The Gift of Decent Housing and Nutritious Food
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Construction of the sturdy, new homes.
hen COVID-related restrictions reached San Benito Petén, Guatemala early last summer, they negatively affected the area’s alreadystruggling families the most. That’s why, in accordance with all safety precautions, our Salesian missionaries forged ahead with plans to assist those in need. First, they successfully continued a project initially launched in 2018 to improve living conditions among impoverished residents. In total, the project built and donated 20 new houses to families who had previously lived in shacks constructed from sheet metal, plastic, and scraps of wood. As Father Giampiero de Nardi reports, the simple yet decent houses have been life-changing for recipients. “One thing especially struck me,” he says, “and that was to see men cry when the house was handed over to them.” In a traditionally 14 Winter/Spring 2021
