Berta Mixtun's Family

Sponsor: Vinnie and Lauren Lulli - Jacksonville, FL

Berta Mixtun is a 32 year old mother of 8.  7 years ago, her husband died in an auto accident and she and her children have lived together in a one room shack ever since.  

Berta works between 60-90 hours a week at the local cooperative preparing vegetables for export to the US.  The older daughters care for the younger when their mom is not there. Somehow, several of the girls remain in school, working hard to better their future.  They are a very closely knit family, fighting hard to make ends meet without a father/husband to help.

When we first visited, Berta was at work and her daughters told her that we had come by.  She later told me that she was so excited and told the girls "maybe they want to build a house for us!"  

The family was so excited through the whole building process.  When we finished the house we realized that they were sleeping on what looked like a bed but was actually just wood where there would have been a mattress.  We were able to provided a bunk bed with mattresses from a separate donation.  The day we brought the bed they were so excited, they couldn't believe that were getting a new bed.

At the key ceremony we prayed for the family and Brock shared with the girls that even though they don't have a father, their heavenly father loves them, is watching over them and taking care of them.  The three teenage daughters were trying to hide their emotions but couldn't hold back the tears. It was a very special day, and another home provided to a special and very deserving family.

"True religion is this: caring for the widows and orphans in their distress."  Thank you Lulli family for donating this home to a very special family.