tests - $46

 Lorena medical - $10 monthly

Wendy medical - $21 monthly

Total monthly support - $31

Candida Muñoz

Candida is 48 has been in a wheelchair for twenty-three years because of gunshot wounds. 

Life for Candida radically changed after her accident   and she suddenly became unable to do her daily tasks by herself. Candida lives alone and has no relatives who will help her even though she requires full time care to move from her wheelchair to her bed, to eat, to take a shower, etc.

Candida also has muscle spasms in both legs, nerve damage, and hemorrhoids, and has to take medicine for life to control her illnesses. Additionally, she has pressure sores on her buttocks and uses a catheter because she has urinary incontinence. 

Being in a wheelchair has been very difficult for Candida, especially since her family won’t help her. She often asks for donations from her neighbors who will help her with food, clothes, and other needs at times. However, her neighbors cannot always help her, and Candida often worries about how she will survive.  

Bethel has being supporting Candida with food items, medicine, and the payment of a personal care nurse. We have been blessed to be able to help Candida and lend her a hand in her moments of greatest need, but we are in need of a sponsor to be able to continue giving Candida aid. 

Needs:

Food and medicine sponsorship costs $75 a month for a total of $900 a year.

Sponsorship for payment of the nurse costs $285 a month for a total of $3,420 a year.

Blanca Morales and her daughters

Blanca Morales is 64 years old and has been a single mother for many years. She has four children, but only two of them are in her care: Wendy Marciela (29) who has CP and Maria Jose (21) who is studying for a degree in computing on the weekends and also sells candies on the streets to help provide an income at home. 

Life for Blanca and her daughters has not been easy since they don't have any relatives who help them, and the money Maria earns working is not enough to cover all the family’s expenses. For this reason, Blanca and Wendy go out on the streets everyday to ask for donations, but often get ignored or rejected. However, Wendy and her mother always have a smile on their face, and when people stop to talk and help   them Wendy gives them a bible tract as her way to say thank you! 

Please consider supporting this family, your gift will be a huge blessing by bringing nutritious food to this family who has very little.

Need: 

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly.

Marta Gonzalez Bajan

Marta is 32 years old and lives in El Tejar, Chimaltenango. She was working at a tortilla shop, but unfortunately was fired in September. She has since been looking for a job, but has been unable to find one as of yet.  In August of 2017, Marta’s husband Jose died from HIV.

Marta and her husband had three children together, but had marital problems and ended up separating for several months. During the separation, Marta found another partner and had a daughter. The relationship with her new partner did not work out well, and he left her. Marta and her husband Jose decided to start living together again, but shortly after getting back together José began to suffer from high fevers, diarrhea, and nauseas. When Marta began to have the same symptoms, they decided to go to the hospital. After several medical, they were diagnosed as HIV positive, and sent to receive treatment at a hospital in Guatemala City.

Life has been difficult for Marta and her children, especially now that Marta does not have a job and thus is unable to feed her children. Marta came to Bethel asking for help with a bag of food every month and we truly hope that we will be able to provide for this need by finding a sponsor. 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly. 

Mariela Noemi Etec

Mariela is 48 and has been a single mother for nine years. She works as a housekeeper, making around $80 a month. Sadly, a month ago she was diagnosed with diabetes. 

Mariela has three kids: Junior Alexander (20) who studied until sixth grade, but dropped out because he was regularly getting sick; Milton Gerardo (17) who is in ninth grade and works as a bus helper on Sundays to help his mother with expenses; and Edinson Ariel (13) who is in sixth grade. 

Mariela and her kids are all working hard to try and keep moving forward, but just cannot seem to make enough money for the daily necessities such as food. 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly. 

Merida Velasquez Tucubal

Mérida (29) is married to Jorge Armando (35). Mérida works as a housekeeper three times a week, and Jorge works in the fields. Unfortunately, Jorge has a drinking problem and does not support his family financially very often. 

Mérida and Jorge have four children: Cesar Alexander (14) who is in sixth grade, Jorge Luis (12) who is in third grade and has hemophilia, Maria Mercedes (10) who is in fourth grade, and Denis Estuardo (2) who is also hemophiliac. 

Jorge Luis and Denis Estuardo were referred to a hospital in Guatemala City where the can receive treatment, but the family cannot afford the travel expenses since they have difficulty even getting enough to eat. 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly. 

Vivian Ordoñez

Vivian became a widow when her husband was killed eight years ago. Since then she has been raising her five children by herself. Vivan’s children are: Jenifer (16), Wilder (14), Madelyn (10), Jonathan (12), and Eswin (8).

Vivian and her children live with her husband’s family, and Vivan has worked doing whatever she can to provide food and education for her children. In the last eight years, she has washed clothes for people, cleaned houses, and made tortillas to sell, all to try and provide for her family.

Please consider blessing this family with the gift of food every month. 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly.

Valentin Tabique and his family

Valentin is 60 and married to Orfelinda Mejia. The couple has two children: Esdras Obed (10) and Linda (16). 

Thirteen years ago, Valentin became quadriplegic when he was shot in his spinal column. Since then, Orfelinda has worked washing clothes and cleaning houses for other families, but what she makes is not enough to cover household expenses. 

We met this family when they came to have Valentin’s wheelchair repaired, and were able to get to know them and their need. Valentin and Orfelinda hope to receive your support so their children can have regular meals and better nutrition. Without a doubt, your support will be a great blessing for them. 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly.

Trayci Mayca Ajqui

Trayci is 25 years old and has been a single mother for more than three years, after her husband left her for another woman. She has one son, José Julian (8), who is in second grade. Trayci lives with her parents Josefina (60) and José (75) who has kidney problems. 

Five years ago, Trayci was diagnosed with diabetes and has had difficulty working since because of constant weakness. Her mother, Josefina, is the one who works to provide for her daughter, grandson, and husband. Josefina works as a janitor and also washes and irons clothes for people, although what she makes isn’t enough to provide for all of their expenses. Trayci hopes to be able to get her disease under control soon so that she can work again, but in the meantime came to Bethel asking for help with a food bag. Please consider supporting this family with the gift of food. 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly.

Maria Chu Caal

Maria Chu Caal (35) is a homemaker and has been a single mother for six years when her husband left her for another woman. 

Maria has six children, but only five still live with her:  Gilmar Gustavo (18), Lidia Maritza (17), Erick Giovany (15), Suarlyn Rigoberto (13), Victor Anibal (10), and Zaida Micaela (6). 

The children´s father sends them a small amount of financial support on occasion, but it’s not enough to cover household expenses and education for the kids. Bethel met this family during a home visit in Salamá and we could see their great need for a food sponsor.

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly. 

Gregorio Lopez and his Family

Gregorio (36) is married to Rosario (35), and together they have seven children.  

Nine years ago, Gregorio was a victim of assault when he was shot in the head, resulting in total blindness. Gregorio has not been able to work since, leaving Rosario responsible to support the family. Rosario works by washing clothes for people while Gregorio goes out on the streets to ask people for money.  

Gregorio has said that becoming blind was the hardest thing that his family has faced, but he is very thankful that his wife never left him and that the incident has brought his family closer together. Gregorio and Rosario’s children are: Maria Elena (18), Rosa Elinda (16), Gregorio (14), Evelyn (11), Jaqueline (8), Elida (6), and a two year old son.  

Rosario has been doing her best to try and provide for her family, but what she makes just is not enough to cover even food. Rosario told us tearfully: “It is so hard for me when my children tell me that they are hungry and I am not able to give them any food.” 

Please consider supporting this family with a bag of food every month - your support will change their lives! 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly.

Ruth Noemi Ventura and her family

Ruth is 29 years old and from Santa Apolonia. She is a single mother who works by washing and ironing clothes for people, but does not make enough to cover all of the household expenses. Ruth has four children: Elsy Areli (11) who is in third grade, Paola Lizet (6) who is in first grade, Alejandro (4), and Luis Daniel who is ten months old.  

Unfortunately, the kids are all malnourished from eating only once a day with a diet of tortillas, beans, and coffee. 

Ruth and her children are in great need of a food sponsor in order to improve their health. 

Need:

Food sponsorship - $50 monthly or $600 yearly