On Thursday, we built the house! Half the team got the walls up during the morning work session and the other half put the roof on and cleaned up the site in the afternoon. The family, consisting of a single mother and six children, are currently living in a single room, with a kitchen and wood stove behind. Chickens and a rabbit share the living quarters. The new house, for which the family has worked, will allow them more space and give the growing boys more room. The family´s oldest son helped throughout the construction process.
While some team members were putting up walls, others of us were in a partnership school in Antigua. This time the teacher had a series of activites with which our team assisted--making balloon lions in a kindergarten class and engaging in some physical education activities with older children. Ed and Charlotte made the last sponsored child visit--Gustavo is the oldest of six or seven children living with parents in a small single room ¨¨apartment¨¨ in a village not far from Antigua. We visited, took pictures, and played a card game with the children. We cannot imagine living in such a small, dark space with so many people. On weekends, the children visit grandparents in a nearby village where there is more room to play.
After the mid-day break Sophie, Dane, Travis and Taylor spent time with a youth group that meets here at Common Hope. They took along the balloons we brought along with some of the other craft supplies--it didn´t take long to discover how creative the Guatemalan kids are.
Nan and Gregg worked in the day care provided by Common Hope for the youngest children of its employees. For a while they entertained children with soap bubbles and then when the kids were down for naps, they helped the staff with cleaning toys.
Our dinner out was at Don Roderigez--a beautiful, old colonial building now restored to a fine hotel and restaurant in Antigua.
Showing posts with label Guatemala work trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guatemala work trip. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Guatemala Service Learning--Village Visits
On Wednesday our team visited two villages where Common Hope has satellite programs. Nan, Sophie, Ed, Jose, Travis, Gregg and Taylor visited San Raphael and Janine, Dane, Charlotte, Alex, Jay and Jay R. visited San Miguel Milpas Altas.
San Raphael is an indigenous agricultural community northwest of Antigua. There is a clinic there with which Common Hope has partnered and the school is now a partnership school, meaning that a Common Hope educator is in the school, mentoring teachers, teaching class room management and offering teaching resources. In Guatemala, teachers are only required to be high school graduates, and many have little training specifically for their classroom experience.
The day in San Raphael began with a tour of the village and later a visit to a 2nd grade classroom. Our team helped the children make pipe cleaner bracelets decorated with bells and beads. There are three children in San Raphael sponsored by members of Pilgrim, and each of those children received a home visit from one or more members of our team. The children and their families look forward to these visits and they are generally quite fun for both sponsors (or their representatives) and Guatemalan families. Because most of these children have no role models for completing their education, and families often need children to work as soon as they are able, sponsors play an important role in mentoring and modeling the benefits of remaining in school.
San Miguel Milpas Altas is about half way between Antigua and Guatemala City, high on a hill. It is the site of Common Hope´s newest satellite. The team spent time in the 4th grade classroom of the partnership school, helping the children in making a large mural. Afterwards, the team and boys from the school challenged one another to a game of soccer. From there the team went to one of three Common Hope homes in the village to paint. Quarters were tight, but we managed to paint the house in cheerful yellow, red and peach colors! The home belongs to an older couple who are caring for their grand-daughter, a Common Hope affiliate.
After lunch, Janine and Dane visited their sponsored child and the rest of the team helped a family fertilize and hoe a cornfield. There is nothing like even 30 minutes of field work to help one appreciate the physical strength and endurance of Guatemalan campesinos.
Both teams arrived back at Common Hope in the late afternoon. After supper, Tamalyn Guitierrez, the incounty director of Common Hope visited with us and we saw a film about the years of war here in Guatemala. We celebrated Nan's 50th birthday and gathered around the computer to look at pictures of the floods in Duluth. Pouring rain, washed out roads, and mudslides are part of the rainy season here in Guatemala--this week, the same phenomena is hitting Duluth! Worlds apart? Maybe. Maybe not.
San Raphael is an indigenous agricultural community northwest of Antigua. There is a clinic there with which Common Hope has partnered and the school is now a partnership school, meaning that a Common Hope educator is in the school, mentoring teachers, teaching class room management and offering teaching resources. In Guatemala, teachers are only required to be high school graduates, and many have little training specifically for their classroom experience.
The day in San Raphael began with a tour of the village and later a visit to a 2nd grade classroom. Our team helped the children make pipe cleaner bracelets decorated with bells and beads. There are three children in San Raphael sponsored by members of Pilgrim, and each of those children received a home visit from one or more members of our team. The children and their families look forward to these visits and they are generally quite fun for both sponsors (or their representatives) and Guatemalan families. Because most of these children have no role models for completing their education, and families often need children to work as soon as they are able, sponsors play an important role in mentoring and modeling the benefits of remaining in school.
San Miguel Milpas Altas is about half way between Antigua and Guatemala City, high on a hill. It is the site of Common Hope´s newest satellite. The team spent time in the 4th grade classroom of the partnership school, helping the children in making a large mural. Afterwards, the team and boys from the school challenged one another to a game of soccer. From there the team went to one of three Common Hope homes in the village to paint. Quarters were tight, but we managed to paint the house in cheerful yellow, red and peach colors! The home belongs to an older couple who are caring for their grand-daughter, a Common Hope affiliate.
After lunch, Janine and Dane visited their sponsored child and the rest of the team helped a family fertilize and hoe a cornfield. There is nothing like even 30 minutes of field work to help one appreciate the physical strength and endurance of Guatemalan campesinos.
Both teams arrived back at Common Hope in the late afternoon. After supper, Tamalyn Guitierrez, the incounty director of Common Hope visited with us and we saw a film about the years of war here in Guatemala. We celebrated Nan's 50th birthday and gathered around the computer to look at pictures of the floods in Duluth. Pouring rain, washed out roads, and mudslides are part of the rainy season here in Guatemala--this week, the same phenomena is hitting Duluth! Worlds apart? Maybe. Maybe not.
Guatemala Service Learning-A Typical Day
Typically, the work day for Common Hope volunteers is divided into two work sessions--8:00-noon and 2:00 to 5:00. Each member of the team receives two assignments, with almost everyone getting one assignment to construction. Volunteers who work construction in the morning will visit in homes or work with children in afterschool programs in the afternoon. Volunteers who go on social work visits in the morning will work construction in the afternoon.
Our team is building a home for a family in San Miguel Escobar, a village not far from Antigua. Homes are simple structures made of fiberlite panels with concrete floor and lamina roof. They provide shelter from the rains and an improvement over cornstalk homes in which many people still live. If a family needs to move, the house can be deconstructed and moved with them. Teams build the panels here at Common Hope and make concrete blocks which serve as the floor--then transport the materials to the work site and erect the house. On Monday and Tuesday, members of our team laid the floor of the home we are building with blocks already made by prior teams. Then we made blocks to be used by the next team. Tuesday afternoon, members of our team carried the panels that will be used to the building site. Thursday will be the house build.
Accompanying social workers into homes is an awesome and sobering experience for our team members. Even without knowing Spanish, for many of us this is an up close encounter with Guatemalan poverty and circumstances. Two of our volunteers walked into a home in the midst of a wake for a family member who died last weekend. Others heard stories about family crises related to medical needs and violence. Common Hope provides each team with translators who help team members debrief after visits. All the social workers are Guatemalans. The disparity between our lives and the lives of those we visit is enormous, and social work visits raise sometimes uncomfortable questions for us. We are also humbled by this opportunity to overhear deeply personal and intimate conversations. Sometimes our hearts are heavy following these calls.
Common Hope has a library which serves as site for after school activities for children approximately 6-12 years old. Monday afternoon Janine and Nan helped the kids make snowflakes out of coffee filters and Tuesday afternoon Ed and Dane had them making God´s eyes out of craft sticks and yarn. The children were delighted and the afternoon passed more quickly than our volunteers expected!
We eat meals in a dining room here at Common Hope and both Monday and Tuesday spent some time together at the end of the day debriefing and sharing our experiences.
Our team is building a home for a family in San Miguel Escobar, a village not far from Antigua. Homes are simple structures made of fiberlite panels with concrete floor and lamina roof. They provide shelter from the rains and an improvement over cornstalk homes in which many people still live. If a family needs to move, the house can be deconstructed and moved with them. Teams build the panels here at Common Hope and make concrete blocks which serve as the floor--then transport the materials to the work site and erect the house. On Monday and Tuesday, members of our team laid the floor of the home we are building with blocks already made by prior teams. Then we made blocks to be used by the next team. Tuesday afternoon, members of our team carried the panels that will be used to the building site. Thursday will be the house build.
Accompanying social workers into homes is an awesome and sobering experience for our team members. Even without knowing Spanish, for many of us this is an up close encounter with Guatemalan poverty and circumstances. Two of our volunteers walked into a home in the midst of a wake for a family member who died last weekend. Others heard stories about family crises related to medical needs and violence. Common Hope provides each team with translators who help team members debrief after visits. All the social workers are Guatemalans. The disparity between our lives and the lives of those we visit is enormous, and social work visits raise sometimes uncomfortable questions for us. We are also humbled by this opportunity to overhear deeply personal and intimate conversations. Sometimes our hearts are heavy following these calls.
Common Hope has a library which serves as site for after school activities for children approximately 6-12 years old. Monday afternoon Janine and Nan helped the kids make snowflakes out of coffee filters and Tuesday afternoon Ed and Dane had them making God´s eyes out of craft sticks and yarn. The children were delighted and the afternoon passed more quickly than our volunteers expected!
We eat meals in a dining room here at Common Hope and both Monday and Tuesday spent some time together at the end of the day debriefing and sharing our experiences.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Guatemala Service Learning with Common Hope
Sunday morning our team visited a woman's weaving cooperative at Santiago Zamora. The town is indigenous, and their story includes a history of disaster and landlessness. The women in the town banded together and formed a weaving cooperative and out of that effort are now able to provide 500 children with an education. Our visit included lunch of chicken pepian, a traditional dish in Guatemala, a demonstration of backstrap weaving, and dancing.
During the rest of the afternoon we explored the markets in Antigua--both the traditional market where we practiced bartering skills and stores with fixed prices. Our evening meal was at Pollo Compero--Guatemala´s version of fast food.
The foundation of Common Hope´s mission is children´s education, and the variety of services offered to families is to support the goal of keeping children in school. Our week with Common Hope will include visits to classrooms, accompanying social workers on home visits, building a home for a family, observing a new in-home literacy program, and interacting with children in day care and after school programs. Common Hope has four community development centers and 3000 affiliated children. Once a child is affiliated, the whole family becomes eligible for services. In total, about 10,000 persons are receiving services from Common Hope. Despite the numbers, services are intensely personal. To see our team in action, check out Common Hope's website, http://www.commonhope.org/. Go to the tab Get Involved and then Vision Team Diary for photos.
During the rest of the afternoon we explored the markets in Antigua--both the traditional market where we practiced bartering skills and stores with fixed prices. Our evening meal was at Pollo Compero--Guatemala´s version of fast food.
The foundation of Common Hope´s mission is children´s education, and the variety of services offered to families is to support the goal of keeping children in school. Our week with Common Hope will include visits to classrooms, accompanying social workers on home visits, building a home for a family, observing a new in-home literacy program, and interacting with children in day care and after school programs. Common Hope has four community development centers and 3000 affiliated children. Once a child is affiliated, the whole family becomes eligible for services. In total, about 10,000 persons are receiving services from Common Hope. Despite the numbers, services are intensely personal. To see our team in action, check out Common Hope's website, http://www.commonhope.org/. Go to the tab Get Involved and then Vision Team Diary for photos.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Guatemala Service Learning Trip--Saturday, June 16
On Saturday, June 16, Pilgrim's service learning team took advantage of the Nature Reserve close to Lake Atitlan. The lake is surrounded by volcanoes--in fact, the lake itself is situated in the crater of a volcano. The volcanic soil is rich in nutrients and the sides of the volcanoes are covered with green growth. Team members, Dane and Janine, Nan and Sophie, Charlotte and Alex, Gregg and Taylor, and Ed decided to see the forest from the air--ziplining. We climbed steep hills, crossed swinging bridges, stopped to observe the monkeys, admired a very high waterfall, and then ziplined across the canyon we'd hiked. Ed earned the nickname he'll carry for the rest of the trip--Adventuresome Ed.
We packed up, ate lunch and boarded a van for Antigua. We arrived late afternoon Saturday and spent time relaxing here at Common Hope. Before the evening was over, we´d grown to a team of 13, including Jay and Jay Jr. from the Twin Cities and Jose and Travis from California.
We packed up, ate lunch and boarded a van for Antigua. We arrived late afternoon Saturday and spent time relaxing here at Common Hope. Before the evening was over, we´d grown to a team of 13, including Jay and Jay Jr. from the Twin Cities and Jose and Travis from California.
Pilgrim Team in Guatemala
Pilgrim's Service Learning Team arrived in Guatemala very late on Wednesday evening June 13. We are nine in number--Gregg and Taylor, Nan and Sophie, Janine and Dane, Charlotte and Alex, and Ed. This is an intergenerational team, mostly of parent/teen family groups. We spent the first few days learning about the country and its culture and history. On Thursday, June 14, we traveled from the city of Antigua to Panajachel, a destination city and gateway to the Lake Atitlan area and Guatemalan highlands. The first stop was La Azteo Cultural Center, just out of Antigua. La Azteo is a coffee plantation with tours and a museum to explain coffee production, one of Guatemala's largest crops. In quality, Guatemalan coffee is rated the world's third best. There is also a section of the museum devoted to the history of music in Guatemala.
Midway between Antigua and Panajachel is Iximche, the site of an Ancient Mayan village. Iximche was pivitol in the history of the conquest, because here the Spanish conquistadors wooed the allegiance of one Mayan people against another. Together, the Spanish and Ketchiqel defeated other Mayan groups and determined that the area would belong to the Ketchiquel. Iximche was the first capital of the area under Spanish rule. Although not as iimpressive as some sites like Tikal, some of the building sites have been partially excavated. The site is still used by local Mayans for religious ceremonies.
We arrived in Panajachel late afternoon, checked into our rooms, and walked on Calle Santander looking for a place to eat. Jose Pasquini's is a family run restaurant with marimba music played by the the family's three daughters. Jose was most gracious and accommodating, and a lesson in the history of the marimba came with dinner.
On Friday, we toured two areas on the Lake. We went first to Santiago Atitlan, directly across the lake from Panajachel. Santiago is mostly Mayan and one of our quests was a visit to Maximon, a diety important to the indigenous people. Many Mayans are Catholic and observe both indigenous and Christian rituals. The guide put it this way, [You bring to Maximon things you don't want to bother the priest for--or things you'd rather the priest not know.} Maximon is dressed in lots of neckties and bright cloths and especially appreciates gifts of liquor and cigarettes! Maximon lives with a different family each year and our guide explained some of the rituals in caring for him and moving him to a new home during Holy week.
We visited the cathedral at Santiago where Father Stanley Rother was assissinated during the civil war. Santiago was one of the areas of conflict during Guatemala's 36 year war which ended in 1996. There was a lot of violence in this area in the 1970{s. Rother, the parish priest, worked on behalf of the indigenous people, even learning the Tuitsil lanuage and translating the New Testament. During the most violent days, he opened the church and gave sanctuary to hundreds of his parishoners. Eventually he was assissinated and his heart is buried in the church at Santiago.
From Santiago we went to San Lucas Toliman where the Catholic dioscese of New Ulm, Minnesota has established a well known and extensive mission. We toured their coffee production area, a new women's center, saw a new neighborhood built by their construction volunteers, and saw their very moderan medical clinic. Father Gregory Schaeffer died in May after a lifetime of service to this mission. Gold and white banners and bows were everywhere. Once again, we heard stories of dedication to and respect for the traditional Mayan ways blended with holistic services to the poor.
The lake road back to Panajachel in the pouring rain was an experience none of us want to repeat! We rested a while, and then had a pizza dinner at Circus Bar, a well known restaurnt with live music and a light hearted atmosphere.
Midway between Antigua and Panajachel is Iximche, the site of an Ancient Mayan village. Iximche was pivitol in the history of the conquest, because here the Spanish conquistadors wooed the allegiance of one Mayan people against another. Together, the Spanish and Ketchiqel defeated other Mayan groups and determined that the area would belong to the Ketchiquel. Iximche was the first capital of the area under Spanish rule. Although not as iimpressive as some sites like Tikal, some of the building sites have been partially excavated. The site is still used by local Mayans for religious ceremonies.
We arrived in Panajachel late afternoon, checked into our rooms, and walked on Calle Santander looking for a place to eat. Jose Pasquini's is a family run restaurant with marimba music played by the the family's three daughters. Jose was most gracious and accommodating, and a lesson in the history of the marimba came with dinner.
On Friday, we toured two areas on the Lake. We went first to Santiago Atitlan, directly across the lake from Panajachel. Santiago is mostly Mayan and one of our quests was a visit to Maximon, a diety important to the indigenous people. Many Mayans are Catholic and observe both indigenous and Christian rituals. The guide put it this way, [You bring to Maximon things you don't want to bother the priest for--or things you'd rather the priest not know.} Maximon is dressed in lots of neckties and bright cloths and especially appreciates gifts of liquor and cigarettes! Maximon lives with a different family each year and our guide explained some of the rituals in caring for him and moving him to a new home during Holy week.
We visited the cathedral at Santiago where Father Stanley Rother was assissinated during the civil war. Santiago was one of the areas of conflict during Guatemala's 36 year war which ended in 1996. There was a lot of violence in this area in the 1970{s. Rother, the parish priest, worked on behalf of the indigenous people, even learning the Tuitsil lanuage and translating the New Testament. During the most violent days, he opened the church and gave sanctuary to hundreds of his parishoners. Eventually he was assissinated and his heart is buried in the church at Santiago.
From Santiago we went to San Lucas Toliman where the Catholic dioscese of New Ulm, Minnesota has established a well known and extensive mission. We toured their coffee production area, a new women's center, saw a new neighborhood built by their construction volunteers, and saw their very moderan medical clinic. Father Gregory Schaeffer died in May after a lifetime of service to this mission. Gold and white banners and bows were everywhere. Once again, we heard stories of dedication to and respect for the traditional Mayan ways blended with holistic services to the poor.
The lake road back to Panajachel in the pouring rain was an experience none of us want to repeat! We rested a while, and then had a pizza dinner at Circus Bar, a well known restaurnt with live music and a light hearted atmosphere.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Team Headed for Guatemala
Pilgrim is sending a team of youth and adults to Guatemala in June. They will be working with Common Hope, a community development agency based in St. Paul, Minnesota and Antigua, Guatemala. Common Hope's primary mission is the education of Guatemalan children. Once a child is enrolled with Common Hope, his or her family becomes eligible for a variety of services that encourage the family to support the child's education. Pilgrim's volunteers will help build a house for a family, provide classroom activities for chldren, and accompany social workers on home visits. In addition, they will be learning about Guatemala's history and culture. Pilgrim is currently accepting donations of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and first aid supplies to be distributed by Common Hope. All donations need to be at the church by Monday, June 11th. For more information on Common Hope, visit their website, www.commonhope.org.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Guatemala Fundraiser Rummage Sale May 5
There will be an all-church rummage sale on Saturday, May 5, 2012 to support a service learning trip to Common Hope in Antigua, Guatemala at the end of June. Common Hope promotes hope and opportunity in Guatemala, partnering with children, families, and communities who work to improve their lives through education, health care, and housing.
The rummage sale will feature household goods, decorative and craft items and clothing for children to adults.
Anyone interested in additional information, please contact the church office at 724-8503 or pilgrimdlh@msn.com.
The rummage sale will feature household goods, decorative and craft items and clothing for children to adults.
Anyone interested in additional information, please contact the church office at 724-8503 or pilgrimdlh@msn.com.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Service Learning in Guatemala
Pilgrims are learning about life in Guatemala through Common Hope. Common Hope (see http://www.commonhope.org/) is a community development agency with headquarters in Antigua, Guatemala and St. Paul, Minnesota. Common Hope's primary goal is to help Guatemalan children obtain education. Some Pilgrim sponsor a child and correspond with a specific child. Some Pilgrims have traveled to Guatemala for a week of service learning--they have built homes, assisted in afterschool programs, accompanied social workers on home visits, and taken the opportunity to enjoy the sights and culture of this southern neighbor.
Spanish language is helpful, but NOT required for this mission trip. Trips are “hands –on” volunteer opportunities. Persons with specialized skills or interests can often be assigned to areas of their expertise. Dentists and dental hygenists are particularly needed in this part of the world.
If you are interested in being part of such a trip, contact the church office by phone or email. Trips are open to non-members as well as members of the congregation. Cost for food, lodging and cultural activities is $1000/week plus airfare. Traditionally, trip participants do some group fund raising to defray expenses.
Spanish language is helpful, but NOT required for this mission trip. Trips are “hands –on” volunteer opportunities. Persons with specialized skills or interests can often be assigned to areas of their expertise. Dentists and dental hygenists are particularly needed in this part of the world.
If you are interested in being part of such a trip, contact the church office by phone or email. Trips are open to non-members as well as members of the congregation. Cost for food, lodging and cultural activities is $1000/week plus airfare. Traditionally, trip participants do some group fund raising to defray expenses.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
House Finished, Common Hope Fiesta
The house in San Rafael was finished in record time! We put the last of the lamina on the roof just before noon on Wednesday and were able to have the house blessing before heading back to Antigua. The house blessing is always an emotional moment when Common Hope turns the house over to the new owners, blessings are extended by the vision team, and there are tearful expressions of gratitude all around. We brought the traditional cake and had a bit of a party as we said goodbye. Then the rains began and we hurriedly put equipment and supplies in the truck and headed back to Common Hope.
We divided up for work detail in the afternoon--Bill, Suzie, Meghan, Niki, Charlotte and Meg in the warehouse sorting clothing and Gloria, Paula, Calder, Jesse and Alex to construction to make panels for another house. We had our final reflection meeting and talked about what this week and this group have meant to each of us. Then into Antigua for an hour of shopping and very nice dinner at Posada Don Roderigez.
Today is Father{s Day in Guatemala and a traditional half-day fiesta at Common Hope. There are a variety of activities, most notably the soccer matches among employee pick up teams. We{re hanging out, just playing and relaxing with the staff.
As a thank you to all the staff for their hard work and long hours immediately following Agatha, Common Hope will close at noon today and not reopen until Monday. We can tell that the staff is grateful for the long weekend and relaxing after the past three very strenuous weeks. It will be a long tme before some families and villages feel as if life has returned to normal, but the intense first phase of disaster relief is done. The house we built was originally scheduled to be completed the week of the storm, so the [blitz build[ effort with our team helped get construction back on schedule.
Gloria and Paula leave this afternoon; Bill, Suzie, Meghan and Niki leave early in the morning; Meg, Jesse, Calder, Alex and I will make a field trip to Iximche, the Mayan ruins not too far from Angtigua.
We divided up for work detail in the afternoon--Bill, Suzie, Meghan, Niki, Charlotte and Meg in the warehouse sorting clothing and Gloria, Paula, Calder, Jesse and Alex to construction to make panels for another house. We had our final reflection meeting and talked about what this week and this group have meant to each of us. Then into Antigua for an hour of shopping and very nice dinner at Posada Don Roderigez.
Today is Father{s Day in Guatemala and a traditional half-day fiesta at Common Hope. There are a variety of activities, most notably the soccer matches among employee pick up teams. We{re hanging out, just playing and relaxing with the staff.
As a thank you to all the staff for their hard work and long hours immediately following Agatha, Common Hope will close at noon today and not reopen until Monday. We can tell that the staff is grateful for the long weekend and relaxing after the past three very strenuous weeks. It will be a long tme before some families and villages feel as if life has returned to normal, but the intense first phase of disaster relief is done. The house we built was originally scheduled to be completed the week of the storm, so the [blitz build[ effort with our team helped get construction back on schedule.
Gloria and Paula leave this afternoon; Bill, Suzie, Meghan and Niki leave early in the morning; Meg, Jesse, Calder, Alex and I will make a field trip to Iximche, the Mayan ruins not too far from Angtigua.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
San Rafael
On Tuesday the whole team, along with Common Hope{s construction crew, put up a house in San Rafael. This is the fourth house Common Hope has erected there. The village is indigenous and very poor--for some of our group this was their first encounter with chronic, unrelieved poverty and it{s sustained effects on a community. We stopped at Hands of Hope clinic, where more than sixry women and children were lined up waiting for medical care. Then we climbed up the hill to the building site.
The family for which we are building consists of a mother and father and five children. They are currently living in a corn stalk home with a kitchen area behind it. They have pigs, chickens and a dog or two--all living in close quarters. No sanitation system. Something of a latrine. Surrounded by extended family. One of the family has a bovine who is tied to a tree right in the yard.
We hammered lumber together and helped put the wall panels in place, assisted by three Guatemalan volunteers . Julio, our bus driver, pitched in. He, himself, had lost his home to a mudslide. A young man, whose education had been made possible by Common Hope, but who is not currently working, has been volunteering with us in an effort to give back. And another Guatemalan who was looking for something to do for a few days volunteered as well. Those three, along with Common Hope employees, Pablo and Felix and the boss, Mario, did most of the work! Still, Bill got the chance to instruct some of us novices, Alex, Jesse and Calder made good contributions, and we convinced Meghan and Niki that they could drive in nails. The rains held off until late afternooon.
I was in San Rafael a year ago with Pilgrim{s vision team. I found that in a year{s time, the people of San Rafael are more open and much less shy in the presence of volunteers. The mother in this family invited us in to see her old house from the inside. She made us beans and tortillas for lunch and the children scampered around us, eager for us to take their pictures.
It continues to rain in the afternoon and evening. Apparently there is another tropical storm brewing to the west. Common Hope staff is monitoring the situation and will help us make decisions related to our travels after we we leave them.
Today is Wednesday and we will return to San Rafael to finish the house and have a house blessing. This afternoon we will help here on Common Hope{s campus.
The family for which we are building consists of a mother and father and five children. They are currently living in a corn stalk home with a kitchen area behind it. They have pigs, chickens and a dog or two--all living in close quarters. No sanitation system. Something of a latrine. Surrounded by extended family. One of the family has a bovine who is tied to a tree right in the yard.
We hammered lumber together and helped put the wall panels in place, assisted by three Guatemalan volunteers . Julio, our bus driver, pitched in. He, himself, had lost his home to a mudslide. A young man, whose education had been made possible by Common Hope, but who is not currently working, has been volunteering with us in an effort to give back. And another Guatemalan who was looking for something to do for a few days volunteered as well. Those three, along with Common Hope employees, Pablo and Felix and the boss, Mario, did most of the work! Still, Bill got the chance to instruct some of us novices, Alex, Jesse and Calder made good contributions, and we convinced Meghan and Niki that they could drive in nails. The rains held off until late afternooon.
I was in San Rafael a year ago with Pilgrim{s vision team. I found that in a year{s time, the people of San Rafael are more open and much less shy in the presence of volunteers. The mother in this family invited us in to see her old house from the inside. She made us beans and tortillas for lunch and the children scampered around us, eager for us to take their pictures.
It continues to rain in the afternoon and evening. Apparently there is another tropical storm brewing to the west. Common Hope staff is monitoring the situation and will help us make decisions related to our travels after we we leave them.
Today is Wednesday and we will return to San Rafael to finish the house and have a house blessing. This afternoon we will help here on Common Hope{s campus.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Rain, Rain
It{s the rainy season in Guatemala and the first time I{ve experienced mosquitos here. Not quite up to the vigorous species of Minnesota, but annoying nonetheless. Today our team attended to a wide variety of tasks--Meg and Alex were in the warehouse sorting recent donations, Bill, Paula, Gloria, Caulder and I went with the construction crew to put up an interior wall in a school; Jesse shadowed a doctor at the clinic; Megan, Niki and Suzie took care of kids in the day care center.
During the afternoon, some of us had visits with the children we sponsor through Common Hope while others built panels to be used for a house in San Rafael. Jesse was back in the clinic and Meg and Calder did some after school care with older kids in the library. Then we had an orientation to San Rafael where we will all be working tomorrow. We have two days to put up a two room house. Here{s hoping for a day without rain!
During the afternoon, some of us had visits with the children we sponsor through Common Hope while others built panels to be used for a house in San Rafael. Jesse was back in the clinic and Meg and Calder did some after school care with older kids in the library. Then we had an orientation to San Rafael where we will all be working tomorrow. We have two days to put up a two room house. Here{s hoping for a day without rain!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Again at Common Hope
It is early morning in Guatemala. I love watching and listenting to the morning activity from the veranda in Common Hope
We will spend the weekend "hanging out" in Antigua, the city where Common Hope is located and Monday we will visit with families sponsored by members of our group. Tuesday and Wednesday all of us will be working on a construction site in San Rafael. Thursday we will help Common Hope honor staff and families. Friday is Father{s Day in Guatemala and Common Hope will be closed to encourage staff families to have time together, so our team gets an extra day to play!
So far, we{ve only seen one of the footprints Agatha left behind--there is still one place where not all the rocks from a slide have been removed from the road between Guatemala City and Antigua. But we{ve heard that there are still roads that are impassable because of mud and rock slides--that is one of the reasons we are staying in Antigua this weekend.
Take care. We{ll keep you posted! Charlottte
We will spend the weekend "hanging out" in Antigua, the city where Common Hope is located and Monday we will visit with families sponsored by members of our group. Tuesday and Wednesday all of us will be working on a construction site in San Rafael. Thursday we will help Common Hope honor staff and families. Friday is Father{s Day in Guatemala and Common Hope will be closed to encourage staff families to have time together, so our team gets an extra day to play!
So far, we{ve only seen one of the footprints Agatha left behind--there is still one place where not all the rocks from a slide have been removed from the road between Guatemala City and Antigua. But we{ve heard that there are still roads that are impassable because of mud and rock slides--that is one of the reasons we are staying in Antigua this weekend.
Take care. We{ll keep you posted! Charlottte
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Bars of Soap and Toothbrushes
If you lost everything you owned to a mudslide, what would you ask for first, after water and food? Families related to Common Hope would greatly appreciate personal hygiene items--soap (bars are easier for us to pack and carry); toothbrushes, toothpaste, washclothes, small towels, basic first aid kits. Tropical storm Agatha dropped 20 inches of rain in parts of Guatemala, creating mudslides that thundered through villages perches on the volcanoes around Antigua where Common Hope is located. Pilgrim will accept donations through Wednesday June 9th. On the 10th, Charlotte Frantz and her son Alex take off for a week of volunteer work with Common Hope.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Keep Guatemala in Your Prayers
Tropical Storm Agatha dumped rain on Guatemala and El Salvador and Pacaya erupted dumping ash. The combined effect has left many families homeless. Last year Pilgrim sent a group on a service learning trip to Guatemala. Common Hope, with whom we worked, was not damaged, but is running on a back up generator. Families from nearby villages who have lost everything are staying at the facility. San Pedro Huertas, where we built a house, has suffered significant damage. Mudslides are making roads to some of the villages impassible. We are awaiting word about the families members of our congregation sponsor and are trying to contact the Del Cid family to check on their safety.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Channel 6 newscast
We all made it safely back to Duluth on August 10--some of us in the very wee hours of the morning. We're back to work and play and thinking about school beginning again. Channel 6 in Duluth is doing a story of our trip using footage from a videographer who was at Common Hope the same time we were. Deb and Morgan Mitchell were interviewed by one of the local reporters. Check out the news broadcasts tonight (August 20) or check Channel 6's website.
Our group will be making a report to the congregation, including pictures and commentary on our trip, probably on October 4. If you've enjoyed our blog, plan to be with us that Sunday morning.
Our group will be making a report to the congregation, including pictures and commentary on our trip, probably on October 4. If you've enjoyed our blog, plan to be with us that Sunday morning.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Y Tambien
y tambien. . . .and also. . . Saturday we had the opportunity to learn more about Guatemala{s people, culture and heritage. We spent the morning with Don Filiberto and his family. They live in San Miguel Escobar, just beyond San Pedro las Huertas. The story is that the town was once flooded by waters that overflowed from the top of Volcan Agua and then was reestablished by a rich man whose name was Miguel Escobar---and to honor him after his death, the villagers used his name. Officially, the community is a zone of Cuidad Vieja.
We arrived at Filiberto{s home where we were greeted by him, his wife and five of their eleven children. They served us hot chocolate--a traditional drink served on holidays or when special guests arrive. We climbed with them up the volcano to their cornfield. Occasionally we{d stop along the way for explanation of the fields through which we were walking. Jocote grows as a fruit from which liquor or jam can be made. Beans (friolijes) are planted between corn stalks where they can climb. Coffee is grown under taller trees because they need the shade. We saw avocado and quave trees.
Occasionally we just stopped to catch our breath and/or survey the beauty of the scenery. The climb was strenuous and the altitude got to some of us--but we all made it to the cornfield. There Filiberto told us about his family{s life during the years 1990-1992 when 14 guerrillas took up residence in his field. He and his neighbors were required to feed them and bring them water against orders from the army. Like many others, he and his family only wanted to live their lives peacefully and were caught in the middle of the conflict.
Maria Elena, his wife, made tortillas for us while his three sons mixed up fresh guacamole. Alex perfected his skill at making small tortillas and helped! We ate until we were full and then headed down the trail. We spent some time at Filiberto{s home, purchasing aprons made by one of the daughters and then saying goodbye to Felix, of Common Hope{s construction crew. Felix was delivering coffee he had promised some of us. And then there were ducks, chickens and other household animals to entertain us as well. Filiberto{s family is affiliated with Common Hope--what an example of the way a family works together. The eleven children range in age from 24 to 9--one of the older is now a teacher and another is a bilingual secretary.
We came back to Common Hope for quick showers and clean up and went into Antigua for lunch at Condesa Cafe--great soups and sandwiches on the menu, breakfast served all day, and yummy desserts. Then it was back into a van for the trip to Santiago Zamora (25 minutes from Antigua). In Santiago Zamora, a Ketchiquil community, the women formed a weaving cooperative. Money they raise has made it possible for them to send their children to school and to start a medical clinic in the village. In addition to selling textiles, they welcome visitors with demonstrations of their work and traditional Guatemalan food. So we ate again--chicken pepian, tortillas, lemonade or jicama drink.
The rains came while we were at Santiage Zamora--for about 20 minutes it poured and the rain on the tin roof made it impossible to hear our hostess{ story, but in typical Guatemala style, our hostesses waited patiently until the uproar ceased and then resumed their presentations.
Back to Common Hope--then Morgan and Deb, Nan, Stacey, Joanie, Sarah, and Bridget went out to dinner at La Pena de Sol Latino--good food, slow service. Katie, Claire, and Alex decided they were worn out from the day{s activities, so they stayed at Common Hope and relaxed while Charlotte and Abbie, our Common Hope hospitality person, finished up some work.
Today we head home--we{ll leave Antigua about 11:00, fly through Houston, and get back to Minneapolis about midnight. It{s been a full week, rich in all sorts of experiences. It{s been a great group--folks worked together well, took care of each other, and learned a lot. It{s been fun to share our week via this blog. Common Hope{s web site isn{t quite up to date, but check back next week--we are leaving pictures behind which they will post. Among our group we are sponsoring 7 Common Hope children--so the relationships we{ve made here in Guatemala are likely to continue.
Take care.
We arrived at Filiberto{s home where we were greeted by him, his wife and five of their eleven children. They served us hot chocolate--a traditional drink served on holidays or when special guests arrive. We climbed with them up the volcano to their cornfield. Occasionally we{d stop along the way for explanation of the fields through which we were walking. Jocote grows as a fruit from which liquor or jam can be made. Beans (friolijes) are planted between corn stalks where they can climb. Coffee is grown under taller trees because they need the shade. We saw avocado and quave trees.
Occasionally we just stopped to catch our breath and/or survey the beauty of the scenery. The climb was strenuous and the altitude got to some of us--but we all made it to the cornfield. There Filiberto told us about his family{s life during the years 1990-1992 when 14 guerrillas took up residence in his field. He and his neighbors were required to feed them and bring them water against orders from the army. Like many others, he and his family only wanted to live their lives peacefully and were caught in the middle of the conflict.
Maria Elena, his wife, made tortillas for us while his three sons mixed up fresh guacamole. Alex perfected his skill at making small tortillas and helped! We ate until we were full and then headed down the trail. We spent some time at Filiberto{s home, purchasing aprons made by one of the daughters and then saying goodbye to Felix, of Common Hope{s construction crew. Felix was delivering coffee he had promised some of us. And then there were ducks, chickens and other household animals to entertain us as well. Filiberto{s family is affiliated with Common Hope--what an example of the way a family works together. The eleven children range in age from 24 to 9--one of the older is now a teacher and another is a bilingual secretary.
We came back to Common Hope for quick showers and clean up and went into Antigua for lunch at Condesa Cafe--great soups and sandwiches on the menu, breakfast served all day, and yummy desserts. Then it was back into a van for the trip to Santiago Zamora (25 minutes from Antigua). In Santiago Zamora, a Ketchiquil community, the women formed a weaving cooperative. Money they raise has made it possible for them to send their children to school and to start a medical clinic in the village. In addition to selling textiles, they welcome visitors with demonstrations of their work and traditional Guatemalan food. So we ate again--chicken pepian, tortillas, lemonade or jicama drink.
The rains came while we were at Santiage Zamora--for about 20 minutes it poured and the rain on the tin roof made it impossible to hear our hostess{ story, but in typical Guatemala style, our hostesses waited patiently until the uproar ceased and then resumed their presentations.
Back to Common Hope--then Morgan and Deb, Nan, Stacey, Joanie, Sarah, and Bridget went out to dinner at La Pena de Sol Latino--good food, slow service. Katie, Claire, and Alex decided they were worn out from the day{s activities, so they stayed at Common Hope and relaxed while Charlotte and Abbie, our Common Hope hospitality person, finished up some work.
Today we head home--we{ll leave Antigua about 11:00, fly through Houston, and get back to Minneapolis about midnight. It{s been a full week, rich in all sorts of experiences. It{s been a great group--folks worked together well, took care of each other, and learned a lot. It{s been fun to share our week via this blog. Common Hope{s web site isn{t quite up to date, but check back next week--we are leaving pictures behind which they will post. Among our group we are sponsoring 7 Common Hope children--so the relationships we{ve made here in Guatemala are likely to continue.
Take care.
Friday, August 7, 2009
End of the work week
It{s another Guatemalan experience--waiting for a food order that somehow got lost. We{re hanging out in the common area of the dormitory, playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, washing and drying clothes, telling stories, etc. and waiting for a pizza delivery.
The construction crew thought they were in for a light morning laying out the forms for the foundation of the house to be built in San Rafael. This house will have a poured concrete floor rather than tiles. BUT. . .Joanie, Claire, Deb and Charlotte put in a day that equaled any other day this week. The problem was that the site for the house wasn{t quite large enough, nor was the site as level as it appeared. We had to build up one side of the site by several inches and we watched as the experienced crew from Common Hope solved the problems posed by the size of the house. The site is elevated a good 36 inches (at least) from the ground immediately in front of it. There wasn{t enought loose soil available to build up to the height of the site. But there were some old concrete pilings on the property and the construction crew decided they could be used to fill in the area. More scraping and excavating to make the space fit the concrete pilings. We never would have gotten the job done without Joanie. She and a long term volunteer moved the wheelbarrow, sometimes need to lift it over the already-positioned forms. The rest of us scraped, shoveled, pick axed and tamped dirt until our arms wouldn{t move any longer.
Nan, Bridget, Stacey and Sarah each oberserved classes in a pilot school run by Common Hope. The children who go to school here have emotional or behavioral problems or have some other learning challenges. Classes tend to be noisy with a lot of disruptions. No IEPs and learning goals that educators in the US are used to.
Alex, Morgan and Katie spent the morning at the warehouse sorting school supplies and doing inventory.
After a lunch of chicken pepin (almost a national dish in Guatemala) we had the opportunity to buy goods produced by vendors who are part of a group called As Green as it Gets. The founders of the group spoke to us and helped us appreciate the creativity and initiative that are prerequesites to belonging to this particular group. As Green As it Gets has a website and some of their products can be ordered stateside.
Sometime after 2:00 our team and a few others gathered at the home completed this week to have a house blessing and celebration. Luis, the young man of the family who worked with us all week, was there along with a brother. We exchanged thanks, wished his family well, prayed for their wellbeing in their new home, said the Lord{s prayer together in Spanish, and ate chocolate Tres Leches cake provided by Common Hope.
Then there were goodbyes with the staff with whom we{d worked all week--members of the various departments helped bid us goodbye. Again, there were many expressions of thanks, tears, hugs, laughs, and each of us were presented with a banner from Familias de Esperanza, as Common Hope is known here.
The pizzas just arrived, and there{s not too much more to report. Take care. We{ll be home in another two days.
The construction crew thought they were in for a light morning laying out the forms for the foundation of the house to be built in San Rafael. This house will have a poured concrete floor rather than tiles. BUT. . .Joanie, Claire, Deb and Charlotte put in a day that equaled any other day this week. The problem was that the site for the house wasn{t quite large enough, nor was the site as level as it appeared. We had to build up one side of the site by several inches and we watched as the experienced crew from Common Hope solved the problems posed by the size of the house. The site is elevated a good 36 inches (at least) from the ground immediately in front of it. There wasn{t enought loose soil available to build up to the height of the site. But there were some old concrete pilings on the property and the construction crew decided they could be used to fill in the area. More scraping and excavating to make the space fit the concrete pilings. We never would have gotten the job done without Joanie. She and a long term volunteer moved the wheelbarrow, sometimes need to lift it over the already-positioned forms. The rest of us scraped, shoveled, pick axed and tamped dirt until our arms wouldn{t move any longer.
Nan, Bridget, Stacey and Sarah each oberserved classes in a pilot school run by Common Hope. The children who go to school here have emotional or behavioral problems or have some other learning challenges. Classes tend to be noisy with a lot of disruptions. No IEPs and learning goals that educators in the US are used to.
Alex, Morgan and Katie spent the morning at the warehouse sorting school supplies and doing inventory.
After a lunch of chicken pepin (almost a national dish in Guatemala) we had the opportunity to buy goods produced by vendors who are part of a group called As Green as it Gets. The founders of the group spoke to us and helped us appreciate the creativity and initiative that are prerequesites to belonging to this particular group. As Green As it Gets has a website and some of their products can be ordered stateside.
Sometime after 2:00 our team and a few others gathered at the home completed this week to have a house blessing and celebration. Luis, the young man of the family who worked with us all week, was there along with a brother. We exchanged thanks, wished his family well, prayed for their wellbeing in their new home, said the Lord{s prayer together in Spanish, and ate chocolate Tres Leches cake provided by Common Hope.
Then there were goodbyes with the staff with whom we{d worked all week--members of the various departments helped bid us goodbye. Again, there were many expressions of thanks, tears, hugs, laughs, and each of us were presented with a banner from Familias de Esperanza, as Common Hope is known here.
The pizzas just arrived, and there{s not too much more to report. Take care. We{ll be home in another two days.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The house is done!
Today{s construction crew put in a long morning--but when they left the site, the house was up and roofed with corrugated tin. Nan, Claire, Bridgit, Katie, Deb and Morgan were all part of the construction crew. They had help from the family who will live in the house--a grown son worked with us all week, the dad was there today, and one of the youngest members of the family tried to help. He wanted to keep the waterbottles filled--but didn{t know we drink agua pura instead of water from the village{s supply!
Alex and Charlotte made three home visits with a social worker. They had fun at one home where the family makes tortillas to sell by the basketful. They asked if they could watch the tortilla makers, a grandmother and her teen-aged or young adult granddaughter. Before long, Alex and Charlotte were slapping a tortilla each into shape. The family cooked them and enjoyed watching them eat them. Sarah was in the daycare rooms playing with pre-schoolers.
Joanie and Stacey were in San Rafael all day. Fortunately, Stacey took along arts and crafts ideas and supplies with which to engage children who were waiting to be seen in the clinic. Eventually Stacey got to visit with the child she is sponsoring, Joanie{s child{s family was working in the fields all day and that meeting didn{t take place. What a disappointment!
During the afternoon, a much smaller construction crew--Bridget, Sarah and Charlotte--delivered materials to San Rafael so that next week another team will be able to build a house for a family there. We thought they{d have to continue levelling the site, but the family had worked hard and there was no need to get the pick axes going again. (Correction to the previous post--the crew broke 5 of the 6 pick axes they{d used to break up the soil.)
Nan and Claire and Deb and Morgan were off on home visits with social workers and Katie visited a girl she and her grandmother have sponsored throughout Katie{s high school years. Conversation was a little slow, but they both enjoy soccer and discovered some other similar interests.
After supper, it seemed good to take a little time off and go into town--Charlotte and Abby arranged it so we could go to Antigua (2.5 km) for ice cream cones at Marco Polo{s and some shopping at Nim Pot. Most of us came home with at least a few souvenirs or gifts for folks at home.
The weather{s been great! It{s cool enough in the early morning and evening that we{re glad to have fleece jackets or sweatshirts. It{s the rainy season but we haven{t had rain since Sunday. Afternoons are hot and sunny. In Guatemala, temperatures tend to depend on elevation. Because we are close to the equator, it gets dark much sooner than in Duluth--it{s quite dark by 7:00 or so. Take care.
Alex and Charlotte made three home visits with a social worker. They had fun at one home where the family makes tortillas to sell by the basketful. They asked if they could watch the tortilla makers, a grandmother and her teen-aged or young adult granddaughter. Before long, Alex and Charlotte were slapping a tortilla each into shape. The family cooked them and enjoyed watching them eat them. Sarah was in the daycare rooms playing with pre-schoolers.
Joanie and Stacey were in San Rafael all day. Fortunately, Stacey took along arts and crafts ideas and supplies with which to engage children who were waiting to be seen in the clinic. Eventually Stacey got to visit with the child she is sponsoring, Joanie{s child{s family was working in the fields all day and that meeting didn{t take place. What a disappointment!
During the afternoon, a much smaller construction crew--Bridget, Sarah and Charlotte--delivered materials to San Rafael so that next week another team will be able to build a house for a family there. We thought they{d have to continue levelling the site, but the family had worked hard and there was no need to get the pick axes going again. (Correction to the previous post--the crew broke 5 of the 6 pick axes they{d used to break up the soil.)
Nan and Claire and Deb and Morgan were off on home visits with social workers and Katie visited a girl she and her grandmother have sponsored throughout Katie{s high school years. Conversation was a little slow, but they both enjoy soccer and discovered some other similar interests.
After supper, it seemed good to take a little time off and go into town--Charlotte and Abby arranged it so we could go to Antigua (2.5 km) for ice cream cones at Marco Polo{s and some shopping at Nim Pot. Most of us came home with at least a few souvenirs or gifts for folks at home.
The weather{s been great! It{s cool enough in the early morning and evening that we{re glad to have fleece jackets or sweatshirts. It{s the rainy season but we haven{t had rain since Sunday. Afternoons are hot and sunny. In Guatemala, temperatures tend to depend on elevation. Because we are close to the equator, it gets dark much sooner than in Duluth--it{s quite dark by 7:00 or so. Take care.
Mid-week progress
Have you ever seen a human cement mixer? Take bags of sand, rock, and concrete mix and dump them out. Use six shovels wielded by six volunteers to turn over the pile. When well mixed, use one large hoe to scoop out a depression in the middle of the pile. Add buckets of water. Put volunteers back to work turning pile and mixing water into the dry ingredients. Voila! (What's the Spanish equivalent?) Concrete ready to bind together the square planchets which the volunteers and Common Hope staff had laid out to form the floor of the house we are building. Nan, Claire, Charlotte and Sarah spent the morning at the construction site. Every day we've had help from Carolina, another Common Hope volunteer from St. Paul who is here on her own.
Alex, Deb and Morgan spent the morning in the occupational therapy department helping some Common Hope students make jewelry which they sell. These students have various kinds of disabilities, but the occupational therapy department gives them an opportunity to learn some skills. In addition to the beading, they are learning math as they measure, cut, count and sort for their projects. At noon there was a small sale of items-beaded earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Each item for sale included a tag with a picture of the student artisan.
Joanie and Katie rocked babies and played with children in the child care center. Common Hope provides day care for the children of employees--there are three rooms: infants up to 2 years old, 2-4 year olds, and 4-6 year olds. Joanie encountered the Guatemalan insistence that babies be bundled--ask her how many layers of clothing she had to get through just to change a diaper!
Stacey and Bridget were off with social workers making home visits. One of Common Hope's protocols is that social work home visits be made by two people, so when volunteers can accompany social workers, it frees the staff to get more visits done. The visits also give volunteers a more intimate glimpse of life in the families served here. During the visits, social workers identify additional family needs and asses how they can be met.
We met back up at lunch in the diningroom where volunteers (long term and short term) eat, along with staff, teachers, social workers, etc. Our plates overflowed with white beans in a tomato based sauce, rice with various seasonings, and tortillas.
Charlotte went back to the construction site in the afternooon--along with Stacey, Sarah, Bridget and Deb. We delivered to the site the panels that will be the walls for the house. They were both heavy and unwieldy and had to be carried by hand a distance equal to about two city blocks. When that job was done, the construction crew returned to Common Hope to stack lumber that had been cut for use in building more panels later. And we built two panels before we left--none of us are skilled at hammering nails in straight, and we pulled out some mighty interestingly shaped nails before we were done!
Meanwhile, Claire and Morgan led a youth group that gathered at Common Hope for the afternoon. Nan, Alex and Joanie were part of that activity as well--and at the evening report session, this particular volunteer assignment earned stars for being the most fun! All the kids made lanyard bracelets and fortune telling cups and then there were card games, puzzles, and music.
Katie was off to help in one of the public schools.
Each afternoon at 5:00 we{ve had some sort of presentation--today{s was the video A Precarious Peace which reviews some of the history of the civil war in Guatemala and efforts toward the peace accords. Guatemala{s history of violence and mistrust is so enormous--it{s hard for us to imagine how that legacy continues to impact life here. It is also interesting large a role the church has played--both in fostering the conditions that led to the civil war and then working to bring some kind of peace and reconciliation. But that{s probably a subject for an adult education event at Pilgrim and not the blog!
Take care, those of you who are at home reading this. All is well.
Alex, Deb and Morgan spent the morning in the occupational therapy department helping some Common Hope students make jewelry which they sell. These students have various kinds of disabilities, but the occupational therapy department gives them an opportunity to learn some skills. In addition to the beading, they are learning math as they measure, cut, count and sort for their projects. At noon there was a small sale of items-beaded earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Each item for sale included a tag with a picture of the student artisan.
Joanie and Katie rocked babies and played with children in the child care center. Common Hope provides day care for the children of employees--there are three rooms: infants up to 2 years old, 2-4 year olds, and 4-6 year olds. Joanie encountered the Guatemalan insistence that babies be bundled--ask her how many layers of clothing she had to get through just to change a diaper!
Stacey and Bridget were off with social workers making home visits. One of Common Hope's protocols is that social work home visits be made by two people, so when volunteers can accompany social workers, it frees the staff to get more visits done. The visits also give volunteers a more intimate glimpse of life in the families served here. During the visits, social workers identify additional family needs and asses how they can be met.
We met back up at lunch in the diningroom where volunteers (long term and short term) eat, along with staff, teachers, social workers, etc. Our plates overflowed with white beans in a tomato based sauce, rice with various seasonings, and tortillas.
Charlotte went back to the construction site in the afternooon--along with Stacey, Sarah, Bridget and Deb. We delivered to the site the panels that will be the walls for the house. They were both heavy and unwieldy and had to be carried by hand a distance equal to about two city blocks. When that job was done, the construction crew returned to Common Hope to stack lumber that had been cut for use in building more panels later. And we built two panels before we left--none of us are skilled at hammering nails in straight, and we pulled out some mighty interestingly shaped nails before we were done!
Meanwhile, Claire and Morgan led a youth group that gathered at Common Hope for the afternoon. Nan, Alex and Joanie were part of that activity as well--and at the evening report session, this particular volunteer assignment earned stars for being the most fun! All the kids made lanyard bracelets and fortune telling cups and then there were card games, puzzles, and music.
Katie was off to help in one of the public schools.
Each afternoon at 5:00 we{ve had some sort of presentation--today{s was the video A Precarious Peace which reviews some of the history of the civil war in Guatemala and efforts toward the peace accords. Guatemala{s history of violence and mistrust is so enormous--it{s hard for us to imagine how that legacy continues to impact life here. It is also interesting large a role the church has played--both in fostering the conditions that led to the civil war and then working to bring some kind of peace and reconciliation. But that{s probably a subject for an adult education event at Pilgrim and not the blog!
Take care, those of you who are at home reading this. All is well.
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