Celedona & Apolinario's Family

Sponsor: Greene Family

Apolinario Gomez (57yrs) & Celedona Mendez (46yrs) have 10 kids, ranging from 29 to 3.  8 of them still sleep with them in the same house.  

We have known Celedona for a while.  Apolinario works their land for a living, which they cultivate during the rainy season.  They grow corn, beans, and peas to sell and to eat for themselves.  

The first time Romulo, our crew chief went to see their house, he told us he really wanted to help this lady.  He commented that she works so hard to take care of her huge family, and he feared that her house was going to collapse sooner or later when an earthquake hits (which hit frequently).  The old home was made of adobe (mud) that over time had become brittle and began to crumble.  

When the materials arrived the family was so excited that they carried the materials down the steep path from road to thier home.  It was amazing to see 6-8 year old girls carrying concrete on their heads. I found all 50 of the 100lb bags of concrete in the house as well when we arrived the next day.  Apolinario at 57 years old had carried them down! 

When we finished the house we found out that Celedona and Apolinario were going to sleep in the old house and let the children sleep in the new warm safe house.  A separate donation allowed us to purchase two sets of bunk beds so that the whole family could sleep in the new home together!