Dear Friends, Family and Hogar de Vida Supporters,

When visitors come to the Home of Life and Nutrition in Guatemala, they often comment on how smoothly the home runs. "It's like a well-oiled machine!" Everyone has a role and fulfills their responsibility. Even the kids have their chores to do with the older kids helping with the younger kids.  This does not happen by accident. It is the result of an excellent support team. 

The Home of Life is located in San Andres Sajcabaja, a rural town of 4000 people in the mountains of central Guatemala. Due to the size of the town, and other contributing factors, full time staff is hard to find. Our staff is small but mighty.

In addition to the Directors, Sebastian and Oralia, and the Missionaries, Norman and Vickie, who live on site, we have  a part-time Administrator, four full time workers and one part-time tutor. Each child has an age appropriate daily chore. Once a child reaches Basico, the U.S. equivalent of 7^th grade, they earn an allowance by completing a second daily chore. The older girls help with the cooking, cleaning and caring for the little ones. The older boys help with chores and work projects around the home. Together we are a big family caring for each other and getting done what needs to be done.

We are so thankful for the staff that God has brought to the home. Being a worker at the Home of Life is a calling, not just a job. Our workers go over and above their normal work hours to provide all the care the children need. Recently one of our little boys was hospitalized for three weeks. The workers took turns staying with Jose 24/7.  We currently have two infants.  The on-site workers take turns with night feedings. What a blessing to have a team that shares the burden in order to make the load light.  God is good.

Our goal is to pay our national staff a good wage that allows them to care for their family. In order to cover all the salaries, we need $2400 per month. Please prayerfully consider giving monthly towards staff salaries or sponsoring a staff member for $300 or two staff members for $600 per month. Check out the Sponsorship Program for more information.

MEET THE STAFF  

Sebastian and Oralia are the Directors of the home. They started working part time in the home over 15 years ago. They both accepted Christ as their Savior through the ministry of the home. Over time, they began working full time, moved on site with their family, and then in 2007 became the Directors of the home. They have four boys of their own, ages 22, 20, 18, and 11.  Sebastian and Oralia are gifted and anointed by the Lord for this position and He is using them in a mighty way to care for children who have no one else.

Amilcar is a retired school teacher who has been working as part-time Administrator for 13 years. Amilcar is our legal representative and handles the daily finances. He and his wife Betty live in town and run a catering/restaurant business. Amilcar is a Grandpa figure to the kids and is often seen handing out candy.

Zoila first worked at the home when she was 13 years old and worked for several years. After working elsewhere for a few years, she returned full time in 2007. Zoila is married and lives in town. She has a heart for children and is especially good at loving on the little ones.

Lita joined the staff full time in 2005. Lita is a widow, living in town with her 14 year old daughter and her mother who she also cares for. Lita is a hard worker and dependable. We are thankful to have her on staff.

Olga came to Hogar de Vida in July of 2012. She is a single mom who lives in town with her four children ages 19, 17, 11, and 10. Olga is a hard worker and uses her good parenting skills to help raise the children of the home.

Juana, age 15, is our newest staff member, starting full time in January of this year. She attended school through 8^th grade and then began working to help support her family. Her family lives in a village a half hour from town, but Juana lives on site at the home. She is very mature for her age, works hard and is a good big sister to the younger girls.

Luis has been our part time tutor for the last two years. He helps students with their homework and serves as the home's liaison with the schools. He is the oldest son of the Directors, Sebastian and Oralia, and lives on site with his family.

FROM THE EDITOR 

Our readers will notice that for two newsletters in a row, we've asked for additional financial support for our caregivers, and that we make that appeal frequently. Frankly, it's true and we feel the same way. In both Costa Rica and Guatemala, salaries and benefits for our caregivers is by far our largest expense. The expenses keep increasing driven by the rising standard of living in these developing countries; ever increasing government mandates for salaries, benefits and expanded services (esp. Costa Rica;) our desire to pay a fair wage that allows caregivers to care for their own families; and the need to remain somewhat competitive to avoid staff turnover. We appreciate you our faithful donors.