House #9

This house was built for Norma Arevalo. She is a 30 year old lady with two daughters; Emely Yamileth Arevalo, age 11 and Yenifer Elizabeth Arevalo, age 6.

Norma found out 3 years ago that she might get a house. She never gave up hope and praises God that her dreams are coming true. She expressed thanks to us for making this house possible.

Norma was the oldest child in her family and she was given a lot of chores on the family farm and in their house. Consequently, because of her work and because she didn’t like school, she only went to school until grade 4. Norma told us about once when she didn’t want to go to school she cut her hair off quite short in the hopes that her parents wouldn’t send her to school, however it didn’t work, they made her go to school. Now, she recognizes the value of learning and wants her daughters to continue with their education. They like school so it is not difficult to get them to go.

Norma was married; however, 6 years ago her husband went to the United States to earn extra money. He forgot about them and has not been back. She does talk to him once in a while but doesn’t know what he is doing or who he is with. (One of the reasons we build houses in El Salvador is so that men don`t feel like they have to go away to earn extra money to provide a house for their family.) Norma and her daughters have been living in her father’s house which is located beside her new house. She works in the fields and in the house in support of the family. They also buy used clothes and re-sell them as a way to earn money.

Norma is a hard working lady and she has dedicated her life to her daughters. She does have some days of sickness but she thanks God for her generally good health. She has pain in one of her fingers and in some of her joints. She is very thankful to God and us for providing a home of their own. She attends a Catholic church sometimes; getting to it is difficult. She gets together with others for bible studies. She has a strong faith that Jesus is alive and she recognizes Him as her Saviour and provider and sees this as the common bond that we all have. She said that we will stay in her heart and she feels attached to us.  Her whole family attends church and they regard themselves as Christians. She is content with what she has, even though it isn’t much; they have each other. You can see this in the smiles on their faces!

by Clark Hannah and Mark Townson