Hi! This June, I am going to Guatemala to build a home for a local family in need; while strengthening my Spanish skills to carry into my healthcare career. The program is called ImagininGuatemala and I am going thru my high school Spanish department. ImagininGuatemala is a non-profit dedicated to providing housing, food and water support, educational resources, and health services to those in need in Guatemala. As you can see from the pictures, the families that qualify for this project are truly in need of the basics; many of them living on less than 2 US dollars per day. Many of these families are currently living in makeshift structures made of cornstalks, cardboard or small pieces of wood. Their current structures are not secure and provide unhealthy living conditions.

While there, our team will adopt a family and build them a safe home made of cinderblock with cement and tile floors. A life changing water purifier and locks for the windows and door will also be provided. 

I will be staying with a host family; fully immersed in the culture. I am excited to get to know the family that we are adopting. The family can provide additional requests of things that they desperately need, like basic medical, sanitary and clothing supplies. 

To help me prepare for my upcoming trip I am raising money to help cover the expenses. The cost to build the home, provide food and lodging for myself and airfare is approximately $3,000. In addition, for me to make this trip has also included two special trips to Mayo to fine tune my cardiac emergency plan and Cochlear implants in addition to ordering additional cochlear implant supplies to make sure my equipment stays adequately charged and working properly in the conditions. If I am fortunate enough to raise any additional funds, I would be so grateful to purchase some of the additional supplies that my adopted family needs. 

I am so excited for this opportunity to serve, make a difference in lives of a deserving family, prove to myself that my own health challenges will not limit my goals, and become more proficient in my Spanish to be of value back here in the states in my goals for the future. 

My goal is to raise $3,000. My trip with ImagininGuatemala is tax deductible and I will provide you with a receipt to this 501 (c) (3) qualified charity. 

Every little bit helps! In the meantime, learn more about my project by looking at the ImagininGuatemala Facebook page and their website at www.ImagininGuatemala.org. Thank you!