Meet Max

Max with Eddie's son Oscar

Max posing with Louis and Eddie with their new hens

     Max is the oldest of our three children.  I love watching him develop into a independent, responsible young man.  His love for people and kindness is shown in every relationship he makes.  He is a gentle and sensitive soul.  Upon arriving here in Guatemala, Max decided he wanted to  raise chickens.  Farming is of great interest and Max's curiosity in raising animals has been a passion for awhile.  He is currently reading "Organic Farming" as a bed-time story. I think that says enough:) 

    Once we got settled into our home here,  the boys started planning and constructing a chicken coop.  Max decided he was going to raise meat chickens and once they were ready for butchering, we would donate the birds to Casa Hogar, thus providing some additional meat for their diet.  Leading up to Christmas, Max decided to package up two boxes containing 10 laying hens each for the two employees of Casa Hogar, Eddie and Louis.  Eddie and his wife and their four children live across the road from the orphanage (as seen in the photos below).  Loius and his new wife of just a month live down the road.  We were excited to be able to bless these families with what seems so small and insignificant in our minds yet so huge for them.

    Every 3 weeks, Max purchases a new batch of chicks and raises them until its time to butcher them.   The first round was a tough one for Max as he got attached to his "pets".  We reminded him of the great importance of his job  and that he could chose one out of the batch for a pet.  A couple days before Christmas, Matt, Max and Gabe, killed and de-feathered 16 chickens along with the girls at Casa Hogar that would be later used for their traditional tamales.  Without any reminders, Max is outside first thing in the morning taking his job seriously.  We are very proud of you Max!  Keep up the great work!