The Socorec family home was completed Saturday. There was a very moving ceremony to hand over the keys to Vicenta and the community joined in the celebration. The living structure itself is nothing that we would consider luxurious by our standards, but to them it is more than they could hope for– clean running water, (a spigot in the front room and a full sink in the back, as well as a toilet and shower!)  full electric with a light and outlet in each room, and metal locking doors for piece of mind.  It was a very joyful and emotional occasion.  A neighbor or two were jealous and displayed their contempt by tossing rocks on the tin roof in an attempt to take away from the moment. To no avail, I might add. For Vicenta and her family it’s a new life, and I can say the same for me– being involved in this incredible experience has changed my heart and given me a new outlook on life.  

Maria, Vicenta and Brenda in their new home wearing beautiful, traditional Guatemalan clothing. You would be hard pressed to find anyone as sweet, humble, and hard working as these fine ladies. That look on their faces is something we don’t see here much. It’s called humility.

 

The Socorec extended family in their new home.

 

The team with the Socorec family and members of the community.

 

Vicenta waving goodbye outside the tin shack where she makes the tortillas that support her family.

 

Vicente’s bubbling cauldron of corn that she uses to make her homemade tortillas.  They use a bit of lime (the chemical, not the fruit) to breakdown the corn kernels while it’s cooking.  Not sure if that’s healthy or not, but it struck me as unusual– maybe it’s fine.

 

Tortillas that didn’t measure up to Vicente’s standards.  They’ll be given away or fed to the pigs.  Dogs do not like tortillas…

 

Speaking of dogs– a lot of the little four-legged friends down there look pretty rough.  Poor diet and care– you can only imagine what they eat.

 

Resigned and broken spirit.

 

Poor guy looks like part dog, part elephant and all misery.

 

The painted cross that we walked by each day was complete on our last day

 

Nothing goes to waste.   Everything is recycled, repurposed or resold. 

 

Someone has a sense of humor– check out the Tasmanian Devil tied to the radiator grill.

 

Sorting liquor bottles for reuse.

 

Laundry is daily chore and hangs from every place imaginable.

 

You can get a frothy glass of goat’s milk by hand and on the spot.  It looked like a latte, swear.

 

Truly where the streets have no name.

 

Adios.