Gabriel (24) and his fiancé, Adayansi Reyes (20), are the happy owners of a new Habitat home in San Juan, Quetzaltenango. Gabriel works as a tuc tuc driver and Adayansi owns a beauty salon. The couple is planning on getting married soon!

“We found out about Habitat programs through my dad, he told me: “son, build your house before you get married, so you can have your own space and no one will bother you; And so we did.” – Gabriel. That is why this young couple, partnered with Habitat Guatemala to build their home and start their own family; to have a space to call their own.

“My biggest wish is to keep our families united; to maintain a relationship with my parents and with Adayansi’s parents, because family is important,” he continues, “I am grateful to my father and father–in-law. They both have helped us a lot. My father gave us the land, and my father-in-law, who is a mason, helped us place the floor and the ceiling,” Gabriel mentions.

When asked how they feel about their new home, Gabriel answers, “To be honest, I feel a little nervous, but exited to start this new journey with my fiancé,” he continues, “We feel joyful. Since the beginning of the process until it was finished and ready to move. We feel very happy!” Adayansi adds, “I feel grateful to have made our dream a reality. Thanks to Habitat for their support,” she continues, “I say to Gabriel that we are going to start from zero, just the two of us, and it makes me happy, to think of planning our family.”

In the future, the family is planning to add a garden in the front yard due to Adayansi’s  love  for plants and flowers, fence around the house and plant a lemon tree as the same as they have in Gabriel’s parents’ home. And of course, in a couple of years, a big family, with children running all around the house! “One of my biggest dreams is to marry Adaynasi and have children with her, because I would love to watch them grow here!”

Regarding the time that the family spent with the volunteers, both Adayansi and Gabriel recall, “It was a good experience, because I had not had the chance to meet people from another country. They were very kind, full of joy and hard workers! Our house was built faster thanks to them.” Adayansi adds, “They are willing to help others without getting anything in return. In just a week, we felt like family among them.”

They conclude their story by sending a message to the volunteers: “Thank you all for your support! I am very grateful to all. May God bless you. We may not get to see you again soon, but we will always remember you.” Gabriel adds, “From the bottom of my heart thank you! As we say in Guatemala, they were ¡Buena onda! (cool people). We look forward to seeing you soon. We now have these memories to cherish and tell our children in the future; that their home was built by people from the Netherlands, Dank u wel.”

Doña Simona lives with her husband Agapito, in a small community in the department of Chimaltenango. Simona takes care of the home, while Agapito works in the field.

Before partnering up with Habitat Guatemala to receive a Smokeless Stove, Simona used to cook over an open flame on the floor called “pollo”. “With the old stove, we consumed much wood and it was uncomfortable,” says Agapito. It caused her and Juan different respiratory diseases and red eyes because of the smoke.

Simón feels really happy with her new stove; “I feel happy. I only have to worry about flipping my tortillas now, I used to burn my hands a lot before, now I don’t burn myself anymore,” she continues, “We save wood too! We do not need to buy it so often, and the smoke stays outside.”

About the day of construction, Agapito recalls; “We had a good time with all of them.” They finish by sharing a message to the volunteers: “First I want to thank God, and then to all of the volunteers that supported us. We are very grateful, not everyone just comes and give you this kind of gifts, thank you!” – Agapito.

María lives with her husband, Aurelio, and their son, Justin, (2), in a small community in Chimaltenango. While Aurelio works in the fields, María takes care of and the household chores, and weaves traditional clothes for an extra income.

As part of Habitat Guatemala’s smokeless stove program, families receive a stove, to help them improve their health by giving them a smoke free environment.

María explains; “I used to cook on an old stove with open flame that I built myself.  Causing me respiratory diseases and burns in my arms. It consumed so much wood too.” When she found out about the project through a relative, she did not think twice, and signed up!

She feels satisfied with her new stove; “ I feel content with it! I can cook all my meals at the same time, it is really big and the best is that is saves wood, I have been using only half of what I used to.”

María refers to her time with the volunteers; “It was fun, I was not able to chat much with them, but they worked hard,” she continues, “I am very grateful to all of you, because of your support I now have a pretty stove.”

Mariela lives in Chimaltenango with her husband, José Sergio, and their daughter, Alisson (1). Thanks to the support of Thrivent Builds, her family received a Habitat smokeless stove so that she can cook in a healthier environment.

Before partnering with Habitat Guatemala to receive her smokeless stove, Mariela used to cook over and open fire on the floor. Causing them respiratory diseases and burns, because they sleep in the same room, where they cook.

When asked how she feels with her new smokeless stove, María responds, “I feel very happy with my new stove! It is working great,” she continues, “We can save wood and the best part is that the smoke no longer stays inside. The family supports their livelihood by working in the fields. Mariela weaves traditional clothes for an additional income.

Regarding their time spent with the volunteers, Mariela shares, “We enjoyed our day together, they worked hard and were funny.”  She finishes by sending a message to the volunteers: “Thank you all for your support in building our stove, we are looking forward to seeing you again.”