Ok, I've been helping - actually, more than helping, sort of like I adopted, two local families for many years now. Both are situations of children who have been neglected, abused or left by their parent (in both cases the more responsible parent died.) They spend a lot of time at our home, I feed them, provide clothes and often additional money for school, medical purposes etc.....

I can never provide as much as I'd like, and/or as much as they need.... So, I decided to just put this out there and see if anyone would like to help out with these two families....

Here are their stories::

Iliana, Walter, Armando and Eveyln -- I've been their main support, along with their older brother Omar, for the past 7 years - ever since their mother died and left them with their alcoholic and abusive father. Their mother, Berta, had at one time worked for me taking care of Jessenia. That's how I know them. When Berta died, Evelyn was only 2 months old and was repeatedly in the hospital for malnutrition etc.... she'd get very sick, go to the hospital, get better, get out and get sick again. This family lived in very poor conditions with their father. I took the baby to live with us so she could get better. She became fat and happy and we adored her !!! (Actually, having her with us persuaded me that I could handle a second child - and shortly thereafter, along came my Tommy boy). One of the hardest things I've had to do was return her to her family. Her father insisted and she cried and cried when I brought her back. To make a long story short.. the father became more and more abusive until finally all the kids came to stay with us and were afraid of him. He said he'd go to the authorities and say I stole his children and also my two adopted children.... which is a very dangerous allegation in Guatemala.

So the whole case went into the court system and the children were sent to an orphanage (one with USA church sponsorship, I am sorry to say) that has been a pretty negative situation for their family. The children are only allowed 3 visits annually by family members (they have an older brother or friends (like me), they are unable EVER to leave to visit, and are allowed very limited time to see each other within the orphanage (boys and girls are separated). And those are on specific days when we are generally not in the country. It was heartbreaking for me. The oldest girl has a history of mental health issues and was told to leave the orphange after her 18th birthday. (Finally, after two years she is now doing really well). The second child, Walter, ran away. I have tried and tried and tried to visit and get the remaining two out of that orphanage and with a lovely foster care family or another nearby orphanage that will at least allow them to have visitors. Nothing but uncooperation and roadblocks.

Finally, it seems now (end of the year 2004) like the oldest brother is going to be able to get the last two children out of the orphanage. But they will need some additional financial help. I give Iliana and Walter some money on a bi-weekly basis. But it isn't enough, and I just don't have more extra money right now.

Second family... I've also known for about 10 years now. Mother had 8 children, father alcoholic,, and when the middle girl (Monica) was about 10 years old, the mother left the four youngest in Monica's care and took off for another village to live with another man. (She's since had 3 more children with him). Again, long story short... I've provided them with clothes, money occasionally, but not that much, and when Monica was really in dire straits about a year ago, I told her to come work for me (I figured better to have her at the house on a regular basis for food etc..... than just give her money) so she comes two days a week. Now, at age 19, she has an 11 month old baby and is pregnant with her second. She is not caring all that well for her first, (when we arrived in October he was malnurished and is very small for an almost 1 year old - doesn't crawl, no teeth yet) so I've bought formula, baby cereal and I hired Iliana to take care of the baby Cristian, during the day when Monica works with us. SO.... we have a full house. I'm personally maxed... but these two families need more ......

Both families are affiliated with a do-gooder project, Common Hope, and that does help, but does not provide as much as they need. Because there is not a parent involved,, I personally feel they need more than the average affiliated family. Anybody interested in helping out???? fourre@artguat.org

I will put some photos here as soon as I figure out how to unload them from the digital camera onto the computer... poco a poco as we say here.