Nov/Dec 2010

Christmas Greetings from Guatemala

As I write this letter the Community House is a-buzz with the sounds of saws buzzing, hammers hammering, people laughing and general merriment, finishing up the furniture for the various programs at the Guatemala City Dump. It's just like Santa's elves busily preparing for the Christmas rush. And there could be no more needy or deserving children than those whose parents scrounge through the garbage day after day to eke out a living for their families. We continue to see amazing transformations in the children. Last year we set up a grade one pilot project at "Safe Passage". As opposed to the traditional system down here, based on hours of copying rote learning and memorization, the classrooms are activity-based and geared to the interests of the children.

At the beginning of the year this classroom was totally out of control. A number of these children are left to care for themselves, while their parents are scavenging through piles of garbage .Many of these children were aloof, manipulative, rebellious and very suspicious of adults. It took several months to establish trust with this group. Challenging authority was the norm, sometimes resulting in violent outbreaks towards the teachers. Repressed anger showed in their artwork, and an inability to show genuine affection was evident in many cases. I returned to Canada in April feeling very discouraged.

In July I received a letter from our program coordinator, Madeli. She said "Susan it is a miracle. The children in the Pilot Project have really changed." As much as I wanted it to be true, I had my doubts about how much different things could be in three months.

On my return to Guate, the first thing I wanted to do was see the grade one program with my own eyes. As I sat outside the classroom, the first thing I noticed was the children sitting quietly outside the bathroom, patiently waiting their turn. When I had left, chaos reigned during any kind of transition time. As the children entered the classroom, instead of the usual mayhem, they went to the bookrack, enthusiastically took a book from the shelf and proudly sat reading out loud to one another. The months of encouragement and positive feedback from the teachers had finally paid off. These children now knew they were capable of success. I was mesmerized as I watched them, some for the first time in their lives experiencing "the joy of learning".

The best was yet to come. I unobtrusively observed as the children went excitedly to their centers, anticipating the learning activity of the day. No one center seemed to be any more popular than the rest. Within minutes, the whole class was meaningfully engaged in hands on learning, but my attention was drawn immediately to the math table where two of our most challenging children had been assigned. I waited for the inevitable inappropriate behaviour which had initially been such a problem for these two boys.

As they sat waiting, the teacher briefly explained the multiplication activity and then engaged the children with skillful questioning techniques. Each child was given manipulatives to figure out the answer. The excitement grew as each child worked as quickly as possible to come up with the right answer. The more problems they were given, the more excited they became. After each right answer they would throw up their arms triumphantly, grinning from ear to ear, settling only momentarily to listen to the next problem. The air was electric

There are many times in this country the problems seem overwhelming, and I question some days if, in fact, we are impacting lives in any meaningful way, but as I watched this scenario unfold, I was filled with such hope for these children.

Only last week, Jessica, the teacher in this class, shared something with us that one of these boys had said to her. As he threw his arms around her, he said " Seno, I want to thank you for your patience with me. I know I have changed this year. I am very happy."
What more could we ask for?!!!!!!

And so at this special time of year we give thanks for small miracles. We give thanks for our loyal supporters. But most of all we give thanks for people who care about the children who may never have been given the opportunity to become everything they are meant to be. Let us try to continue to be people of hope.

We wish you all the Joys and Peace of this Christmas season.

In Solidarity and Love,

Susan and Richard

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Updates from Shirley Hill, Antigua

It feels so good to be back in Guatemala... very familiar and like a family visit with old friends at the community house. What a difficult, yet beautiful country in so many ways... Today was a very special day in several ways. Susana and Ricardo have sponsored a child, Mario, through 'Child International' since he was 3 years old. Now that he is older, they have been paying him to work here at the Community House when he is not in school. It has been a "win-win" situation for all.... Ricardo and Susana built him a house a couple of years ago and now some of his family live with him.... he is 17. This year he graduates from high school... has plans to be a teacher, make some money, then go to school to be a lawyer. This is one boy's life that has been changed for the better.... for good. Mario has been a big help with the furniture building over the last few years as well, so part of our group while we're here in Guate. The group decided, on Ted's initiative, to buy Mario a bicycle and lock for his graduation. He was presented with the "keys" at lunch today and he had to find where the keys fit.... in the bicycle lock! The look on his face was priceless.... he was so happy.... he rode his bike home this afternoon to Alotenango, which is about 15km away. One life has been changed.... one very important life.


We have an added helper as of yesterday... Aner, the young man that we have been supporting to attend school to be a teacher, finished his exams this week. He seemed so happy to be here helping with the furniture, etc. He comes from one of the poorest villages in the area and has stepped up to be at the "top of his class" in school .... more proof that education is a release from poverty. Aner will be with us next week as well. We have already told him that we will pay for his tuition for the last 2 years of his schooling, and we plan to give him a surprise gift of a computer before we leave.

The "pick-up" (same in Spanish as in English!), with Walter driving, was loaded to the top of the sides with chickens, feed, corn, groceries, benches, 8 of us, plus Ernie (a foreman from 'Houses to Homes'), his girlfriend and her son Josue (sp?). We invited them to come along to help with translation! We trekked to Santa Maria de Jesus, a mountain village about 25 min from Antigua.

We first visited the family of 8 that Ted's group had built the house for in 2009. We were met with huge smiles, open arms and many hugs.... truly heartwarming... especially when they were meeting some of us for the first time. The Guatemalans have such open, trusting hearts that they welcome all into their lives, with no judgment. They are so grateful for the support they receive, yet treat us as people like themselves, rather than as "wallets". The family was overwhelmed, yet laughing at the gift of chickens! Besides the chicks, the kids in particular got the biggest kick out of the photo albums that were brought down from last year's building gang, with photos of the house build. The mother of the family enjoyed and found her porcelain stove very "practico" as it used much less wood. She had also created an absolutely beautiful woven wall-hanging as a gift for Ted and his building group. We suggested that it eventually be hung at Grace United Church in Cobden, as that is where the funds for the house had been raised.

We then traveled through the village to the family that we built a house for in 2007. They weren't aware that we were planning on coming to visit, although we had requested that 'Houses to Homes' let them know. In any case, we were also met there with huge smiles, kids running to us with open arms and big hugs from Guadalupe (mom) and the kids that were at home. They were surprised to see us, but happy and grateful that we thought enough and took the time to visit them again. For the second time that afternoon, we were all struck with the loving, trusting nature of these wonderful people, and the fact that they considered us their friends.... they even remembered our names.... 3 years later. Tears were flowing. Someone ran to find Fransisco (dad) and little Johnny from town... Johnny was the little boy that had a broken arm when we visited them in 2008. We had taken up a collection amongst the group at that time and decided to pay for whatever treatment Johnny needed for his arm. Two years later, it is as good as new!


Today, Monday, the group took a trip to the mountain village of Sacala Las Lomas, to the graduation ceremony at one of the schools that Richard and Susan created and sponsor. We stopped on the way in the village of San Martin to pick up two large cakes and drinks for the occasion.... what a ride up those mountain hills! The ceremony was to start at 10 am, but in traditional Guatemalan fashion, where time is of little concern, it was 11 before the ceremony began! The school was decorated festively with balloons, ribbons and artwork that the children had created, and the children were dressed in their "Sunday best". Maria, the head teacher at the school, has 7 children of her own, and is a wonderful teacher by Susan's account. A nice surprise for Susan and Richard was that Maria's husband, and the other teacher Maxima's husband were also there helping both of them out and being very supportive... not necessarily a usual occurrence in Guatemala.

Shirley Hill's last entry from Antigua

Queridos amigos y amigas,

My bags are packed, and we're ready to go.... always with mixed emotions. It feels like it's time to go back home in some respects, but like we could spend weeks more here in other ways.

I feel it necessary to send so many blessings to Susana and Ricardo, for their commitment and dedication, passion and sharing of themselves with so many, in so many ways. Few of us would have had the opportunity to be present here, to offer mission to the poor of Guatemala, if not for them. Few of us would have had the opportunity to open our eyes, our lives and our hearts to the people of Guatemala, who have so much to teach us in return.

I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have been given, and the support I receive from so many, in order to seize those opportunities.

Muchos gracias... hasta luego!

Shirley

Shirley has been to Guatemala several times as a returning member of the Cobden Team of Service. Some of her Journal entries have been left out due to over-all newsletter length.