Tulio is the founder and director of a ministry in Guatemala called The Birdhouse Foundation. Birdhouse was founded with the vision to come alongside families living in poverty who lack proper housing in areas all around Guatemala. A typical house in the underdeveloped communities I work in is constructed out of lamina (metal sheets) or dried out corn stalks with dirt floors. Houses built like this create extreme temperatures inside during both the wet and dry seasons that we experience here in Guatemala. These houses are oftentimes built with only one room for the entire family to live and sleep in. These types of conditions have a severe impact on quality of life that no one should have to endure.
With the Birdhouse Foundation, we build 20ftx20ft two room wood houses with a cement foundation. The houses include a front porch, PVC windows, and electricity.
Having a house like this provides a lot of benefits to the family. The Birdhouse foundation has built 20 houses since it started back in January 2019 and I have had the privilege of being a part of every single one. When I ask the parents, specifically the dads, what does this house mean to you the answer is generally the same “this house gives me the opportunity to pour into my family. The money I would have needed to save in order to have a house like this I can now invest in my children.”
The past three years Birdhouse has built these houses in partnership with other ministries in Guatemala who have a heart for specific communities and have a long term vision for each community. These ministries see the same need I do for my people and as they build relationships and begin discipleship with different families they invite Birdhouse to come and build. Every family who receives a house is asked to be a part of the process by preparing the land and helping build the foundation. When the house is done we can move on to the next one knowing that this family is going to continue to be poured into. That is the benefit of working with our ministry partners.
The vision I have for Birdhouse consists of 3 parts. The first one is Building houses for families in need in my country. The second and third were born out of my dream to give back to the village I grew up in, Acatenango. In 2021 I was able to see this dream begin to become a reality. With the help of a local church in Acatenango, we have started visiting houses every week where we are able to minister to families, pray with them and when we have the funds, we are able to leave them with bags of basic food that families oftentimes lack. We have also started a kids program where we teach them about the Lord, facilitate English classes and create a space for the children to just be children (playing games, crafts, etc.). On top of all of that, we have even started to build houses for the families in Acatenango.
The third part of my vision has yet to happen but I know it is a matter of time. I would love to start training the people of Acatenago in skills that will empower them and provide them with greater opportunities. Skills like welding, sewing, carpentry, etc.
In everything we do, we bring it back to Jesus. It is never about us or what we give. We emphasize that it is all from Jesus. He is the God who sees you, He is the one who is providing for you, and He is the one who invites you into a relationship with Him because His love is overwhelming for you, we just have the privilege to be His hands and feet. 