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March, 2006
Greetings from "The Land of Eternal Spring"!
Finally, we have some time to get a newsletter back to our family and friends, to let you know how things are going on our latest trek to Guatemala. The mission grows daily, both in projects and participation. This year we had about fifty people join us from Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.
In January a team of nine, ranging in age from 18 years to mid seventies, built a one room cinder block house for a family of eight, with a generous donation provided by a family from Petawawa On.. We have formed an informal partnership with "From Houses to Homes", founded in 2004, by Joe Collins of New Jersey, which enables us to bring down building teams and $1500 (American) to build houses for the poor.( Income tax receipts are issued through the Guatemalan Fund.) This team also chose to build 2 sets of triple bunks for the family, and buy each child new clothes for back to school. The family was thrilled, but their feelings of elation still paled in comparison to the profound sense of awe experienced by the team. Each member's reflections of the week confirmed that there is no greater joy than that of making a positive difference in someone's life! One member of that team is already getting a team of friends together, and is raising the funds to build another house next January. Through Joe's project, we hope to build at least three other homes next year.
Our first furniture building team for 2006 (dubbed Dream Team I) from the Ottawa Valley, returned for their second year, to build furniture for the daycare at the Guatemala City Dump. This team was a mixture of exceptionally well skilled carpenters and relatively inexperienced workers, with enormous enthusiasm and drive. They did an outstanding job of setting up the work site, and preparing materials for future teams. On top of this, they produced a massive amount of furniture. Several of this team plan to return in November to build the lofts for the daycare etc.
Part of that team (a caring, committed group from Cobden), raised a large sum of money for victims of the recent mudslides. We visited, what was left of the village of "Panabaj" at Lake Atitlan. The village was totally destroyed, and has been declared a mass grave. We were actually standing on top of the buried homes, as a grieving family member shared the horrific stories of the disaster. Needless to say, the experience left the team at a loss for words, but many shed tears for this tiny village that such a short time before was full of life. Many of us reflected, on how it could have been any of us who just happened to be born in this village. Could we ever imagine loosing our family, our friends, our homes and our community in one fateful night?!!!
Also some members of our first team who visited Sacala (where we set up our first village school) were deeply troubled by the fact that the village had water for only a couple of hours a day, and immediately returned to Canada, to raise money for a well. As it turns out, to get water for Sacala is going to be a very arduous task, and it will cost in the area of $100,000. That figure has not deterred this group, and John Weir and Dorothy Collins are spearheading a committee to bring water to Sacala. Ted Richardson and Eric Marx have also stepped forward to support this effort. Dorothy and John would be grateful for any help they can get, as this has turned out to be a huge undertaking. During their recent trip to Sacala, they took the opportunity to meet with the leaders of Sacala and surrounding communities, (along with members of the Petawawa Rotary Club) to ascertain exactly what the people want. They also brought down a geologist professor from the Missouri to view the site, and comment on the feasibility of the project. On their return to Canada, they immediately started fund raising. If anyone wishes to donate money specifically to the water project, it may go through Horizons of Friendship, and a tax receipt will be issued. Be sure to specify
"Water for Sacala".
A group from the Edmonton Knights of Columbus, teamed up with three wayward souls from Ontario to form our third team. This team had the ugly job of making some of our most difficult pieces of furniture. The painters spent so much time painting the insides of cupboards and cubbies, they almost passed out from asphyxiation. However in-spite of this, the team maintained a great spirit and did phenomenal work. On the final evening they presented a plaque to safe passage, honouring a member of the knights, who had always wanted to come to Guatemala to work with the poor, but died recently before his dream was realized. This team which was put together by Dennis and Bev Bedard, also made a substantial contribution to our daycare project at the dump.
Our last Ottawa Valley team consisted largely of members of ACCESO International (a non profit organization founded by Christine Gervais to support education in the Americas). In collaboration with the Luke 4 Foundation, ACCESO has provided the major funding for the completion of this project. Richard had major doubts that we would be able to finish the work that was left to this final team, but through their supreme efforts, everything that was slated to be built is finished and of superb quality...one of the many miracles that seem to occur on an ongoing basis down here. Also, a young university graduate from this team is committed to returning to Guatemala for one or two years to do volunteer work in this destitute country.
The gratitude we feel to these teams for their support is difficult to express. It is only through the individual efforts of each and every member that our task was accomplished. EVERY PERSON COUNTED...and every person helped to make a huge difference in the lives of the Guatemalans. Thank you..thank you..thank you!
Plans for the fall include bringing down a large team in November to build lofts and role play centers for the daycare. Hopefully, I will be training the teachers in late November and early December, and setting the classrooms up with the teachers. The new activity centered program is to open in January 2007. Through all the efforts of our fellow Canadians this center is going to be very special!
We have also been asked to support a school in a remote finca community "Buena Esperanza", which has recently had a new school built for it by Spain, but it is in dire need of supplies. We also plan to build for them a one room preschool to initiate a "Learning through Play" philosophy for four year olds. If all goes well, we would follow up with activity centered programs for five and six year olds. This would provide a strong base for their future education. We will need one or two teams in February for the construction of the school and the building of the furniture.
Our preschools in Sacala and Tioxya are doing well, but are definitely in need of our ongoing support and encouragement. The building in Sacala needs a face lift. Tioxya needs to move from its present location, because the man who owns the house is returning from the States, so we will need to build furniture for the new, larger facility. We will probably also have to bring teams down for these projects.the dates will have to be determined at a future date.
Our present dream is to set up a community house to provide living accommodations and support for those wishing to do volunteer work in Guatemala. Currently we have made an application for start up costs from a foundation in Toronto, but we will have to carry on as we have, pending the outcome of this request. If our application is approved we will make details available as soon as possible.,
For your interest, your support, and your love we are so thankful. If you wish to join any of our teams for next year, we would welcome your help. Contact us as soon as possible, as team sizes will be limited.
In closing, I would like to share some free thought about our house building experience.
The Gift
A house....
Four walls of rusty tin
Two beds for a family of eight
Dirt floors..smoke covered walls
No food..where is the food?
A donor...
Someone cares
Someone wants to help
What can I do? How much?
He writes the cheque...a smile crosses his face
A team....
Volunteers
Excited to be part of something meaningful
Hard work..long hours..God, it feels great
Digging trenches.mixing cement.hot sun
Stacking blocks..sore back...blisters
Yes God....it feels great!
A home....
Security.solid walls.a door that locks
A cement floor..a skylight
Everyone has a bed
Mattresses.pillows.blankets
Warmth..comfort..a sanctuary
A family....
Overwhelmed and grateful
Children rolling on beds
Wrapping in soft blankets
Snuggling their teddy bears
Parents watching...with tear filled eyes
The Gift....
To be present...
To share in this sacred moment
The satisfaction...the joy..the love
It is as it should be..
In Service and Love,
Richard and Susan
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