March 25:
Had a great, if brief, trip to Guatemala. We identified 4-5 suitable parcels, including some that have bananas and coffee growing on them which could produce a source of income for Juana and her family.
I was able to spend time with Juana and friends talking about our project. Victor and I had quite an adventure in the villages as we measured, priced and sourced materials and planned logistics of transporting, housing, feeding family and volunteers during the building process.
I learned that 50,000 homes for the needy have been constructed in Guatemala in the past 20 years. Civil war, the Mayan genocide of the 1980's, floods and earthquakes have created enormous poverty and displacement. Numerous international non-profit housing groups have been trying to fill this need.
I have been in contact with several of these groups and am getting valuable information regarding sanitation and water purification systems, smokeless stoves and simple wall and roof construction. Habitat for Humanity is working out how they may assist us as well as a few others.
Already stepping up to help build are multiple Mollners (6 and counting!) Dan, John, Paul, the Rudman family and the Saritskys. Several others have talked with us about making the trip too.
Had a great, if brief, trip to Guatemala. We identified 4-5 suitable parcels, including some that have bananas and coffee growing on them which could produce a source of income for Juana and her family.
I was able to spend time with Juana and friends talking about our project. Victor and I had quite an adventure in the villages as we measured, priced and sourced materials and planned logistics of transporting, housing, feeding family and volunteers during the building process.
I learned that 50,000 homes for the needy have been constructed in Guatemala in the past 20 years. Civil war, the Mayan genocide of the 1980's, floods and earthquakes have created enormous poverty and displacement. Numerous international non-profit housing groups have been trying to fill this need.
I have been in contact with several of these groups and am getting valuable information regarding sanitation and water purification systems, smokeless stoves and simple wall and roof construction. Habitat for Humanity is working out how they may assist us as well as a few others.
Already stepping up to help build are multiple Mollners (6 and counting!) Dan, John, Paul, the Rudman family and the Saritskys. Several others have talked with us about making the trip too.