Guatemalans working in U.S. find life has mixed blessings

Published: 2007-08-21

SALCAJA, Guatemala (CNS) -- Father Juan Poz can quickly tick off the mixed blessings of emigration from this town in Guatemala's western highlands where he is pastor of San Luis Rey Parish. Immigrants to the United States have made it possible for the families of Salcaja to fix up their houses, buy land and open small businesses. At his parish, when he needs money to repair the roof or help a family in need, it's much easier to raise the funds. More children are able to go to school instead of having to help support their families by working. "It is people's dream to have nice houses, better roofs, a small business, a piece of land," Father Poz said in an interview early in 2007 at his church. One person working in the U.S. for a relatively short time can dramatically improve a family's fortunes. But Father Poz is also very aware of the downsides of having 60 percent or more of the families in town dependent upon relatives who send money from another country. Some families, unaccustomed to having extra quetzales, the national currency, don't save. For some households, the pressures of having one parent -- or sometimes both -- working thousands of miles away leads to kids who aren't properly supervised, have time on their hands and get into trouble with drugs, drinking and gangs.

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