Living a Life of Purpose

Fernando Lem Cal often stood in his garden breathing the fresh mountain air of Cerro Verde, Guatemala. Despite his beautiful surroundings, poverty clung heavily to his thoughts. He felt hopeless about ever finding a steady job, selling his harvests or even providing his wife and seven children with the necessities of life.

Then Food for the Hungry offered more than Cal had ever dreamed of in exchange for the use of part of his land as a demonstration plot. Staff members trained him on soil conservation and how to improve his harvests. They introduced appropriate technology and resources, as well as biblical principles that gave him a solid foundation for his spiritual growth.

He has found a new purpose in his life by taking on a leadership role in his community and teaching others what he has learned. He makes sure people learn about soil improvement, pesticides, new vegetables to grow and eat, preventive health, good hygiene, family development and leadership.

He says, “These programs have been a light and blessing for my life. I’m glad to be able to grow plentiful crops and lead my family to embrace the love of God.”

What We Do

Education: Teaches children and young people Christian principles and provides school supplies, improvement of school infrastructures, nutritious snacks, and scholarships for education beyond elementary grades.

Health and Nutrition: Biblically-based teachings to families and schools about how good hygiene and nutrition habits contribute to a healthy community.

Water and Sanitation: Improves water systems, teaches communities how to conserve water resources while also operating and maintaining water systems.

Agricultural development: Greenhouses to qualified and motivated families to improve a community’s overall level of nutrition. Educates communities on how to rebuild their forests and how to properly use and fertilize the soil.

Leadership Development: Teaches biblical principles to help strengthen and equip churches, leaders and other organizations in developing their own communities.

Child Sponsorship: Facilitates the social, physical, spiritual and intellectual development of children and youth.

Food for the Hungry made its entry in Guatemala in 1976 following a devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people.

A former Spanish colony, Guatemala is unequalled in beauty; its heavily-forested mountains dotted with Mayan ruins, lakes, volcanoes, orchids, and exotic birds. The Mayan civilization originated in Guatemala about 2,000 years ago, and about half of the population is of Mayan decent. A variety of military and civilian governments – including a 36-year guerrilla war – ravaged the country’s people and economy. Today, organized crime, violent street gangs and drug trafficking plague the country.

Many Guatemalans are of mixed Indian and Hispanic origin. Except for the wealthy minority, families rely on subsistence farming and suffer from lack of clean water, electricity, health care, and food security. The infant mortality rate is among the highest in Central America, and life expectancy is among the lowest, especially in indigenous communities.