Choma, the matron of the Gonzales Family, works hard from home to provide for herself and her children as she is able. Given that Selvin, her son who has a wife and two little children, is still waiting his turn for surgery through Guatemala’s social healthcare system, he cannot work as he once used to. They all live on the same small plot of land, divided by corrugated metal to afford each part of the family some privacy.

Choma talking to the contractor about her new roof

Our short term missions team to Guatemala in December helped them repair some of the roofing so that it doesn’t leak (which has been a huge help given that Guatemala’s rainy season is in full swing).

Now that they have a newer roof that protects them from the elements, there is a new issue arising to address. Choma makes tamales of different versions, but the fire and smoke from how they are cooked cause her some respiratory issues. So, she is forced to either suffer with the symptoms or go to the hospital to try to get medicine to recover from the affects of smoke inhalation. What else is she to do?

This highlights the struggles of self-sustainability. She is doing all she can to maintain her home, but those same things she can do also cause damage to her health. In the long run, it seems counterproductive as she has to buy medicine for her symptoms.