Before: Marielena's house was a shanty with no walls and offered little protection from the wind and rain.

IQUITOS, Peru– Barefoot, Marielena tiptoes through the mucky, brown water, carefully avoiding splintered boards and pieces of trash peeking out from the dirty surface. As she approaches a tent-like structure, precariously balanced on sticks and sheltered by torn trash bags, she smiles.

Her grandson Stanley peers back at her with dark, yet bright toddler eyes. She is home.

This wall-less lean-to isn’t much of a house, but it’s all Marielena can afford. Earning less than two dollars a day as a garbage collector doesn’t provide much else for her and Stanley, whom she’s been supporting after he was abandoned by his parents.

Marielena has been on her own for the last 18 years, ever since her abusive husband abandoned her and left her homeless.

“My husband would constantly beat me,” she said. “He would throw me out of the house.”

She dreamt of a solid home, a place she could raise Stanley safely and more comfortably.

Marielena and her grandson Stanley stand with the construction team in front of their new home.

“I could never have a house for myself. Now I look at how my house is, in the middle of a swamp,” Marielena said. “I often look for a place of refuge, and I go to church asking God to give me a house. I have faith that God will give me a house.”

Marielena’s prayers were answered when Operation Blessing stepped in to provide the shelter she and Stanley so desperately needed.

An OBI-organized team of volunteers constructed a solid wood house with walls, a thatched roof and windows – all in one day and for just $350. Marielena stroked the smooth, clean wood planks, tears welling in her eyes.

“I feel as if I am dreaming,” she said. “I never thought I would have a house like this. I thought I would always be surrounded by plastic bottles and scraps of wood.”

Now Marielena’s dream has also come true for other needy families in the area. According to Jordan Durso, OBI’s director for Latin America, Marielena inspired an ongoing home building project with more than 25 homes constructed so far.

“Now I can sleep safe and sound and not worry that the rain will wet us,” Marielena said, with a smile across her face. “Thank you, Operation Blessing. Thank you.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

This microenterprise venture is one of many Operation Blessing projects touching lives around the world. You can be a part of improving the quality of life for impoverished communities by supporting these and other life-changing programs.

 

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