Family projects with Jose Miguel Yllescas Juarez and Maritza Ovalle

Jennifer Demar

My husband and I adopted two children from Guatemala when they were toddlers, and then were blessed with a homegrown third child a number of years later. We live in Oconomowoc, WI.

Our first trip to Guatemala as a complete family was in August 2015. We wanted our older kids to have familiarity with their birth country, as it would offer a clear picture as to the struggles that many in Guatemala face and hopefully an understanding of some underlying issues that may have had an impact in their adoption stories. We traveled with four other families, two which also had the international adoption tie to Guatemala!

Each one of us was blessed by the trip, some more than others, and perhaps in different ways. As for me, my life was changed forever. I knew that service work and helping the people of Guatemala would be in the forefront for a very long time.

Aside from the fact that we have children born in Guatemala, we choose Guatemala because it is a less-developed nation with needs so much greater than ours and so much less government support for those that truly need it. Plus, the cost of “doing” there is so much less that a little bit of money goes a LONG way.

Peggy McDaniel

My name is Peggy McDaniel. I discovered my love for Guatemala and the Mayan culture on my first volunteer trip there in 2012. I have been fortunate to return many times since. I’ve worked with several coffee farmer groups, women weavers, rug hookers as well as building homes and delivering water filters to the out lying and remote villages. The resilience of the Guatemalan people and the smiles of the children keep me going back. I recently retired after 35 years being a potter and now I get to enjoy extended stays down there. I hope to continue working with the people of Guatemala in any way I can to enrich their lives as much as they have enriched mine!

Tammi Krueger Poe

Hola! Sadly, that is the only Spanish I know!

My name is Tammi Krueger Poe and I am excited to be a part of this group. We adopted our daughter from Guatemala in 2000 at 6 months old. We also have 2 bio boys. We live in Milwaukee, WI. I didn’t give much thought to traveling back to Guatemala until my daughter seemed to need and want a connection to her birth country. We are currently in the middle of a birth family search with not a lot of luck. We traveled together in 2019 and it was amazing! I instantly fell in love with the people. I could not get over how loving, caring, happy, and generous they were with so little.

Then I happened to come across GSP on an adoption Facebook page and got connected with Jennifer. I recently retired from a 34 year teaching gig and was looking for something. And then I traveled in Oct. 2020 in the middle of a pandemic with GSP and I knew I had found my something. I was more committed than ever to do what I could with all that I had been blessed with to help Guatemala. I am honored to now be part of the insides of GSP and can’t wait to learn more and do more!

Patti Stewart-Garbrecht

My journey started 15 years ago when my husband and I adopted our daughter from Guatemala. We had always planned to go back to visit. I became acquainted with Jennifer and Guatemala Service Projects after seeing a post on a parent FB page. We started sponsoring children and donating for stoves, seeds, chickens, etc. Then…I realized that they offered trips to Guatemala. At this point I was retired from my career in healthcare and plenty of time to travel. So I embarked on a trip with Guatemala Service Projects. I knew that the trip would be more than a vacation. I knew that I would be able to see firsthand how our donations were used and distributed. I knew that I would be able to meet the children we sponsor. What I didn’t realize was that it would completely change my life. I came back to the states with a fund raising goal, a bunch of new friends and a whole lot of enthusiasm. I am so honored and humbled to be a part of Guatemala Service Projects not only as a donor but as a board member. I have taken on this challenge as my new life’s purpose.

Regi Akan

I was fortunate enough to be born in Guatemala and then moved to the United States with my mom and brother when I was 10 years old. Since then, I’ve made Wisconsin my home and started my own family with a successful career. All my life I’ve thankfully had the opportunity to enjoy personal visits with family and friends in Guatemala and have noticed while traveling through some small villages a need for education, suitable water, healthcare, and food. Buying a stranger a meal or donating small amounts while traveling through these villages just never seemed as far reaching, impactful, or encompassing as I would’ve liked. I began searching for organizations that were able to help at a larger scale and discovered Guatemala Service Projects. Knowing that this organization was selflessly enabling those in need to help themselves, I knew that I had found a special place that I wanted to be a part of. I am honored and humbled to join the rest of the Guatemala Service Projects team in helping folks in need within the beautiful country of Guatemala.

Trent Faith

I found Guatemala through a Transcultural Healthcare trip I took with WCTC in 2016. I graduated in May of 2017 after studying Surgical Technology. I am the father of two terrific boys, JT and Barret and have been married to their mother, Cindi Faith, for 25 years. I am a cycling enthusiast and enjoy playing the drums, but have found my life’s calling over the last several years with many trips to Guatemala.

Rebecca Stone

Becky Stone participated in a transcultural healthcare trip with Trent Faith, Vice-President of Guatemala Service Projects, and fell in love with Guatemala. She returned with the nonprofit in August 2019 to provide house visits to the elderly and is excited to go again in the future, putting her nursing skills to use in the villages we support.

Guatemala Service Projects Inc

LA NECESIDAD

Guatemala es un país en desarrollo con belleza en todos lados: volcanes activos, diversos ecosistemas, mercados de artesanías de fama mundial, una rica historia colonial Maya y Española y un paisaje montañoso increíble se combinan para formar la Tierra de la Eterna Primavera.

Su gente, igualmente hermosa en herencia y tradiciones indígenas Mayas, enfrenta desafíos en la vida diariamente que la mayoría del mundo desarrollado da por hecho. La desnutrición crónica, el analfabetismo, las escasas oportunidades económicas, el aislamiento social, el acceso deficiente al agua potable y el ingreso sistémico y la desigualdad de la riqueza son resultados duraderos de la guerra civil de 36 años del país. Las estadísticas son sorprendentes, como el 59% de la población que vive por debajo del umbral de pobreza nacional y el 23% que vive en la pobreza extrema, con el 13.4% de las familias que dependen del trabajo de menores para sobrevivir.

A pesar de todo esto, la verdadera belleza de Guatemala es la perseverancia, los valores y la esperanza de su pueblo para un futuro mejor. Cuando los recursos están disponibles, los miembros de la comunidad se unen para mejorar sus condiciones de vida, salud y educación.

NUESTRO DESAFIO

Guatemala Service Projects, Inc. existe para llevar estos recursos escasos a las comunidades que estan ansiosos de mejorar los resultados para las generaciones presentes y futuras. Los miembros de nuestra junta y los intermediarios de confianza en Guatemala se comunican directamente con los comités, educadores y organizaciones de las aldeas que especifican la prioridad de sus necesidades e identifican los recursos que podemos proporcionar. Las mejoras en las instalaciones escolares, los programas de vitaminas, las bibliotecas, los patrocinios educativos y los jardines comunitarios son solo algunos ejemplos de los programas que tenemos en marcha. Los miembros de nuestra junta viajan periódicamente a Guatemala con equipos de viaje para participar de primera mano en los proyectos que apoyamos mediante la entrega de suministros, la colaboración con educadores, la instalación de equipos y la distribución de productos donados. Ser testigo de la resolución, la laboriosidad y el aprecio de nuestros beneficiarios nos da el ímpetu para seguir ofreciendo estas oportunidades.

TU APOYO

Agradecemos su visita a nuestro sitio web para explorar todas las formas en que Guatemala Service Projects, Inc. crea nuevas posibilidades para las comunidades desfavorecidas e indígenas en Guatemala. Su apoyo es la fuerza impulsora de nuestra organización y esperamos su ayuda con nuestras iniciativas.

Mindi Vavra

I travel to Guatemala with Family Smiles, a non-profit dentist group ran by Dr. Frank Patterson. I am in charge of the operations and finance areas of Family Smiles, which includes booking trips, keeping track of supplies needed, and working with locals to make schedules and make sure each day is efficient, and as predictable as possible. I have over 18 years experience in accounting, finance, operations, and strategic planning. I am currently the COO for the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation (REDCO), the economic development arm of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. I have been with REDCO for 8 years, and have helped with the development of new companies, job creation, process development, financial management, and strategic planning. I love my job, but my heart is in Guatemala.

Carol Cowan-Crawford

My husband and I had the honor and privilege to adopt our son Marc from Guatemala. Our first trip to Guatemala was May 2007; we met Marc for the first time in person. We also traveled back in July 2007 and to pick him up in August 2007; our daughter Stacey came with us on our last trip to bring Marc home. We fell in love with Marc and his country quickly. We noticed the needs of individuals and families. We have been part of giving financially to aid some of needs we noticed and heard about, for example: student sponsorship and pregnant mother well-checks. I did not feel I was involved enough; I wanted to do more. I have been given the opportunity to serve on the Guatemala Service Projects Board of Directors. I am excited to begin serving the people of Guatemala and the nonprofit! We have future plans to travel back with Guatemala Service Projects; we want Marc to experience his heritage first-hand through helping projects. My background includes: counseling in the field for 12+ years (domestic violence, abuse, and drug and alcohol treatment). I currently work as an instructor at Penn State University. I look forward to this new adventure with my family!

Michael Margolies

Hi, I’m Mike Margolies. Lillian (my wife) and I brought Andrew home from Guatemala on October 11th, 2001. It was exactly one month after 9/11, the horrendous day that no one will ever forget. From the window of my parents’ apartment, I watched the smoke billow out from Ground Zero, having the same fears and sorrow as the rest of the country, but also feeling intense personal sadness that despite all the time, work, and effort which had exhausted us emotionally and physically, our hopes were floating away as well. It is just one more reason why I have always considered the adoption as a gift, which demanded some type of repayment. That feeling grew even stronger over the recent past, as I’ve learned about the refugee crisis, and heard “Guatemala” mentioned so many times on the news.

The “right” opportunity arose when I learned about a travel opportunity for adoptive families which would include volunteer work and cultural sightseeing. Being members of that team had a profound impact on me, Lillian and Andrew. Not only were we able to make a real connection to our son’s birthplace, but we met incredibly warm and generous people, all of whom we now consider to be a part of our “family.” In addition to the volunteer work I shared with the Team, I also was able to “give back” by performing as my alter ego, “Farfel the Clown” at a barbecue for children of The Backyard School. It will remain one the proudest and happiest memories of my life.

While in Guatemala, I got to know some of the most courageous and impressive people I’ve ever met in my life, people that create opportunity and help the Guatemalan people. Through participation on that team, I had the wonderful pleasure to meet Jennifer Demar, who not only always promptly responds to my FB messages, but “gets” my offbeat and silly humor. Through the donation of my time, money and ideas, as well as via future repeat trips to Guatemala, I am committed to the mission of Guatemala Service Projects.

I feel very proud and honored to have been selected as a member of the GSP Board, and I am looking forward to serving and assisting with the foundation to the best of my ability.

Mary Morris

My love for Guatemala began with the adoption of my son Aiden in 2006. It was through the birth family’s home-study report that I became aware of their financial circumstances and more than a little horrified that his mother was raising 6 children on the equivalent of $120 US per month. Our exposure to the people of Guatemala was limited to what we could see from the plane windows during approach on our visit and pick-up trips and the time we spent in Guatemala City.

Flash forward 14 years, I have just returned from my second tourism/ service trip. I have spent time with Jose Miguel, Pastor Jacob and Ada from Nuevo Reto, and Iris of the Backyard School. I believe that having people who live in the communities who are able to identify the needs and then work to support their communities by filling those needs is the best way to improve the health and welfare of these wonderful people.

It wasn’t until a few years ago, however, that I became involved in trying to help make lives better by supporting Jennifer’s incredible projects and sponsoring children at the Backyard School and Nuevo Reto. I am very excited to have been asked to join the board and hope that I am able to work with the team to grow support and raise awareness of the needs of these beautiful people.

My husband John and I have been married for 25 years. In addition to Aiden, we have an adult son who joined me last year when I visited Guatemala and he says it was the best experience of his life. I enjoy reading and genealogy research.

Jennifer Scratch

While I was in high school I did community theater. During one of our productions we met a wonderful woman who was Guatemalan. I spent a lot of time with her for the 12 weeks we were in production. She showed me her culture. I had even traveled to the Daly Plaza to see her and some friends perform a dance. She had given me tokens of her culture that I had treasured for years. Sadly, after the production was over I never saw her again. I don’t recall her name anymore, but I remember her.

When we went to adopt, we chose Guatemala because both I and my husband had been influenced by people from this country. For my husband it was a college classmate. For a while they had been pen pals when she had moved back, but eventually that faded.

In February of 2007 we brought home our seven-month old son from Guatemala, Julian Alexander.

When Jennifer Demar was looking for help with getting Guatemala Service Projects up and running, I jumped on the wagon.

I’d like to give back to the country that has given me so much.

Diego Xirum

Diego grew up in one of the poorest communities in Chichicastenango, Quiché, Guatemala. Having lived in poverty for many years and living with many difficulties, Diego decided to improve the quality of life for himself and his people of Guatemala through employment with various nonprofit organizations doing work there.

Diego is a motivated and flexible team player who enjoys working on a project from inception to completion. He is an experienced project manager with a proven track record of developing accounting plans, managing staff, and coordinating international volunteer group activities. He is multilingual, with excellent communication in English, Spanish, and K´iché (Mayan Language), and utilizes technical skills in developing administrative programs for nonprofit organizations and companies.

In 2007, he graduated as an Accountant in Guatemala and then continued his studies in the United States. Diego received an Associate Degree in Applied Science Individual Studies from Broome Community College – State University of New York in 2013 and worked as manager and administrator for a US-based company before returning to Guatemala.

Welcome back,