Day 6: Matinez Family and the Villamill Family

Today we had a change of pace...we went to the village of Xiebe and worked with two familes.  We got connected to the Martinez family through Carol Hanbury who came down with us last year and was touched by the daughter (Juanita) so much that she could not let go and felt the need to provide help.  Carol raised funds for the Martinez family over the year and worked with our partner in Belize (Rafael Cob) to get a small rice garden and other vegetables planted.  They are able to feed themselves and sell some to make money.  This family has absolutely nothing only a tin roof on a shack.  Our project was to build them a chicken coop to allow them to get fresh eggs and even start a small chicken farm.  What we did for the Martinez family will only have a very small impact but it will help.  They need so much more than we can provide.  We will continue to stay connected and help where we can.

The Villamill Family also lived in Xiebe village.  They lived in an nice cement three room home that was build by Horizon Church two years ago.  We swarmed their lovely home and painted the outside and the inside to put a personal touch and to bring life to their home.  We are grateful to Horizon for building this home...you could see how their lives were improved compared to the stick house which they still use as a kitchen.  This family had 16 children so we had lots of helping hands.  of course, many of the little kids were covered from head to toe in paint.  It was a great experience to work side by side with the Villamill's and to talk and get to know some people.  The sad story in this family is that Mr. Villamill was blinded in one eye from working in the papaya fields.  When the man of the house is unable to work the family will struggle.  The local church is also doing everything to help this large family.  We had a blast and it was a blessing to our team to have met all these wonderful people in Xiebe.