One team in three places

Today our team split up, visiting all three of the Common Hope sites here in Guatemala. Those who signed up for construction this morning--Stacey, Sarah, Nan, Claire, and Bridget--have the distinction of being the very first construction crew to visit San Rafael. San Rafael is an indigenous village 40 minutes away from Antigua. Common Hope has been there for almost two years, slowly building up trust in the community, establishing programs, and working with the school there to improve children's education. Now there is a family there who will receive a new home, thanks to their own hard work and Common Hope. Our team members worked on preparing the site for the house--which meant using pickaxes to break up hard soil and trying to level the site. We had been told yesterday's work was the hardest we would do all week, but it didn{t match the hard labor this morning. The ground was so compacted, two of the pickaxes broke! We're building up some arm muscles on this trip!

Morgan and Deb left Common Hope at 5:00 a.m. in order to spend the day in New Hope, a village established by Common Hope in partnership with Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Mitch. Morgan and Deb spent time at the school there, visited with a young girl they will be sponsoring, and had the opportunity to meet the child's mother and other family members as well.

Back here at the Antigua site, Katie accompanied a social worker on a visit to an affiliated family and Alex and Charlotte sorted and packaged colored pencils for student use next January when the new school year begins.

During the afternoon they made a home visit to a Common Hope child, Carlos, with whom they've corresponded since ALex and Carlos were in kindergarten. It was a fun visit, made easier because Alex and Charlotte were there just a year ago. The family of four live in a small pueblo about half or 3/4 of a mile past the end of the road--and straight up the mountain. It's not just upper arm strength we{re gaining this week!

Nan and Claire spent time in the afternoon working with children whose mothers were attending a meeting here at Common Hope--mostly doing puzzles and fun activities in the library area. Katie, Stacey, Bridget, and Joanie were on construction this afternoon. They were back in San Pedro leveling the site there and setting the concrete blocks for the floor of the house we're building this week.

Common Hope provides our meals along with our lodging--last night we had chulitos (oversize tamales) for our evening meal. At noon today we had yellow rice, cheese tortillas, and bananas. Tonight was a soup with large pieces of root vegetables. The broth was very tasty. Although hot chili or jalepeno pepper condiments are usually available with meals, Guatemalan food is not as spicy-hot as Tex-Mex. The fresh fruit is very delicious--nothing quite like a tree ripened banana. Or a frozen banana dipped in chocolate.

We keep the washers and driers in the dorm going--and are very glad for the hot showers! Our Common Hope host, Abby, has been great--making sure we are comfortable, answering tons of questions, and keeping up with changes in our work assignments. We're doing fine!