Juliana Panjoj lives with her husband, Roberto Peher, and their six children in the community in Sololá. While Juliana’s husband works in agriculture, she weaves, takes care of the home, and of the older children when they are home from school.

As part of Habitat for Humanity Guatemala’s Healthy Home Kit program, Juliana and her family were able to build a new latrine. Another woman who lives in her town works as a community volunteer with Habitat Guatemala and that is how Juliana first learned about the Healthy Home Kits.

“Our new latrine is so much better,” Juliana exclaims. “It’s more comfortable and more private, too!”

“We have never experienced anything like this before,” says Juliana of the volunteers who helped her family build the new latrine. “We want to thank you so much for helping our family build something we needed and that we use. We remember you all happily.”

Carlos and Clementina Juarcax’s primary motivation to build a new home was for their three children: Carina, Elvis, and Eddi. When they learned about the low-interest loan that Habitat for Humanity Guatemala offers families, they knew that this was a way to make their dream a reality. In order to qualify for a Habitat Guatemala home, families have to be able to make monthly mortgage payments. Carlos works selling food and refreshments, so the family was able to make this commitment.

When the couple talks about their new home, their joy is obvious. “Before we all shared one bedroom,” Carlos explains. “Now, the boys share a room and Carina has her own room. They were so excited! She was especially excited to have her own room–they even picked them out while the house was under construction!”

“We moved into the house on September 28th,” he continues. “And we’ve worked hard to save and buy new furniture for our children, such as this couch.” Clementina jumps in and talks about how much she enjoys the style of the house. “It’s different than the other houses around here,” she says. “When people come over they always compliment our house, and we love it too! We are so proud and happy to be here.”

Carlos also has a message he would like to share with the volunteers who spent a week helping build their home: “Thank you so much for the help you gave us! We are so happy to live in our own house. May God bless you always!”

María Guarcax lives in Sololá, with her husband Sirilo Meletz, and their children. Sirilio works as a baker and the rest of the family work in the fields near their home: planting, caring for, and harvesting crops.

Before learning about Habitat for Humanity Guatemala through a neighbor, María had to cook for her family on the floor of the kitchen. “Cooking was so difficult before,” she shares. “Our new stove does a much better job of cooking beans.” Besides making her life easier, the smokeless stove also funnels smoke out of the kitchen so the family no longer deals with irritated throats and eyes while cooking.

The family remembers the day the volunteers came as being a very good day. “May your lives be blessed,” Sirilo says. “Thank you for coming to help my family.”

Juana Paulina lives in a community in Sololá, with her son, Oliver, and her husband Francisco. Juana takes care of Oliver full time while Francisco works in agriculture.

When she learned about the opportunity to build a smokeless stove with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, she knew immediately it was something she wanted to do for her family. “Before my new stove, I cooked on the floor of my kitchen and I was always worried that Oliver would fall into the fire,” Juana says.

Now, Oliver is much safer and Juana can cook without the fear of Oliver or one of his friends burning themselves. Additionally, she no longer suffers from headaches and eye irritation from cooking over an open flame. The family is also able to save money because they now use half the amount of wood for cooking. “One big bundle of wood used to last twenty-five days,” Juana explains. “Now it lasts for two months. It’s good to have a little more money because there are always expenses.”

Juana also remembers that Oliver loved playing with the volunteers and said it was fun to have them for the day. She sends her thanks from Guatemala!