Delayed Update

Thursday July 14, 2011

Thursday morning …… dry and no rain.   We were excited and off to the Mayan Families office.  We were scheduled to give away chickens.  So, part of our troupe headed out to build stoves while others began weighing ground corn to be given as chicken feed.  The Mayan families waited patiently as the chickens arrived.  The line formed and the chickens were handed out three at a time.  Who knew chickens were so much fun!?!?

  

Later, we hurried and organized ourselves to go to El Burranco.  Due to weather and road conditions, we took the long way.  More stoves were built for needy families and a play structure was built at the preschool.  We were treated to a beautiful dance/music performance by the children.

The evening time brought a little shopping in the rain and dinner back at our hotel.

We look forward to more adventures manana (tomorrow).  All of our amigos are healthy and happy to be serving here in Guatemala.  Many needs have been met today and we feel blessed.

Adventures in the Rain

Yesterday (Wednesday) we were supposed to go to El Barranco, but this is Guatemala in the rainy season.  There were two mudslides on the road between Pana and El Barranco blocking us from traveling to the preschool.  We split up into groups and set out to build stoves in Pana and sort more donations at Mayan Families.  After a very soggy morning, we enjoyed a hot soup lunch provided by the wonderful Mayan Families staff.  Many of us have decided to sponsor children for school and were surprised after lunch by getting to meet the kids we were sponsoring.  While sponsors stayed to meet their children, other team members set out to build more stoves and take the kids back to the hotel for some chill time.  Some of us also helped the local economy and went shopping. Eventually, we all returned to the hotel soaked and sleepy.  For dinner, a friend of Mayan Families, Mathilda, treated us to a wonderful dinner at an apartment across town. 

This morning we are awaiting the plans as the roads are still blocked.  We still hope to make it to El Barranco for the dance group and cultural experience there.  Hope you are all well and haveing as great of a week as we are!

Beauty from mud

We snaked up through the mountains bordering Lake Atitlan early this morning to get to San Antonio Palopo, a village perched on a hillside above the lake. Many families in this area lost family and friends in mudslides last summer during tropical storm Agatha. They are now mostly dug out and rebuilding from the ruin, but they carry the scars of loss, as well as the fear of new mudslides.

In the midst of this loss, there is a lovely little preschool run by Mayan Families. Many of our people worked in the preschool this morning, and we were warmly greeted with smiles and hugs. We had been told that the children may be more shy and standoffish, but that was certainly not the case! Everyone, including the teachers, participated in activities.

Three teams were sent out into the village to work in homes: one to reconstruct a kitchen and install an ONIL stove, and two to only install stoves. We're still new to this, so we it was quite a learning experience. In all we installed six stoves today, and a few of us were still able to get to Angela's beloved ceramics store to stock up on goodies. We're doing our part to support the local economies while we are here!

Day of a Thousand Gifts

Sunday, July 10th

After our crazy ride from Guatemala City to Panajachel (Pana for short) with a Guatemalan scavenger hunt and a scenic detour with warnings of cuervas peligrosas (dangerous curves), we made it to our destination. We were able to do a lot of sorting of the 19 giant boxes and 20+ suitcases of donations.

The Lake Atitlan Nature Reserve had lots to offer including ziplines for the adventurous, waterfalls and monkeys for hikers, and beautiful sights for all. Although the rain was coming down, everyone had a blast and made it down the ziplines safely.

To end the day we had the great opportunity to have dinner with Dwight and Sharron of Mayan Families at their home and learn about the work going on in the Lake region.

Today, July 11th

There were many opportunities to serve different groups of people today, and I believe that everyone's life was touched in some special way.  From the smiles at the preschool to the thank you's and "Dios te Bendigas" of families picking up food baskets and clothing to the words of gratitude of the families receiving stoves, each experiences was unique and rewarding. It was amazing to see the supplies, donations, and purchased items you helped us collect impact a massive amount of families. We saw a vidio-bio about an elderly couple that really became real for some of our team members as they participated in the elderly feeding program.

Check out a few pictures of today...

Raquel at Pana Preschool

Girls with their new toothbrushes, toys, and clothes.

Carlos and other silly trouble makers having a blast at Pana.

Precious preschools playin around.

We've all arrived!

Family and friends and followers!

Just a quick note to let you know that we've all arrived safely and are excited about the adventures ahead. Some of our team met their birth parents today. It was a great experience, and went very well. Stacey Hernandez will be headed back to the US tomorrow as planned, so please be thinking about her.

More updates to come!
-Nuestros Ninos in Guatemala

Here Goes!

I should be in bed. Really. And I hope all of the Knoxville people leaving at 5:55AM are already snoozing.

A bit earlier today (yesterday, now) I was thinking, "How is it ever going to get done?" Clean house, pack, learn Spanish, get everyone ready? I might as well mark off "learn Spanish." Most people would grasp that if they don't already know a language, that they are not going to learn to speak it fluently in 24 hours' time. I seem to lack that capacity for reason. Oh wait, there's that faint voice..."No hablo Espanol. Embrace it with humility, Nan!" So that will likely be the theme of this trip for me--the language, the people, the work.

I am certain to encounter physical labor that challenges me. Embrace it with humility. Don't try to be a hero and throw my back out in the process. I will do what I am able with love and try not to complain.

I am certain to misunderstand and be misunderstood, by both English speakers with I am traveling, as well as people in Guatemala. I must be prepared to yield and learn. Embrace it with humility.

I am likely to encounter heart-breaking poverty. Though I can share with others, serve them, and help lighten someone's burden temporarily, I cannot change a person's life or circumstances, no matter how good my intentions. I will embrace them with humility and offer what I have: a compassionate smile, listening ear, willingness to help where I am able. I go to learn and understand, so that I grow deeper compassion for the people of Guatemala, hoping that the faces and personalities I encounter will remind me daily why it is vital that I share the resources with which I've been blessed. And I know they will teach me much.

Looking forward to the adventure!