Alcohol is a big problem here in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Many young people start drinking around the age of 13, and it is common to hear of families that have a series of deaths related to alcohol use. On the streets of Chichicastenango it is a common sight to see men and sometimes even women sprawled …
Pedro: Breaking a Leg and Discovering the Truth
My young friend José Mario is pretty quiet and doesn’t talk much unless I ask the right questions. On a recent Saturday, I could tell that I’d hit something when I asked him how his family was doing. “Muy mal,” he said (“Very badly”). “My brother fell and broke his leg.” José Mario told me. …
Baby Hilda: Keeping Babies Healthy
Hilda was brought into the ASELSI clinic as a 23-day-old baby. Hilda has a cleft lip and palate. As I got to asking Hilda’s parents questions, I was very surprised to find out that they have another daughter who also had a cleft lip and palate. They told me that she was in the ASELSI …
A Guatemalan Tale of Three Little Pigs
A team from Victory Life Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, brought home the bacon to three families when they visited the village of Xepacol last month. Working with a local church and the Guatemalan association called ASELSI, the Victory Life team, built three pig pens — complete with pigs — to provide ongoing income …
Jorge: The Survivor AN UPDATE
Jorge is the 11th of 11 children born to his mother, Lucia. She is around 38 years old and had almost given up hope for her little boy. Jorge entered the ASELSI Milk Program when he was 1 year and 3 months old. He only weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces – that’s what a one …
