This is a e-mail I got today that breaks my heart!

This was posted on Guatadopt today:

Hi everyone! I have been involved in the Mayan Families organization. Yesterday, Sharon, the founder told us about a family who is in tremendous need. She said she has never seen a situation this bad. I am posting the email she sent so that you can read about the family. Pictures of the family and their living conditions have been posted and my heart is breaking for this family. I can not imagine living in a situation like this. Mayan Families wants to build them a house (hopefully before the rainy season starts because their shelter does not protect them from rain or wind) and provide them with food so that this family can stay together.

"This family was brought to my attention over Easter. Teresa , a woman
who has her children sponsored with us heard about this mother who
wanted to give her children away and was asking who could take them.

The family had no food and the mother could not afford to feed the children.

We sent Oto, a Mayan Families Staff member with Teresa today. This
family does not speak Spanish, they speak Tzutzil and Teresa acted as
the translator.

When Oto came back this afternoon, he told me that after he walked out
of this house, he cried.

The 10yr old and the 4yr old know that their mother wants to give them
away and they thought Oto was coming to take them.

The mother gave the 8yr old girl away a few months ago to a family in
Guatemala city.

The fear and sadness is so heartbreaking to see on their faces.

There are three children in the family:
Juana 10yrs old.
Juanita 4yrs old
Graciella 1yr old.

The father is an alcoholic and does not live with the family and does
not support them.

The mother works weaving and earns $3.50 US per week.

This is not enough to feed the family.
It is not enough to feed one person. Oto said that the children look
very malnourished.

We are having them come to Mayan Families tomorrow, we will give them
blankets, food , shoes and we will talk to the mother. If she wants
to give her children away because she does not have enough to feed
them, then we want to be able to keep this family together. We will
need to be able to supply them with food, and this family needs a
house. The wind and the rain must make the living conditions inside
totally miserable. The house would just be one room for them. Their
land is very tiny but at least the mother owns it.

They do not have a bathroom, they use the bushes outside their house.
The house is made of cane and a few sheets of aluminum for the roof.
They have no electricity or running water.
The house has a dirt floor.
They cook overan open fire with a piece of tin on the ground.
They have do not have connected.

The mother says that the older girl is in school but there was no
evidence of a backpack or any school supplies. She was not at school
when Oto arrived.

Their clothes are very old and worn.

This family needs urgent help. If you can help please send a donation
to our Food and Milk program and/or our Construction Program - note it
in honor of the Sicay Choy family."

You can make a donation by going to http://www.mayanfamilies.com/ Be sure to state the purpose as helping this family.
Thanks for any help that you can give and spread the word!!!!
Sue

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