I Climbed the Mountain!

October 15, 2021

Yesterday I followed a very steep and treacherous trail up a mountain to see the homes that had been severely damaged by the wind/rain storm on September 15th.  Luis Fernando went with me, from the Municipality of Cahabon, (and Martha from the Women's Office).  I COULD NOT have done it without Fernando.  But, I have walked some treacherous trails climbing up to Seibal and Aguateca, so I thought I could do it.

Here is a picture of the home at the top of the mountain.  Luis Fernando is standing beside me.  He helped me walk up the hill.  See cloth protecting the kitchen area of the home, because the wall was destroyed.

Here is a picture of the kitchen area of the home, without walls.

Here is a picture of the roof of that home, so you can see how they have cobbled it back together.  We have ordered 5x5 lumber 22 feet long to help 4 of the homes stabilize their roofs.  

This community is called La Libertad.  The Board of the community gave me a letter, asking for help to get a water storage tank, because they don't have a source of water up there -- other than rain.  I did notice one other home that was collecting the water from the roof in barrels.  I want to research this system, to see if that is a way we could help.  I know that some houses we have visited in the past have a pipe along their roof that collects the water and puts it into a barrel at the end.  

Another house we saw was the home of an elderly lady, who lives by herself.   You can see how the side of the house had the lumber blown off, and she is using plastic sheets on the side.

This is a picture of her toilet area:

In this picture you can see where the roof of another house has been repaired with a new corrugated steel sheet.

When you climb UP a hill (or mountain), you have to come back down.  Here is a picture of Fernando helping me come down - over some rocks.

These people are the most needy of the needy.  I am so grateful we have had the opportunity to help them, and so grateful for the many friends and family that have contributed to this project.  If you would like to donate to help in this work, please go to:

welcomehand.org