Local church helps Guatemalan families have better lives
Aug 11, 2012, 11:23 a.m.
by Linda S. Humphrey
In a country where we have anything we need and much of what we want at our fingertips, including microwave ovens that complete a meal in minutes, imagine cooking all your meals without a stove or oven of any kind? Thousands of Guatemalans know this reality on a daily basis.
Members of the Church for the Beach in Indian Harbor Beach are spending time and money helping families in Magdelena, a city of about 10,000 in a small Central American country that borders the Caribbean Sea between Honduras and Belize.
Accoreding to church member Cerene Willett, the project was part of a mission trip that proved to be much more than just building stoves.
“It's not just putting stoves together; it also aids in having the family at home with their children. The stove utilizes minimum amounts of wood and consequently replaces the need to travel miles to cut down wood for cooking,” she said.
Indialantic chiropractor, Dr. Edward Fleming, who has made two trips to the region, said the stoves are built from kits put together by mission teams.
“The stoves are vented so smoke no longer fills the home. I wanted to support the project physically and financially while learning more Spanish and loving to see and interact with other cultures,” said Fleming. “The church members recently raised another $1,800 for more stoves.”
The members also took clothing, medicine, shoes, books and knapsacks filled with hygiene products.
Marge Schmidt has visited Guatemala twice. She said that she is touched by the friendliness of the residents and the gratitude they have for what Americans would see as so little.
“Most families are so proud and want to show you their humble homes.”
Church for the Beach meets at 9:30 a.m. Sundays at Doubles, 1194 Yacht Club Blvd., Indian Harbor Beach. For information, contact Pastor Jim Caple at 321-266-5291.
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