HELPING HAND-FEB2012- CABRERA FAMILY

Prepared by Isis-

HELPING HAND RECIPENT:  As a mother of 4 children living in Choluteca Honduras, Gladys Cabrera works hard cleaning houses and washing clothes, to provide for her family. We actually met Gladys in a park, we were observing her happy, playful children and just happened to ask them a few questions regarding their schooling. They informed us they do not attend school because their mother could not afford the fees associated. We asked the children to introduce us to their mother.

HELPING HAND NEED: After meeting Gladys, we realized her struggles are ones very common to Honduras, she lacks the funds she needs to send her children to school. After speaking to Gladys she did invite us to her home and then we took her shopping for uniforms and all the necessary school supplies for her children.

THOUGHTS FROM GLADYS: “I was thinking about the season of school and I did not know how I could possible let my 4 children attend. I had taken my children to the park near a house I was cleaning, and I am just so grateful that you met my children. I am so grateful for this help and mostly to see how happy my children were and the smiles on their faces when they found out they would be attending school. It is so amazing how God works, bless all of you and I hope you can continue to help more families like us.”

HELPING HAND-JAN11-JACKY LINARES

Prepared by Isis-

HELPING HAND RECIPENT: Having lost her husband to AIDS about a year and a half ago, newly widowed Jacky Betancourt Linares, has struggled to raise her two beautiful daughters now on her own at just 25 years old. Jacky also contracted AIDS from her late husband, which has made it extremely difficult to find a job in Honduras. Jacky has been washing clothing for others to try and make ends meet. Jacky is blessed to have a mother that has been able to help her out but she is desperate to try and do this on her own.

HELPING HAND NEED: Although Jacky washes clothes, she actually has a great trade that she has been unable to utilize, Jacky can sew. Jacky has been unable to show off this skill, only because she cannot afford a sewing machine. It was a simple request and we were happy to provide Jacky with the sewing machine she would need to generate business to be more independent and bring in the income she needs to raise her two young daughters.
 THOUGHTS FROM JACKY: ”I really thank you for this huge gift, I don’t even have words to describe what I feel I just want you to know that all these things that you do for the people in Honduras is so important and God will bless you for all your help to us. Thank you for the sewing machine I will work so hard and will be able to raise my girls and provide for my family.”

 THOUGHTS FROM JACKY’S MOTHER: “I was talking with Jacky two weeks ago and she was telling me how much she wanted a sewing machine and how much she was going to have to work to try and save the money for one.  I am just so impressed how God answered her prayer so fast, II definitely know that God is working and answered prayers through you. Thank you for helping us and for helping that people in Honduras, God bless you.”

HELPING HAND- DEC2011-LUCIO GARCIA

Prepared by Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT:  Lucio de Jesus Garcia started his trade at just 17 years old, now 11 years later at 28 he has mastered the skill and is an excellent mechanic. Lucio is a family man that is eager to provide for his wife and his 7 year old son that has special needs. Lucio’s son is unable to walk and is not able to consume solid food. His son is on a special liquid diet that is very expensive.

HELPING HAND NEED: Lucio works in a local mechanic shop but is unable to work enough hours to earn enough to really make ends meet. Lucio is asked frequently to do side work for people on their cars to really make it a full time career but has been unable to fulfill these requests as he lacks the right tools to do this outside of the mechanic shop. Lucio requested the tools necessary to start his own full time business, which we were happy to provide. Lucio received a specialty tool set that included all he would need to make his work profitable and more consistent to be able to provide for his family.

THOUGHTS FROM LUCIO: “I am very thankful with God and with you that you helped me. For me this is a huge help you don’t even know how happy I am. I always dreamed about to have my own business now it is no longer just a dream.  Now, I will look for a place and put my own car repair shop. God bless you and this great foundation so that you can be able to keep helping a lot of people.”

HELPING HAND- NOV 2011-JUAN LINAREZ

PREPARED BY ISIS

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT: At 60 years old, Juan Linarez and his wife Leonor have stepped up for their family in a big way, they are raising their 3 grandchildren (Daniel, Alex and Joel) after the lost their daughter in a car accident. Six months ago Juan was diagnosed with Chagas disease, also known as Trypanosomiasis in the US.  Trypanosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease in vertebrates. Chagas is typically transmitted to humans by an insect vector, the blood-sucking insects of the subfamily Triatominae mainly in Latin America. The disease is responsible for 21,000+ deaths a year.  Although some symptoms and conditions can be treated, 20% of the people with this disease will eventually develop life-threatening heart and digestive system disorders. Juan has been affected with an enlarged heart and other heart related problems that have affected his energy and work ability. He was laid off at his job because he was just not able to work as hard due to the strains of the disease.

HELPING HAND NEED:  Juan came to us with his concerns and shared his worry for his family and their money needs. Juan needed an opportunity to work from home to provide for his family but did not have the means to start his home business. We helped Juan start a small grocery store within his home where

THOUGHTS FROM JUAN: “With this help i will be able to provide income to the house, in addition to my wife selling tortillas. This is a help that I am so grateful for. God bless all of you for this humble and enormous labor. I will pray that this foundation continues to help people in need.

HELPING HAND-OCT2011-JUAN ORTIZ

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT:   Juan Ortiz is a 40 year old man living in Choluteca, Honduras.  At age 14 Juan was accidentally stuck by a bullet in his home while his father was cleaning a gun that he thought was empty. The tragic accident left Juan paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Juan is involved in a Honduran Association and additional programs that reach out to the people of Honduras to provide for his needs but Juan still needs additional income.

HELPING HAND NEED:  Juan is skilled at appliance repairs but has struggled to make it a full time career because he lacked the tools necessary to do the repairs. Juan just needed a little help acquiring the tools necessary to keep steady work and we were happy to help. Juan was given many tools including value tester, seal burners, etc. to make his work profitable and consistent.

THOUGHTS FROM JUAN: “For me it is so important to have all this tools because this is the only way that I can support myself and help my mother out. This is a gift you have given me, to know that my mother and I will have everything we need. God bless all of you”

HELPING HAND- SEPT 2011- BLANCA LINARES

Prepared by Isis

HELPING HAND RECIPIENT: Blanca Rosa Linares is a single mother with 3 children. Blanca works hard selling tortillas to provide for her children and to make sure that they have an education.

HELPING HAND NEED:
Blanca came asking for help after hearing of Helping Hands. Blanca has a piece of land near the river and recently starting building a house. Her funds are meager so she has built that house out of cardboard and plastic, because of the severe weather near the river this was not holding up properly for her family.






The helping hands team in Honduras assisted by reinforcing the Linares family home with sturdier walls that could protect her family from the conditions. The Linares family also was lacking a bathroom, so a bathroom was added as well.

THOUGHTS FROM BLANCA: “I am so impressed on how different my house looks. I am so happy and thankful for Helping Hands. My income goes to support my children, their education and our food so I never thought I would be able to fix my house. You do not know how much this help means to me and my family, we are greatly appreciative.”

HELPING HAND- AUG 2011- CARMEN GAMEZ and DANNIS ZEPEDA

*NOTE- This month we were able to fulfill two requests and share two stories. The people of Honduras live humble lifestyles and their requests often seem so simple but they make impact on their lives and we are always happy to help.
(1)HELPING HAND RECIPIENT: Carmen Gamez is a hard working woman who has been dedicated to her two boys and to her job in order to provide for them alone.

HELPING HAND NEED: Carmen has been able to provide for her family by selling mango's, banana slices, donuts, juice, etc from a cart. The cart Carmen relies on to sell these goods has proven to be a burden for her. The tires are constantly going flat, often leaving her stranded late at night as she is unable to move the cart. Carmen's request was simple and we were happy to help her by purchasing tires of a higher quality that do not require air so she can continue to provide for her family. We also were able to do some other small repairs to her cart including helping her with some protection from the rain when the weather turns on her.

THOUGHTS FROM CARMEN: “For me it was so hard to work with my cart because of the tire and weather difficulties. This cart is what helps me bring food to my home and for that I am so grateful for this help.”

********

(2)HELPING HAND RECIPIENT: Dannis Annet Zepeda is a 27 years man who works at the factory in Honduras. He is an extremely dedicated employee and a hard worker. Dannis and his wife are expecting a baby and she has been unable to work, making it difficult for them to survive off one income.

HELPING HAND NEED: Dannis has worked hard in the hopes of providing a home for his family. He was able to get a loan from the bank to go ahead and make that dream come true. Dannis has now finished the building of the house but has been unable to afford the electricity in their home. It is very difficult to get electricity in Honduras because of the expensive equipment necessary to have the electricity. We were able to buy the necessary meter and help with the connection in order for the Zepeda family to enjoy electricity in their new home.

THOUGHTS FROM DANNIS'S WIFE: "We are a happy family and we are waiting for our first child and we were so worrieed about the electricity, we were thinking about our son. It would be so hard to give him the things he needs as a newborn with no electricity. Thank you for the help, for us it is a big help that you have given."