Marina Duran is a member of Jesus Es La Vida (Jesus is the Life) Lutheran Church in La Fragua, a small village near Zacapa, Guatemala. She and her family have been chosen by her congregation and CALMS to receive a new house in the coming months.
Several weeks ago, Pastor Miguel Torneire and DCE Sean Chapman, CALMS’ missionary-at-large and board member respectively, visited Marina and her family to see their situation first-hand. With them were two representatives of Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, who are hoping to work with CALMS to help families like Marina’s and her congregation in La Fragua.
Marina explained that just a month earlier, her son, who was the main breadwinner for the family, was killed. This left her and her daughter Otilia Anton and two grand-daughters, Susan and Hilary, with the double tragedy of losing a son, brother and uncle—and almost no financial support!
Marina and Otilia, a widow and single mother, more than meet CALMS’ criteria since they and their children are among the most vulnerable people in their community.
