Zilkie Faith Mission Trip 2024: A Family in need

In our first few days in Guatemala, we met Selena. We immediately felt a connection, compassion, empathy and the Holy Spirit leading us to connect with her. Over the following 7 weeks, we have been building a relationship with her, we have got to know her, and her story and it has been cool to see God working in her family. Here is Selena and her story:

Erin & Matteo

Erin & Selena

At first glance, you can see she is an overwhelmed working mother ( working at a tortilla shop Monday to Saturday to provide food for her family - which is basically an open flame barrel where they make tortillas on the side of a busy highway) of 5 kids age ranging 10 months old to 12 years old. But as we continued to learn more of her story the layers of grief, trauma, and sadness we felt the pull even deeper to support her. Every person needs a starting point, a helping hand to help move in a positive direction- God led and with the support of FeViva provided essential items to help Selena & her kids. Alongside FeViva Selena received one of their stoves, also a water purification system ( they were collecting water when they could and having water in buckets on her patio but they were always full of bugs or whatever was blown in by the wind- but it is what they had to drink), beds for all her kids, dressers/ storage FeViva had for clothing & items, a new Pilas ( which is an outdoor sink you clean your clothes in, wash your dishes, and have your shower water from. The Pilas is an essential item for a home in Guatemala which she did not have. She had to clean the family of 6 clothes by hand on a rock by her house!!! Also cleaning dishes in buckets of water that she would collect whenever water was available. The water here in Guatemala is sometimes given for an hour or so in the morning or afternoon but you have to catch it when it is on and fill buckets or your Pilas for your water for the entire day or more.) We were able to clean her house ( scrub as much mould as we could off the walls) and created a runoff with rocks for when the rainy season comes so the water would not come into her house but drain down the mountain. This took multiple days and numerous hands for this all to happen. We are so grateful for every helping hand who helped this family receive all these gifts from God- May he be praised for his work through it all. We are so grateful for the full support and care from Melissa & Nelson ( full-time FeViva missionaries) Melissa was basically with us every visit, translating, installing the stove (Nelson as well), cleaning out her house to start over, etc. None of this could have happened without their time and support- we are so grateful.

When I first held Matteo and proceeded to have him nap on me the entire service knew something was not " normal" about him. We asked further, Mom knew he was anaemic but had no funds to care for him. Selena was also suffering so with the help of FeViva they were able to take Mom & baby to the doctor and get them both the medication they so desperately needed. It has been such a joy to see this baby boy grow up before our eyes. He was a limp very lethargic 10 months old when I first held his precious body but now this past Sunday - 5 Sundays later he was dancing and clapping along to the worship service- Praise the Good Lord. We pray over this baby that he may grow and develop; may he get all the nutrients he needs to thrive.

I think the greatest joy of all has been getting to know these kids every part of their lives is heavy and much responsibility is expected of the kids, especially the 3 older boys. We have spent many hours at their house and had the joy of having them in our house; have them for breakfast & play together. At times Caesar the oldest is to care & provide for all 4 siblings; he is 12. To play basketball with him and allow him to act his age even for an hour was a joy to experience.

FeViva water purification system being installed & taught how to clean.

Caesar & Anthony with the new stove!

We brought in rocks for drainage and here we are installing a stove

New bunk bed so every child & mom has a bed now! *This is her entire home. Previously they had only 1 bunk bed and somehow all 5 kids and Selena were here.

Stephen Johnston & his son Parker were amazing the week they were here serving with FeViva. They built the runoff below and installed multiple stoves, basically doing everything they could to help this precious family. We are so grateful for them to jump aboard this train to love this family.

Amazing Sonia came to love on the kids and help teach them how to help and support their mom with duties around the house.

Her new sink (in blue) called a PILLA - we got for her and installed as she didn't have a place to do laundry or her dishes.

Dishes we brought back to clean thoroughly; we were also able to do all her laundry to give her a much-needed break and fresh start with laundry!

The house in the middle is her home..1 bedroom for all 6 of them, about 250sq ft.
The property and inside were in very rough shape when we got there. Dirt floors (this is before our cleanup) Her whole front of her property was full of water because of drainage issues so they would get muddy everytime they walked in or out.