In July, 2007, the Construction Team from San Antonio installed stoves in the area of Secache. When we finished, the Women's Counsel presented me with a Proclamation, thanking us for helping improve their health, their homes, and their environment. The lady who made the presentation was the President of the Counsel.
In the same month of the next year (2008), I led another construction team to Secache to present the HELPS water filtration system to the residents of this area and the residents of Chola who had asked for a filter. On this day, I saw the same lady from the previous year, the President of the Women's Counsel of Secache.
This past July (2009), the construction team from San Antonio ventured into a new project—home makeover, Guatemala style—whitewashing walls, mixing and pouring concrete floors, installing the two types of Onil stoves, and providing the water filtration system. We did the makeover to four homes in Secache. One of these homes belonged to the President of the Secache Women's Counsel. At first I was confused because I thought she had already received the stoves when I first met her in 2007. Upon asking about this, I was told by the HELPS community representative that she had given up her stoves to a relative she thought had a greater need than herself.
Moved by this story, I determined it would be my team that would remake her home and install her stoves. This was the third year I had seen this lady, and I was continually amazed at her humble demeanor and her love for the people of Secache.
When my team of five completed her house, she was in tears, I was in tears, and most of my team was in tears as well. It was life changing to see her tears of gratitude. I was deeply moved by the rare humility and self-sacrifice of this woman who had surrendered what was given to her in order to meet the greater need of someone she loved.
In 2007, I told the people of Secache that I, or the San Antonio Team, would return to Secache. Now I know why we returned, and why I'll continue to return to the area of Uspantan as long as God allows me to serve the beautiful people of Guatemala.
Helps International
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In July, 2007, the Construction Team from San Antonio installed stoves in the area of Secache. When we finished, the Women's Counsel presented me with a Proclamation, thanking us for helping improve their health, their homes, and their environment. The lady who made the presentation was the President of the Counsel.