January, 2005

Amigos in Canada,

It has been the best of times and the worst of times..(actually things could be a lot worse), but it hasn't been an easy month. Richard and I are so sorry to have written so few personal replies. We have been really busy, but we really regret not having more time to communicate with our friends who are being so supportive. We appreciate every e-mail we receive, and look forward to a chance to sit down, and enjoy news from home.

Our preschool program started on the 10th of January. My first day was not good. Several toys had been stolen from the classroom over the weekend....my teachers didn't show up...and at the end of the day, I had a bad fall...tripped on a large rock, smashed my head, shoulder, knee and broke my right hand. Many people have sent me healing energy, and I have experienced little pain, but it has made things very awkward for me getting things up and running. I have been getting up at 4:30 in the morning on days when I want to wash my hair. Everything takes longer.

The bus ride from Guatemala City is always an experience. In one day I saw two separate arrests and the bus in front of us was on fire, with flames shooting out all the windows. Our bus driver casually drove by, as we had visions of the bus suddenly exploding. On Monday there was a dead body on the road with blood pouring from the head. We don't know if it was an accident or a murder.

The last two days the school has been shut down and we were sent home because of toxic gases in the air. Teachers were having headaches, nausea and feeling dizzy. There was a massive fire at the garbage dump, that got totally out of control. Apparently several families have been evacuated. We will try and start school again on Monday.

One of the hardest things to deal with has been that both the teachers I trained for the classroom have resigned. They just cannot cope with going into Guatemala City. They say it is too dangerous, and they have to spend four hours a day on the bus. The toxic gases at the dump were the final straw. I can't blame them. I am just very disappointed for them and the children because they were doing a great job, and loved working in the program.

This means trying to find two more bilingual teachers, willing to work in Guatemala city for peanuts. We need a miracle. Without good well trained teachers the program will not succeed.

So what is the Good News?????!!!...The good news is that despite all the bad news, life is good!!!!. The children are so happy in the program and adjusting incredibly well..it makes everything worthwhile. Richard actually made a bamboo house for them in the classroom, that the service team framed when they were down here. They absolutely

love it! Despite the fact they have no appliances in their homes, it is like they have used a fridge and stove all their lives. It is a riot to see these boys, who come from a totally macho society, put on an apron and don a pair of oven mitts to take their vegetable casserole out of the oven. They seem really excited to be allowed in the kitchen.

The classroom is great....we have two good sized rooms. The furniture that the team built is outstanding....It is such a special place, for such very, very, special children. And so many of their stories are so sad...one little boy who came yesterday for his first day was very upset. He did not want his mother to leave..it is not hard to understand, because his dad was killed by a gang two weeks ago, because he wouldn't give them his cell phone. . When his mother left he was hysterical, but he ended up having a wonderful morning!!!...it feels so good to make a small difference in one life..even for just a couple of hours. The preschool is exactly what this little boy needs at this very sad time in his life.

Our second building team is coming down the first week in March to build furniture for our small rural preschool in Toyxia. We don't have a building yet, but I pray we still have the two teachers I trained in November. There is also a small team coming down from Fellows.a Pembroke public high school to visit "Safe Passage" later in March.

The teacher from Sacala came to visit this morning. She said "The School Among the Little Angels" is going well. These teachers who have only grade three education themselves have been working in the school for two years and completed another 3 weeks of training in November. They are so excited about all of the new things they have learned. She said all the children are so happy and she feels energized to go to school every day, because it is such a happy place to be.

Financial support continues, as our needs grow. We have such amazing friends...and friends of friends. I am sure we will have many new stories to share when we return. It is only through telling these stories, we can connect you with the people you are so generously supporting.

As I return from the city on a "chicken bus" or wander through the market at dusk, I feel honoured to be allowed to witness first hand the plight of the poor. As I have said so many times. We have so much to learn from the children...about simplicity...about generosity..about happiness and about love. Sometimes we feel totally inadequate...we just try to stay focused on the children and try our best.

In a Spirit of Oneness.

We send our love to all.

Susana and Ricardo