A Dream Fulfilled: Irv & Stuie’s Gift of Hope
When Irv and Stuie decided to build with Stonewood, they did far more than construct four walls and a roof. They became partners in transformation, joining a circle of compassion where one family’s generosity becomes another family’s answered prayer and fresh start.
In El Yalu, a vibrant family of six living in conditions that test the human spirit daily, now stands on the threshold of a new chapter. Through your partnership with us and The 141, Andres and Adela’s family along with their four children will soon have what so many of us take for granted: a safe, dignified home where they can rest, grow, and dream together.
New Beginnings for a Family of Six
Andres and Adela are not asking for luxury, they’re asking for the basics that every family deserves: a solid roof overhead, clean walls to protect from the elements, a place where their four children can sleep peacefully and study with hope. With children ranging from 10 to 17 years old, their current home, a small structure of tin sheets and corn stalks with a dirt floor cannot fulfill their family’s potential.
Andres (37) works tirelessly in the fields, growing green beans and peas alongside his two oldest sons, Carlos (17) and Willy (15). Together, they earn $94 a week, a modest income earned through labor-intensive work. Adela (38) manages their household with remarkable grace, caring for their younger children Heidy (12) and Paula (10). Both parents have instilled in their children a hunger for education and a determination to build better lives, despite their limited formal schooling.
Andres and Adela share their heartfelt gratitude to Irv & Stuie.
Today, the entire family sleeps together in one room with a concrete floor, sheltered only by walls of tin sheets. The kitchen, a modest space constructed from tin and corn stalks with a dirt floor is where Adela performs small miracles daily, preparing nourishing meals for her family on a budget that demands sacrifice and creativity. Each sunrise brings new challenges, yet their faith and unwavering love for one another sustains them.
Adela’s words capture the essence of their hope: “I came to The141 & Breaking Cycles to apply for a home because my family needs help. I have seen that many families in our neighborhood have received homes from you, and I knew we could too. This room will finally be a real bedroom for my family, a safe, strong place where my children can sleep and dream about their future.”
Joy and hope as the family celebrates their completed home, built August 25-28, 2025.
From Hope to Homecoming
This new cinderblock bedroom represents far more than building materials, it’s a declaration that this family’s story matters. Through Breaking Cycles and the generosity of partners like you, Andres and Adela’s long-held dream is now a tangible reality. Four children now have a foundation for their futures, clean walls to inspire them, solid floors to study upon, and a safe space where rest and growth can flourish.
Your gift to Irv and Stuie has created a ripple effect that transcends distance and circumstance. It’s a reminder that generosity doesn’t just build homes; it rebuilds lives, restores dignity, and demonstrates Christ’s love in the most powerful, practical way possible.
A family transformed. A legacy of love and possibility for generations to come.
Thank you, Irv and Stuie, for choosing to bless far beyond your own four walls. Thank you for seeing Andres and Adela’s family not as a statistic of poverty, but as neighbors worthy of dignity, safety, and hope. Your partnership with Stonewood has written a new chapter in the story of a family of six, a story that will continue to unfold through the achievements and dreams of their children for generations to come.