December 2018

Good afternoon everyone!

As December comes to a close, I wanted to share with you some exciting news about my breakfast program in Guatemala, Juntos Podemos Cambiar La Niñez (Together We Can Change Childhood).

This week marks our second month of serving free breakfast! We have added four more children to our program, bringing our total to 22. The children arrive between 6:30-7am every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They are taught to wash their hands before eating, a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of disease. Since it is currently summer in Guatemala, the children can stay a little longer to socialize and make new friends. Through our program, the children are able to grow in nutrition, education, and in friendship! For $25 USD a month, one child receives 12 traditional Guatemalan breakfasts. Most breakfasts include beans, rice, eggs, tortillas, bananas, plantains, etc. Cereal is occasionally served, which all the children love!

Currently 13 of our 22 children have individual sponsors. We are also receiving help from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Kansas City, a long-time supporter of mission work in Guatemala. I am so grateful for all the support we receive. There is no other name more fitting for our organization than “Together We Can.”

In addition to our breakfast program, we have some surprises for the children to celebrate Christmas and the New Year! On December 21st, the children and their families are invited for a special lunch. With the help of my friend, Tobie Spears, we raised enough money to buy each child a toy and an outfit for Christmas! Backpacks and school supplies were also donated to make sure the children are ready for the new school year that starts in January. My Guatemalan friends wanted to help and have donated a piñata, refreshments, and cake for the party!

I will be returning to Guatemala for the 14th time on January 4th! I plan to bring items down for our store that is opening in January. All sales go directly back into our organization to cover rent, utilities, and cleaning supplies. We will sell a variety of items at a lower price, including: clothes, shoes, socks, purses, toiletries, vitamins, over the counter medications, blankets, toys, etc. Ingrid, Lucy’s mother and our “chef,” will be running the store. I am also taking down a few donations for Marta, the midwife who I was able to help back in September. Since we started serving breakfast after I left Guatemala, I am beyond excited to see and experience the program firsthand! What was only an idea back in September now is a reality: a reality that 22 children are getting the nutrition they need, forming friendships with one another, and are being loved and cared for by their community.  

 Thank you all for your continued support, encouragement, and prayers. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and may this holiday season be filled with joy and time spent with loved ones! God bless each of you and your families.

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” -St. Teresa of Calcutta

Sincerely,

Victoria Masucci