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!

Donate to Dunk Donation Drive at Amherst Elementary

Summer is officially here!  But for the kids at Amherst Elementary, as school was winding down and summer break was getting kicked off, they were doing something good – one child at a time!

The Amherst Elementary PTA and Nuestros Niños partnered up to hold the Donate to Dunk Donation Drive.  The children and staff were encouraged to collect money to help children in Guatemala.  The money could be allowance money or money earned from doing a special chore at home.  As we counted money, we could tell that many kids raided their piggy banks.  We heard stories of the kids talking with their parents about what they were doing; donating their own money; and going to family and friends to collect spare change.  We saw children donate money that may not have as much, and we saw several kids bring in $40-$50 (much of it in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters).  



Each class had a "heart" to fill with drops of water.  Each drop signified $5 raised by their class.



Every child had a voice on how the money would be utilized! Each child that donated at least $1 had the chance to vote if the money would be used to buy chickens, ONIL stoves, or sponsor a child’s education.

·   Chickens produce eggs which provide protein for families that may otherwise only eat tortillas and salt.  They can also provide an income if the families have extra eggs to sell.  Each chicken costs $10.   

·   ONIL Stoves are fuel efficient and decrease respiratory issues & burns.  It is estimated 1 in 5 children under 5 years old die, mainly from respiratory issues from having an open cooking fire in a closed in room in the home.  Each stove costs $160.

·   School Sponsorship is $180 per elementary age child and is an amazing gift for a child!  Education is not a “right” as it is here in the US - it is a luxury item for many Guatemalans.  Each year of school provides traditional learning in math, reading, etc… but more importantly it opens choices and opportunities for individuals.



Ms. Lee



 



Mrs. Yarbrough



Beyond the chance to feel good about helping others, the top 2 donors in each class got a chance to dunk Ms. Lee or Mrs. Yarbrough at an assembly on Monday, May 9th!  In addition, each class that raised $35, gave the teacher an opportunity to dunk Ms. Lee or Mrs. Yarbrough! 

Many teachers allowed Angela Grussing to talk with their class about the real impact they could have by just bringing in a dollar or two – and adding it to their classmates’ donations.  The children asked questions, and you could see how many of the kids were grasping that they could make an impact.  There was one conversation with a 4^th grader that sums it up… 

After talking with the class about what we were doing and how they could help, he raised his hand and said, “Are you just trying to make us feel bad?”  I let him know that was definitely not the purpose, but rather to let him know how each of us can make an impact in this world – whether it be bringing in a dollar to help a family in Guatemala or doing a kind task for a neighbor.  His teacher followed up with the fact that it does, “tug at our heart though.”  We discussed many things, including the fact that we are very lucky to live in the United States as we have “safety nets” in our government if we fall on hard times, but other places in this world do not have these “safety nets.”  Imagine my surprise the next day when we had a huge bag of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters totaling $25.76 from this 4^th grader.  We talked with him and found out he had gone to family and friends collecting spare change. 

That is the 2^nd part of the mission of Nuestros Niños… To provide both adults and children the opportunity to serve others in a meaningful way with a special emphasis on instilling a sense of service in children.  How wonderful to see it fulfilled in this way! 

Ms. Lee & Mrs. Yarbrough were great sports, and the kids had a great time as two assemblies were held for the kids to have a chance to dunk them!  In the end, $2,058.91 was raised!!!  Several times the kids were able to dunk Ms. Lee & Mrs. Yarbrough, and there was laughter and smiles all around.  28 teachers had the chance to take their best aim, and over 80 students had a chance as well!

What a great way to start the summer – with water, fun, laughter – all while helping others!  In the end, the kids wound up donating:

• 75 chickens,
• 4 ONIL stoves, and
• 3 school sponsorships!

How awesome – Kids can truly make a difference!!!

(A special thanks to the volunteers that helped pull this event off!  You know who you are!)

 

And More Pictures...