Casa Feliz, "home for kids who need a home for now," was begun by the parish in the mid-sixties to care for young children whose parents were either non-existent or incapable of caring for them. During the harsh violence this nation experienced in the 1980’s, many children were left without parents. Homes such as Casa Feliz became a necessity.

     Around thirty children and youth currently reside at the house; this number varies as the older residents attend school in other communities or leave to begin their adult lives. Living with them are several volunteers who keep house life running smoothly.

     Although some of the kids are indeed orphans, not all are; they come for many different reasons. Some are from families that can not afford to feed, educate, and care for them properly. Some are from abusive and/or poor family situations in which it is better for them to be here. There are some who know their parents or other relatives; some are in touch with and visit their families monthly or at scattered times throughout the year. School vacations bring an exodus as some kids spend the time with their families before returning when classes again begin.

     Whatever their reason for being at the house, life is certainly difficult for these kids, most of whom are teenagers. Every day, they see friends and classmates with their traditional family lives, with moms and dads and the sharing of love that comes from living with both immediate and extended family. Most are both young enough and old enough to remember what they left behind – or what they were sent away from.

     Despite the difficulty of maintaining an even-keeled emotional life, the kids do have a definite joy; they usually embody the name of their dwelling, which means Happy House. There are always smiles, jokes, laughter, play, and good-natured ribbing.

     These are typical kids in most respects. They have good days and bad. They help with house chores, maybe needing a few reminders now and then. They get into trouble no more and no less than any other kids.

     They are also great at being mischievous and giving the volunteers a hard time.

     The kids receive an excellent education. Through sixth grade, they are in the Parroquia’s school. After that, they choose where to continue. Some of the older residents study in Guatemala City, Antigua, Chimaltenango, or Quetzaltenango. The parish gives scholarships to those who desire to continue their education.

     When not in school, the kids work. Many of the young men work on a farm that belongs to the house, tending to both plants and animals. Some work with several of the parish’s other projects, such as construction and reforestation. Most of the young women prefer to remain at the house to clean, paint, repair, and otherwise keep the house in good living condition.

     They have a study hour each evening from Sunday through Thursday, gathering around the dining room tables with their books and homework. If they finish early, they grab a storybook and read for fun. They keep attendance, and those who come consistently receive a prize, usually ice cream.

     On Saturday evenings, the dining room is converted into what must be the loudest bingo parlor in the world. Prizes range from candy to towels to clothing to backpacks to whatever else the volunteers pull out of the storeroom. Since Parroquia volunteers often come to play, the evening is sometimes referred to as gringo bingo.

     Once each month, Saturday’s bingo is replaced with a party for everyone who celebrates a birthday that month. These parties, in typical Guatemalan festive style, include skits, songs, poems, and dances. There is always cake and hot chocolate.

     More routine recreation includes basketball and soccer on their patio or, for some, on local teams. At the house, it’s all fun, friendly competition; it gets a little more serious out on the field.

     The kids have a relationship with each other that is different from that between ordinary friends and siblings. They have a deep connection, an affection for each other. There is an occasional envy, even an occasional fight, but they seem to try to keep everything in focus. They know that they are all at the house for similar reasons. Their need for love so permeates their daily lives that they seem to see their need to give love as well as to receive it. They are generally kind, good, and patient with each other. They are extremely jealous and possessive of their belongings, as should be expected from kids who have experienced various forms of abandon.

     They have a good sense of their situation, of their similarities, of their needs, of their gifts, and of their community. They bring out the goodness of each other, and their own goodness is magnified.