Support for Ximena Mina and Her Children

(2021, $911, Chontal)

Ximena Mina lives in Chontal with her two children Esteban, 13, and Shicel, 10. They were on the verge of losing their house and having nowhere to live, and we were able to raise $900 to join with the community of Chontal and their fundraiser so they can keep their home to live in.


UPDATE 12/1/2021

I just spoke with Ximena, and she has some good news. She’s found a way to re-negotiate the loan with the credit union, and will be keeping her house. She’s happy about it, and I don’t have all the details, but I assume there’s plenty of debt to work off, so her work is cut out for her. But, she’s happy with the decision that she’s made.

I’ll likely provide anecdotes in future updates on the website, but this will be the last update that I include directly as part of the fundraiser effort.

Ximena said to me, “Thank you for being with me and giving me strength when I’ve most needed it.” A big thank you to everyone again for all of your support, for being a part of that action.

May God be with each of you and give you the same when you most need it.


UPDATE 11/6/2021

I have been speaking off and on with Ximena, and the other day she talked about a new possibility that has come up. The community has offered for her to live permanently in a part of the house for tourism that was constructed some years ago, but has never fully been realized (for a variety of reasons, tourism has never caught on in Chontal like hoped). It would take her some investment into the house to make it truly habitable, and so she is considering using the $1500 from the combined fundraisers toward that. That would mean that she would give up on her house, defaulting on the loan and leaving it to the bank. My guess is she would lose whatever equity value there might have been. However, she also would be free of debt, so, going forward, she could focus her efforts and income on her new living conditions without the burden of debt, albeit with a negative credit history (which I imagine carries less weight in that area compared to the States, where good credit levels are needed more frequently in our economic and housing functioning.) An additional benefit of going this path is that the money would largely stay in the community, or at least not just go directly to the bank. Always a plus!

With that possibility, she went to the bank and requested that they try again to get her husband to assume his half of the debt, a sort of last ditch effort at that. Because if that were the case, it would obviously cut her debt responsibility in half if she were to keep the house, and it seems she would consider re-negotiating with the bank under those circumstances.

We’ll see what she decides. It’s difficult to give up one’s house. But it’s clear that the money from the fundraisers has opened up a new housing opportunity, so that she can leverage out of the tremendous debt, should she be willing to give up the house.

Please continue to keep Ximena and her family in your prayers!


UPDATE 10/15/2021

Ximena and her children Esteban and Shicel decided to put together a short video response to everyone who donated. Ximena also wrote a few words as well reiterating their gratitude, which I’ve included below the video. (If English subtitles don’t automatically show, you can turn them on in YouTube by clicking on CC on the bottom right of the screen.)

También nuevamente mil gracias por todo lo que hicieron por nosotros de ayudarnos con la deuda de mi casa. Todo esto habido muy duro para mi y mis hijos. Gracias a dios y a todas las personas que han estado aquí con migo apoyándonos gracias nuevamente a todos ustedes que Diosito les bendiga y les proteja siempre.

“Also, thanks so much again for all that you all did for us to help us with the debt of my house. All of this has been very hard for me and my children. Thanks to God and to all the people who have been here with me supporting us. Thank you again to all of you, may God bless you and always protect you.”


I’ve forwarded the $911 that we raised, and early next week it should join into the bank account of the president of Chontal - Carmen, who led up the fundraiser in the community - to complement the $600 they raised. It will give Ximena the opportunity to show the full required $1500 she needs before the end of October to renegotiate the mortgage debt.

The family has faced depression because of their circumstances, and I know how that is. This donation is a big lift for the family. So, as I mentioned in another message, you’ve given both to Ximena and to me:

“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine,
you did for me.

— Mt 25:40

So, thank you all again who donated.

I will continue to post updates.


UPDATE 10/11/2021:

We're there!

A big thank you to the generous people who once again gave so much so quickly: the campaign reached its goal in 6 days! We've raised $911 after fees. Through Barriers to Bridges, I will pay for the fees to get that amount to Ximena and her family by electronic banking.

I'll be sending out follow-ups to newsletter subscribers as things unfold. And if you're not subscribed, you can still continue to check in on follow-ups right on this page.

I spoke with Ximena today, and I'm going to send over the names and a few photos of those who have donated. She's of course very grateful and happy, and if she's able to put together a response, I will be sure to post it on the page above.

So, thank you again!


Hello, and greetings from Boston! 

As October and fall have rolled in, I'm writing to invite you to consider joining me in helping a family in a very difficult situation. 

Ximena (Hee-me'-na) Mina lives in Chontal with her two children Esteban, 13, and Shicel (Shee-sel'), 10. They are on the verge of losing their house and having nowhere to live, and I'm hoping to raise $900 to join with the community of Chontal so they can keep their home to live in. 

The Background Story

Earlier this year, Ximena's marriage fell apart as her husband left town to be with another woman, and Ximena was left with a surprising mountain of unpaid debt on her $20k home mortgage, and no financial support from her spouse (who is of simple means as well). The local bank has required that she pay $1500 to renegotiate her mortgage, or the house will be foreclosed. In a rural place where getting income is hard to come by (and folks might get $10 / day if they're lucky), these amounts are a crushing weight, as you might imagine, after the pain and humiliation of the marriage breakup. There are no social programs in place to support people in such a position. 

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Ximena has opened a small space in the communal part of the pueblo so she can sell her home-cooked food and try to pay bills and the debt. 

Recently, with support from various folks in Chontal, she held a fundraiser in the community, which gained her $600 - a fairly typical amount that the community can provide, especially in these scarcer times. So, I'm looking for other people who are willing to join with me in contributing to this fundraiser, shoulder-to-shoulder with the community of Chontal, and to try to put together an additional $900 so she can renegotiate her mortgage with the bank and keep her house. If not, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty as to what could happen. 

Ximena is always generous in being involved in the community, and is always a willing collaborator in community efforts. She has been the secretary of the church council for a number of years, and is a catechist (religious ed instructor) this year. She's a consistent collaborator in church activities, and a regular in hosting an evening during novenas at Christmas and Holy Week. In our discussion, she mentioned that it would be one thing if this were all affecting just her, she could take the pain and difficulty and humiliation, but … she has 2 children. 

Esteban and Shicel are two precious children who I've always been close to there in Chontal. They are so often together! It's always a joy to have them around in the pueblo and the church. 

With the recent happenings, Esteban was affected very hard, becoming unresponsive for days on end, and has needed professional psychological therapy, which is another tremendous challenge and cost when living in remote rural areas like Chontal. Though it's been difficult for Shicel, too, she has taken it better, thankfully. 

An Appeal

We all will reach a dark time in life, and in those times God is always present. And God is present through us when we remember the help we would like to have (or have had) when it's our turn - and we offer that to others. 

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets." (Mt 7:12) 

So, I invite you to join in this opportunity to be a part of this community effort. To share a hand that becomes a part of the hand of God. 

Thank you for considering it. 

-Jerome