C O R E M E M B E R S
Anton, Charlotte, Jairo, & Eli
coming soon
Arturo, Norma, Arturo Jr., & Gabriel
Take one step inside the Martinez family’s home and you immediately feel the warmth and love this family shares with each other, their family, and their friends. The walls are adorned with a variety of pictures, art, and finished puzzles. Wind chimes occasionally jingle unless you manage to avoid the various chimes hanging both inside and outside the home. If you’re lucky enough to catch them at the right time, the smell of Arturo’s tamales or Norma’s pozole (hominy and pork soup) fills the home. In the next room, Arturo Jr. and his girlfriend play video games to take a break from studying for their upcoming chemistry test. Then, as you step out the back door onto their amazing back deck (complete with a large Southern Magnolia tree coming right up through a framed opening), Arturo and Norma’s eight-year-old son Gabriel whizzes by on his roller-scooter, chased by fellow Alterna kid, Eli.
Arturo and Norma have been married for 17 years and have two sons, Arturo Jr. (16) and Gabriel (8). Arturo works as a painter and carpenter, but enjoys fishing, cooking, and playing soccer in his free time. Norma provides childcare for two little girls, ages 1 and 2, and a little boy who is 6 months old. She enjoys doing crafts such as making piñatas or paper flowers, and she likes to listen to Cumbia music from Colombia. Like many high schoolers, Arturo Jr. likes to play video games whenever possible, but prioritizes his studies and family. Occasionally, he translates for other Latino friends and family when they have need. Gabriel – or Gaby – likes playing games and sports, making crafts and, as he says, “building stuff.”
The Martinez’s have lived in LaGrange for 11 years and have strongly invested in the neighborhood they’ve called home since 2002. The neighborhood kids can often be found tossing a football or throwing a Frisbee in their front yard, which is slightly larger, flatter, and more open than most yards nearby. Friends and neighbors have also been involved in planting, weeding, tilling, and harvesting in the community garden next to their house (on their land). They are generous in sharing the eggs laid by their chickens housed in a coop in their backyard. For birthday parties, Norma will make a piñata, which Arturo controls to fool the blindfolded person as he or she swings.
One couldn’t ask for a better neighbor than the Martinez family and it’s obvious to see why they are co-founders of Alterna. As you get to know them and spend time with them, it isn’t long before you feel like part of the family.
C O O P E R A T I V E H O U S I N G M E M B E R S
Enrique, Miriam, America, & Santiago
Known for their hospitable and humorous personalities, as well as for their tasty meals, Enrique and Miriam Guzman have been a part of Alterna’s cooperative housing family ever since their arrival to the United States.
Enrique and Miriam have a couple for 14 years. Enrique, originally from Veracruz, Mexico, moved to LaGrange in 2002 and began work at a local mill. Miriam, who is from Mexico City, followed him in 2003 along with their daughter, America. Miriam worked at same mill for a time, but now sells empanadas and tacos at the local Latino soccer league games. She also sells Avon products. Enrique enjoys fishing and eating tamales. Miriam enjoys listening to music, dancing, and watching T.V. Her favorite foods are milanesa and Mexican spaghetti.
Enrique and Miriam’s two children, America and Santiago, attend school in LaGrange. America is a self-described shy seventh grader who enjoys swimming, listening to music, and eating pizza. When she gets older, America wants to serve children, either as a kindergarten teacher or a pediatrician. “Santi” is a kindergartener who enjoys dancing, swimming, and visiting the countryside. His favorite foods are spaghetti, sopes, and quesadillas.
The Guzman family radiates the friendliness and hospitality characteristic of Alterna. They’ve been a blessing to us all!
Anacely, Darinel, Jordy, & Helen
written by Cherilyn Larsen, Alterna/Mission Year intern (’10-’11)
Almost every time I walk past Anacely and Darinel’s house three doors down from ours, three-year-old Jordy sticks his head out the door and yells, “Camila!” He runs to get his mom to show her that I’m there, and before I know it, I’m flipping Jordy upside-down over my shoulder and opening my arms to 18-month-old Helen as she waddles toward me with a cheek-to-cheek grin on her face. Anacely stands in the doorway, laughing at me as I’m overrun by her kids. Soon I’m in their kitchen, entertaining Jordy with the fold-up Chico bag that I keep in my purse and playing peek-a-boo with Helen. All the while, Anacely and I laugh at one another’s silly Spanish and English sayings. When she brings me a bowl of delicious bean soup with recado, a roasted chili sauce, Jordy runs over to the fridge to get me a water bottle, and Helen totters over to her high chair to join the meal.
When I first moved to LaGrange, Anacely and I were brought together by a slew of annual check-ups and doctors appointments. Her children’s birthdays are both in the fall, so before long, I was interpreting for Anacely as we took Jordy to his first dentist’s appointment, Helen to her one-year check up, and on it went. Thankfully everyone was healthy and growing, and we were able to get to know each other and build our friendship around mutually beneficial situations: I interpreted so Anacely could understand what was going on, and Anacely taught me the Spanish words for medical terms and body parts. She also made me lunch, taught me how to make chuchitos – little tamales – and invited my husband Pete and me out to eat with her, Dari, and the kids.
Anacely grew up in La Laguna, Huehuetenango, Guatemala near the Mexican border. When she came to the U.S., she was 17. She lived in Florida for a while with her mom, and then moved to LaGrange, where she married Dari, had Jordy and Helen, and got a job working in a carpet mill. Her husband, Darinel, is from Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. His six siblings live in Guatemala, Mexico, and California. He came to LaGrange in 2006 as a 17-year-old, following Anacely. He currently works as a painter and dreams of building a house in Guatemala.
Anacely hopes to return to Guatemala where her younger sister and brother still live. When Anton took our Mission Year team to Guatemala this past January, I was especially excited about our visit with her family. Anacely’s sixteen-year-old sister and twelve-year-old brother were charmingly sweet and welcoming, as were her aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, and other farther-removed family members. They welcomed us with a beautifully set table and a meal of chicken in adobo sauce, rice, jamaica (hibiscus) tea, and steamed broccoli, which had to have been a delicacy, as we didn’t see broccoli anywhere else in Guatemala. We enjoyed our time with her family immensely.
Anacely’s and my friendship has been a blessing to me in innumerable ways this year. During times of discouragement, she affirms me. Around her, I always feel comfortable being myself. During busy weeks, visiting her, Dari, Jordy and Helen adds a ray of sunshine to my day. Their laughter, their smiles, and the kids’ silly behaviors remind me of the value of slowing down and having fun. During times of stress or uncertainty, she inspires me. Her strength and optimism in the face of trying circumstances – both here as well as in Guatemala –is a reminder to me that I shouldn’t worry about the present or future. I look forward to the many ways our friendship will continue to grow, as well as the many adventures we’ll share in the future.
Donaldo, Osvilda, Donaldo Jr., & Jade
coming soon