To Guatemala, with Love

By M.J. Casiano, AIJI Staff Writer 

Diane Nesselhuf visits Guatemala three times a year, but this trip will be different.

This time, she will find land for a clinic.

Nesselhuf, a 58-year-old Burbank native and mother of five, has been helping make a difference in Guatemalan children lives, but believes there is still more to be done.

She founded Sharing the Dream, a non-profit organization devoted to improve the lives of Guatemala’s indigenous people.

In Guatemala, many parents cannot afford to keep their children and give them up for adoption.

She adopted two, Ana and Jose-Miguel.

“Parents should not have to relinquish children,” Nesselhuf said.

The day her family adopted Jose-Miguel was a life-changing experience. She went to Guatemala and wished Jose-Miguel a happy birthday.

She asked Jose-Miguel if he knew how she knew it was his birthday and he didn’t know. She replied that all mothers know their children’s birthdays. The boy gave her a big hug.

A tear rolled down Nesselhuf’s cheek during the storytelling.

Nesselhuf began working with indigenous mountain inhabitants who needed help marketing their products.

In Vermillion, the organization operates a store, which is run by volunteers.

All profit is returned back to the orphanage.

One volunteer, Kelsey Collier-Wise, is a University of South Dakota law student, although she doesn’t want to practice law. Her goal is to finish law school and continue working for the organization.

“Life is not about money,” Nesselhuf said. “It’s about people.”

Collier-Wise said she couldn’t agree more.

The original budget is $150,000 a year. It’s able to afford a doctor who speaks English, though, because that salary will be paid with separate donations. Nesselhuf is looking for that doctor.

The doctor needs to speak English to communicate with American doctors. But Spanish is the first step for many of the children at the orphanage.

Nesselhuf touched on Diego, a young Guatemalan boy, who wanted to learn Spanish, English and interest of being a doctor someday.

She is confident that one day, Diego will be a doctor. The boy is now fluent in these languages and is one of the many lives that have been touched by the organization.

“You’re here on earth for a reason,” Nesselhuf said. “To make it a better place when you leave.”