Seniors Maria Arroyo and Zoé Trouvé held a benefit concert for a young Guatemalan girl, Lespiah, Monday Feb. 13. They heard the young girl’s story from college counselor Erin Stein who met her on a service trip she took to Guatemala a few months ago.

“[Lespiah] has such a sweet spirit,” Arroyo said. “We didn’t think that there was anyone more deserving or more worthy of us trying to sponsor her.”

The goal for the night was to raise enough funds to pay for one month of Lespiah’s medical needs. Her needs include medication to help her body create red blood cells, a vitamin supplement to help her body produce vitamin D, Milk Ensure to improve her malnutrition and dialysis treatment that requires her to travel to Guatemala City three times a week. These treatments, travel costs and supplements combine to cost around $450 a month. According to Trouvé, they ended up raising a total of $800.

“She wants to do so badly the things the things that we complain about all the time,” Arroyo said. “The things I complain about most are going to school and singing at Mass, and that’s all she wants to do.”

Coffee, scrunchies and rosaries were sold during the concert to raise more funds for Lespiah. There was also a bucket for additional donations for anyone wishing to donate more to the cause.  

The main event of their project, however, was the performances from students. Performers sang or recited poetry and included eight seniors and one freshman. Some were accompanied by their parents such as seniors Katie Buhrmeister and Natalie Williams.

Stein, who visited Guatemala three times with Sion and a fourth with a separate group of local young professionals, spoke about her interactions with Lespiah. At the end of the event, she also thanked the performers and attendees for donating to the cause.

“Through [the group’s] interpreter we hear the life stories of different people,” Stein said. “We hear about their struggles, we share their tears and we see their faith.”