Meet Maria Elena...

My friend Pattie and I are sponsoring this adorable little girl in Guatemala. With our sponsorship of $120 a year, Maria will get to attend school for one year, receive a backpack with school supplies and a new pair of shoes. The really cool part is that she will get an opportunity to attend school - so many children in Guatemala and other countries do not get to attend school because their parents can't afford to send them. Most of them end up working at such young ages to help support the families financial needs.

I would like to mention that Maria lives in the same province that Caylie was born in! When Pattie told me that, I knew she was the little girl for us to sponsor. Below are some details about Maria and her family:

Maria Elena is 9yrs old. She is in first grade. Her birthday is December 4th.
She lives in Santa Catarina with her father Esquipulas 30yrs old and
her mother, Maria 29yrs old. She has one sister, Angela Griselda 3yrs
old and one brother, Roberto 10yrs old. He is in first grade.

The father works as a builders assistant and earns $33 US per week.
The mother stays at home looking after the children.

They are renting their house, they have one room made of mud brick and are sharing a kitchen with the mother in law.
They are paying $27 US per month for the room. They have two beds.
They have one closet.
They do not have a table or chairs.
They have a pila.
They have electricity connected. and pay $3 US per month.
They have a toilet.
They do not have a water filter.
They do not have an onil stove.
They do not have enough blankets for the bed.
Their main diet is bean, past and wild herbs.
Maria Elena's brother, Roberto has a problem with his speech. He is very hard to understand when he speaks. He has never received treatment for this.

If you would like to help Elena and her family or any of the needy chilldren and families in Guatemala please go to www.mayanfamilies.com