My Operation Obligation Journal

Thanks to Candy - Oscar is now sponsored for one years worth of school! :) I will write more after I return home from taking the children to youth group tonight. :)

Here's more information about Oscar...

Oscar is 7yrs old. He is in 1st grade.

He lives in Panajachel with his father Lorenzo and his mother, Valeria. He has 3 brothers and 4 sisters.

They are:

Heydi is 22yrs old. She graduated from school. She is working in a hotel.
Lorenzo is 19yrs old. He graduated from school. He is working driving a taxi.
Luis is 17yrs old. He will be graduating this year. He has received a sponsorship to be able to graduate.
Honoria is 15yrs. She is 8th grade.
Jose is 13yrs old. He is in 7th grade.
Saira Leonora is 12yrs old. She is in 5th grade in Jan. 2008.
Blanca is 4yrs old. She is in kindergarten.

There were also 2 month old twins that passed away four months ago. They had vomiting and diahrea, one passed away at home, the other on the way to the hospital.

This family were victims of Hurricane Stan in Oct. 2005, a lot of water and mud entered their home and they lost all their possessions and clothes.

The father works as a day laborer. He does not have a fixed job. He takes whatever work is available. Working in the fields, working as a builders assistant, carrying heavy loads in the market etc. He earns $5 US per day. Along with the money that his elder children earn they have an income of $35 US per week. This is not enough money to cover all their costs especially the very expensive costs they have of the higher education of their children.

They own their house. It is made of wooden planks. The roof is tin sheeting. The floor is dirt.They do not have a kitchen. They cook outside on an open fire on the ground. They have two beds. Four people sleep in each bed. The rest sleep on the floor on woven mats.They cannot afford to buy wood, they have to forage every day in the mountains for firewood.

They do not have enough money to be able to drink coffee. This is a very staple part of the Guatemalan diet but this family is so stretched with their budget to provide food that they cannot afford this.

They have electricity connected and pay $10 US per month. They have water connected and pay $0.75cents US a month - they were five years behind on paymet, but thanks to Kens parents - this bill has been taken care of!
They do not have a water filter.
They do not have an onil stove.
They do not have a closet.
They keep their clothes in a cardboard box.
They do not have enough tables and chairs for all of them.
They have one chair and one small table.They do not have enough blankets.
They do not have enough clothes and shoes for the children.

The youngest daughter, Blanca 4yrs old, suffered a fall when she was 7months old. Since then she has suffered convulsions and always has headaches. They have taken her for a medical exam, they gave her medicine that helped the pain in her head but they have not been able to afford to continue supplying her with the medicine.