After spending a week inside of the homes of 3 very poor people in Guatemala, I came away realizing these are some of the happiest people I’ve met, and they have so little. They live in mud huts without separating walls. They can’t trust their water, so they drink Pepsi, which leads to many rotting teeth. Most only have a 3rd grade education. So, how do those living in the 3rd World seem so much happier than most of the people I know living with so much in America?
First, they live very uncomplicated lives. They find joy in the simple things. They don’t have indoor plumbing. They use outhouses. I met a woman named, Juana, who was thrilled that a small black tube brought fresh water into a big plastic bucket, so she could do her dishes inside of her hut.
Julio, a farmer, grew his farm large enough to export his produce. This brought in enough money that he didn’t have to put his kids to work at a young age. None of them had to spend all of their time wondering where their next meal would come from. Julio was able to send his children to school. This brought him great joy to be able to witness his children doing what he wasn’t privileged enough to do – get an education.
Second, they are surrounded by family or other loved ones. They don’t live within walls. Most families all slept together on a dirt floor. They found joy in each other. They don’t know loneliness. They take care of each other. Their lives don’t revolve around a tv. They revolve around each other.
Third, they live to help and serve others. I was sent over there to document how Mentor’s International is using pennies on the dollar to help lift people out of poverty one family at a time. As soon as Julio was able to grow his farm larger, he began to have a need to employ others in his impoverished town. He was able to give other fathers the security of knowing they could feed their families.
What do you need to be happy?
You can view the lives of these three families: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-K0dmBdx1E.
First, they live very uncomplicated lives. They find joy in the simple things. They don’t have indoor plumbing. They use outhouses. I met a woman named, Juana, who was thrilled that a small black tube brought fresh water into a big plastic bucket, so she could do her dishes inside of her hut.
Julio, a farmer, grew his farm large enough to export his produce. This brought in enough money that he didn’t have to put his kids to work at a young age. None of them had to spend all of their time wondering where their next meal would come from. Julio was able to send his children to school. This brought him great joy to be able to witness his children doing what he wasn’t privileged enough to do – get an education.
Second, they are surrounded by family or other loved ones. They don’t live within walls. Most families all slept together on a dirt floor. They found joy in each other. They don’t know loneliness. They take care of each other. Their lives don’t revolve around a tv. They revolve around each other.
Third, they live to help and serve others. I was sent over there to document how Mentor’s International is using pennies on the dollar to help lift people out of poverty one family at a time. As soon as Julio was able to grow his farm larger, he began to have a need to employ others in his impoverished town. He was able to give other fathers the security of knowing they could feed their families.
What do you need to be happy?
You can view the lives of these three families: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-K0dmBdx1E.