Meet Yolanda

Well, I guess you can’t really meet Yolanda, she is a little too busy working at the moment. But I can share with you a little bit about her life, through the eyes of her children. Yolanda lives high in the mountains outside of Antigua, above Barrio La Cruz. She shares 2 small rooms with her 5 children, as well as her husband (when he is home.) Today we hiked up a steep path to visit this family to which Paso a Paso has dedicated much time and resources.

Yolanda’s husband has been gone for a month now, and isn’t expected for perhaps another.
This is a typical scenario for many woman in Barrio La Cruz. Mayan worship is still very strong in the hills of Guatemala. The main god, Moshimo, is honored through rounds of tequila. When something good happens, the father will get drunk on tequila, praising Moshimo for his goodness. And when something goes wrong, the father will get drunk on tequila, asking Moshimo for forgiveness. There are many drunk, absent fathers in Barrio La Cruz.

Yolanda’s husband, however, is not a drunk. Rather, they are suffering the second generation effect. He comes from a family of abusive drunks. But in the past few years, since Paso a Paso has been a part of their lives, the couple has taken great strides in being less physically and verbally abusive. Stephanie and her friend Tito have been able to do some intervention counseling with the couple, and according to the children, it seems to be helping. When Stephanie first met their daughter Flor, she was not doing well. But today, Paso a Paso sponsors all 5 children to go to school, and they are all thriving.

I don’t want you to think that Yolanda’s life is all bad, it isn’t. She has many blessings to be thankful for. She belongs to a tight-knit community that helps one another when in need. Her family (mother, father and 10 siblings) live just a stone’s throw across the valley. Her children are beautiful and thriving. Although she works hard, she has a job that supports her family. She has much to be proud of.

I share Yolanda’s story with you to give you a glimpse of life here in Barrio La Cruz. These are the types of families that Paso a Paso is dedicated to building up. The goal is not to modernize their homes, send their kids to school and turn them into the “perfect” western family. But rather to come along side them, giving them the resources, skills and education to grow as a family. The hope is that in a few years, they will not need our help, but rather, continue enjoying the friendship of Paso a Paso.