After breakfast on Friday morning we did some quick shopping on the way to the bank. However, the bank would only let us convert $200 every 8 days so we wound up going to another bank and setting up an account with the help of Sergio, a Mayan Families employee. It is always an adventure at the banks in Guatemala!
Next we broke up into 3 groups and went to install 2 stoves each. The one we went to was right next to a soccer field Matt and I had been to back in 2010. Others got to install one at Eddy's mother's home. Eddy is another Mayan Families employee and a neat young man who always has a smile! We were so happy to be installing one that would help his family out.
After we finished installing the stoves, we went back to the Mayan Families office where all of our sponsored students were waiting for us. One little girl, Maria Cristina, ran up to Sandy and John when she saw them. It was priceless! Christi got to see Cesar again. Matt and I got to see Iris and her family, along with Charlie, our other sponsored student. Amanda and Becky had both decided to sponsor students, so their little ones were there too.
We all piled into the back of 2 pick-up trucks - probably about 40 people total and headed to lunch at a restaurant on the lake. We had about 5 translators amongst the group, so it was a time to share with each other.
We have been partially sponsoring Charlie for about 2 years, but found out he had just figured out it was us. He is a Mayan Families employee, about 20 years old. He is still going to school on Saturday's and will be starting the 7th grade. He has a very interesting story, and has had a tough road at times - but he is working hard to better himself. Currently he works in the carpentry shop at Mayan Families.
Elizabeth, a Mayan Families employee, helped us translate with Iris' family. Iris has 2 sisters and 1 brother, with Iris being the youngest. Her mother is always smiling and working to better herself. Currently she is taking the advanced sewing class through Mayan Families and starting a new venture of growing mushrooms. We really got to learn more about their family. Iris' dad works taking sand out of the riverbed. It is one of the hardest jobs you can have, and pays very little, but he works extremely hard. He supported his wife going to school and graduating with a high school diploma after they got married. Education is a major priority in their family, and you can tell based on the girls' report cards. One other neat thing is that both parents volunteer their time in their community to teach others how to read. Iris' mother presented both Matt and I with gifts that she had made in the sewing class.
We had a delicious meal, and served cake for dessert. The meal was a huge luxury that none of them would have been able to have on their own. Several of us saved some (or all) of our food to send home with the families. Afterward we went back to the offices where we gave each family a fleece blanket, a food bag, and some gifts. We got to share the backpack of items that Josie had bought and put together for Iris.
Also after lunch, Paul and Tom both decided to sponsor students. Tom found out that the family that he had helped build a kitchen for the year before had a daughter that needed sponsorship. The family is from San Antonio Palopo. It was a family he already had a tie to, but one where he could also make a big impact.
As we were giving out gifts, I saw Gerson, Amanda B.'s sponsored student. I got to talk to his family through an interpreter, and his family expressed much appreciation - and I even got a hug from Gerson. He is a handsome little guy!
It was getting later in the afternoon, but several of us shopped in the Mayan Family store. We also got to watch a demonstration on weaving and making beaded bracelets. Many got to try their hand at making the bracelets. Next we headed out to the home that we paid for and helped build in Pana. We were to meet the family that was to receive it.
We were all at the homesite waiting for the family to show up. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, they didn't show up. This has never happened before, but between the Mayan Family managers it was decided that maybe another family should have the new house. I gave my approval, and the next thing we knew another family was receiving the home.
I hope you can picture what I am about to write. It is pitch dark, we are all on a tiny sliver of land on a steep grade. There is the smell of campfires around us. We are invited to the home right below this house. This is another small house that Mayan Families' supporters have helped to build. There are 2 rooms - and 23 people living together in the one house! Two of the women have lost husbands, one through death and another because the husband left. They both have three children. They sleep 4 to a bed. The women work by picking up trash for 5 quetzals a day (7.8 quetzals = $1). The men that live in the home also work - loading things at the market. They work hard, but without an education, it is extremely hard to make a living. The women feel uncomfortable changing in the home with the men in the home. It is a difficult situation.
The decision was made to give the house to the 2 mothers with 3 children each. It is a 1 bedroom house, but will be like a palace to them. As we were standing there in one large group, with the kids clamoring about us, it was getting cold and was completely dark. There were speeches, and thank you's. Tom gave a thoughtful blessing to the family and house. This was all lit by the flashlights on cell phones. One little girl started crying, and it was explained that there was nothing to eat, so she was hungry. The next thing you knew our group was pulling out protein bars to give to the children. They were ecstatic to receive them. It was especially poignant for Amanda as it was one of her sponsored students that was getting to move into the house. Earlier in the day she had gotten him and his brother new shoes from the donation's bodega because the sole was literally falling off. These families were truly in need. After we finished with the house, we carefully climbed down the hill and headed to Dwight and Sharon's house for dinner.
We were fortunate to be served dinner at their house 3 times during the week. While we waited for dinner we talked and each shared what we were thankful for with the group. Several of the Mayan Family's employees came to dinner with us - so it was a nice way to share with each other. A slideshow of pictures was shown of our activities throughout the week. We also shared a slideshow with the Mayan Families employees - it showed the work we do to get ready for the trip. There were many speeches and discussions about what had been accomplished. Then it was time to say, "hasta luego" or "see you later." It really felt this time like we were leaving friends.
We got back to the hotel - had our meeting and then packed our suitcases.
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