Hola everybody!
We just returned from our last week of homestays in Santiago, Atitlan. It has all rushed by us so fast we can hardly believe were back at CASAS! We had an amazing time over the last week, staying in the community of Panabaj. This area was strongly affected by Hurricane Stan in 2005, over 250 people were killed and hundreds misplaced from their homes and are currently living in semi-permanent housing. The government had started to provide permanent housing for the refugees and even built 100 new homes. They got warning that the area was in high risk to another mud slide and quickly stopped the project, leaving majority of the homes unfinished. Over 100 families still live in the area and are restricted from using the housing. The government is now encouraging alternate housing on the other side of town. Many of the families don’t want to leave their land and source of work so they are stuck in semi-permanent housing in unsuitable living conditions. MCC supports a local organization called Anadesa. Anadesa has done a lot of work with rebuilding after the disaster of Hurricane Stan, created a local children’s program and a women’s beading cooperative. Over the last week we stayed in the homes of families involved in the organization and volunteered doing small projects around the community. First project we completed was gathering soil for the Anadesa tree nursery. We then helped with the children’s program by organizing crafts using the art supplies that everyone donated. It turned out great! All the kids enjoyed it so much so thank you for all your wonderful contributions! Another project we helped with was carrying 309 saplings to the top of a mountain that we planted to prevent future mud slides.
Last night we said our goodbyes to the community in a closing camp fire. A woman came and told us about the history of the Mayan people in the area, we shared several songs with the group and roasted marshmallows!
This morning we packed up and went for breakfast at a beautiful little spot across the lake and had a chance to reflect on our time in Panabaj. We talked specifically about the affect of our visit on the communities and on ourselves. We have learned so much from the people of Guatemala, especially about the importance of interdependence. Families and communities in Guatemala need to rely on one another to survive. In North American society we are taught that interdependence is weakness. We also are not obligated to rely on one another because we already have the means to survive. Instead we rely on materials for support and comfort. Guatemalan people could be more community reliant because of their difficult past and the major conflicts the country has and is still going through. Guatemalans need each other to help recover from their struggles. This is one thing we have gained from the people here, among many others.
We hope that our trip here has also made an impact on the people. Inspired them and showed them that someone cares about their struggle. We talked about how by visiting we didn’t want to encourage the ´American dream´ that many Guatemalans aspire to. Rather we want to encourage Guatemalans to uphold their strengths to help them out of poverty. MCC has followed this philosophy by supporting local organization such as Anadesa.
So here we are with only two more days left in Guatemala and there are a lot of mixed feelings about leaving. We are excited to be reunited with our family and friends but also sad to leave the relationships we have created here. Hope you’re all doing well and can’t wait to see u all Monday night!
Lots of love,
Marina Classen
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Hola, Buenes Dias, Good morning!!
This past week has been a great time of reflection, learning, experience and hiking! Alot of our recent activity has been high in the sky on mountains with a great view overlooking Guatamala. From San Marcos we took a bus and a sketchy truck ride to La Vega Del Volcan and Nuevas Maravillas. We met with an MCC worker, Nate who showed us how people live and work. We also hiked a couple hours between towns and to work projects.
The first day up on the mountain we learned about different co-ops they had in the community. Some of the key ones were producing fish ponds, growing mushrooms and planting trees. In these communities they don´t have alot of materials so because of this the projects are completed based on learning from their mistakes and experiences.
The group also had a chance to get involved in a soccer game and talent show. Soccer was great fun, for a few days we were travelling with a man named Osmar who has been working in the communities but also wants to go soccer pro. The talent show was an evening of singing and sharing. Our group sang two songs, Amazing Grace and See a Humba. I think the community enjoyed it alot! One of the men really involved in the projects we learned about shared at the talent show. One thing that really stuck out to me in his talk was 'No matter what religon or race we are from God excepts all of them!'
We did some more climbing on foot and by truck. The town we visited next was affected by Hurricane Stan. That day we hiked 3 hours to the town and then 2 hours to our project were we moved a thousand bricks and sifted thru dirt to build a farming centre. It was a big day of physical work for the group minus me because I was sick. Me, Nate and Keenan stayed at the poorest house in the community. Nate explained this was because they had been hit by the hurricane the hardest. Taking livestock and their house. On top of that the father of the home has a desiese in which he cannot work very much because he´s not fully healthy.
Finally the last day in the community we hiked another three hours out of the communities took a bus back to San Marcos. We stayed overnight in a motel and then made our way to Santiago. A long hot drive we finally made it to a gorgeous, big hotel. We have had a great time so far in Santiago and are heading in to the communities tomorrow!
I feel as though many people miss their family although i´m not going to specifically say who. But all the families should feel loved.
Adios,
Brendon Charlos Martin
This past week has been a great time of reflection, learning, experience and hiking! Alot of our recent activity has been high in the sky on mountains with a great view overlooking Guatamala. From San Marcos we took a bus and a sketchy truck ride to La Vega Del Volcan and Nuevas Maravillas. We met with an MCC worker, Nate who showed us how people live and work. We also hiked a couple hours between towns and to work projects.
The first day up on the mountain we learned about different co-ops they had in the community. Some of the key ones were producing fish ponds, growing mushrooms and planting trees. In these communities they don´t have alot of materials so because of this the projects are completed based on learning from their mistakes and experiences.
The group also had a chance to get involved in a soccer game and talent show. Soccer was great fun, for a few days we were travelling with a man named Osmar who has been working in the communities but also wants to go soccer pro. The talent show was an evening of singing and sharing. Our group sang two songs, Amazing Grace and See a Humba. I think the community enjoyed it alot! One of the men really involved in the projects we learned about shared at the talent show. One thing that really stuck out to me in his talk was 'No matter what religon or race we are from God excepts all of them!'
We did some more climbing on foot and by truck. The town we visited next was affected by Hurricane Stan. That day we hiked 3 hours to the town and then 2 hours to our project were we moved a thousand bricks and sifted thru dirt to build a farming centre. It was a big day of physical work for the group minus me because I was sick. Me, Nate and Keenan stayed at the poorest house in the community. Nate explained this was because they had been hit by the hurricane the hardest. Taking livestock and their house. On top of that the father of the home has a desiese in which he cannot work very much because he´s not fully healthy.
Finally the last day in the community we hiked another three hours out of the communities took a bus back to San Marcos. We stayed overnight in a motel and then made our way to Santiago. A long hot drive we finally made it to a gorgeous, big hotel. We have had a great time so far in Santiago and are heading in to the communities tomorrow!
I feel as though many people miss their family although i´m not going to specifically say who. But all the families should feel loved.
Adios,
Brendon Charlos Martin
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Hi to everyone back at home.
I know it has been a while since we have last blogged but we have a good reason for it. Today is the first day that we have been able to access the internet. For the last week we have done a fair amount of interesting things. We all realized that we were tanks, by vigorously climbing up a mountain, I have to admit then when i reached the top of that mountain it was the most joyous moment of my life (and i feel that other people thought the same way). We have learnt to eat a lot of new foods, most of which none of us like to eat, but somehow manage to get it down. We have seen the true beauty that Guatemala is comprised with and we have learned that with some sweat and tears we can build a green house. OH ya and how can I forget the sickness that lots of us have had to deal with, let me tell you...not the funnest times we could have been having.
But seriously, this week was a week of learning and getting the opportunity to experince so many new things. Our week started off with a lot of hanging out and guitar playing, which was a good thing because it allowed for us to connect to the people we were staying with and begin building relationships. Every chance we could get the guitar would come out. The next couple of days was focused on constructing a green house. We moved a heck of a lot of dirt and learned how to use a machety (the boys especially loved every minute of the machety using). It rained everyday we worked on it, but that was part of the reason why building the green house was so amazing. We learned a lot about work etiquette, and how with multiple hands working together something amazing can be built. We unfortuantely, do to the weather, were not able to complete the construction. We got the structure up, but the plastic covering needed to go on when the sun was shinning, and that didnt happen once.
Besides the joy of building and connecting with people we got to experience a lot of other interesting things. Don Pedro (one of our host fathers) shared his story about La Violencia with us. We were all pretty shocked about how open he was with us and how comfortable he was. The moment was probably one of the best for most of us. Not only because we learned a lot from him but because halfway through his story, it started to pour rain and we had to quickly move to a sheltered place where he continued. What he told us, most of us already knew, but it was interesting to hear someones personal story. He was extremely passionate about it and was so happy that he could share his memories with us. Upon his story ending, it started raining even harder and seeing as most of us are risk takers we decided to run back to our house it the rain. I need to add in though, that Don Pedro told his story at the cemetary in Acul which is on the oposite side of town from our houses. So this run back was not a short one. I do not think that we have ever laughed so hard, and been so happy. We were all giggling and did not care that we were drenched from head to toe. It was a memory that most of us won´t forget.
We took a day trip to Chemal, towards the end of our time there, and got to learn more about the Ixil culture. Keenan and I were sick that day so we spent the day sleeping in the van but from what we heard on the van ride home was that it was an amazing day. David (our MCC`er) had us plant three small pine trees. We were not sure what the point of planting three trees were, but he continued to tell us that by planting three tress we would help families in the future build homes and support their familes. He also told us how important and cherished family is in Guatemala compared to that of north america. For a lot of us, this comment hit home. The rest of that day was spent playing soccer and getting to learn more about that locals that lived in that community.
As for the rest of our trip, there are defintely things that i have not added in, but for the most part we all had an amazing time and enjoyed oursleves through all the thick and thin. I wish i could write more but i have 2 minutes left before this internet cafe closes. Just know that we are all missing out families at home, and we send our love. We are keeping safe and trying our best to stay emotinally and physically stable.
San Marcos is our next destination, which will bring more excitment and interesting things. We are all excited to venture into the next part of our trip.
With all the love i can give from the crew,
Emma Horvatis.
ps. mamma, dad and sweet willy styles...i love you and miss you guys like crazy!
I know it has been a while since we have last blogged but we have a good reason for it. Today is the first day that we have been able to access the internet. For the last week we have done a fair amount of interesting things. We all realized that we were tanks, by vigorously climbing up a mountain, I have to admit then when i reached the top of that mountain it was the most joyous moment of my life (and i feel that other people thought the same way). We have learnt to eat a lot of new foods, most of which none of us like to eat, but somehow manage to get it down. We have seen the true beauty that Guatemala is comprised with and we have learned that with some sweat and tears we can build a green house. OH ya and how can I forget the sickness that lots of us have had to deal with, let me tell you...not the funnest times we could have been having.
But seriously, this week was a week of learning and getting the opportunity to experince so many new things. Our week started off with a lot of hanging out and guitar playing, which was a good thing because it allowed for us to connect to the people we were staying with and begin building relationships. Every chance we could get the guitar would come out. The next couple of days was focused on constructing a green house. We moved a heck of a lot of dirt and learned how to use a machety (the boys especially loved every minute of the machety using). It rained everyday we worked on it, but that was part of the reason why building the green house was so amazing. We learned a lot about work etiquette, and how with multiple hands working together something amazing can be built. We unfortuantely, do to the weather, were not able to complete the construction. We got the structure up, but the plastic covering needed to go on when the sun was shinning, and that didnt happen once.
Besides the joy of building and connecting with people we got to experience a lot of other interesting things. Don Pedro (one of our host fathers) shared his story about La Violencia with us. We were all pretty shocked about how open he was with us and how comfortable he was. The moment was probably one of the best for most of us. Not only because we learned a lot from him but because halfway through his story, it started to pour rain and we had to quickly move to a sheltered place where he continued. What he told us, most of us already knew, but it was interesting to hear someones personal story. He was extremely passionate about it and was so happy that he could share his memories with us. Upon his story ending, it started raining even harder and seeing as most of us are risk takers we decided to run back to our house it the rain. I need to add in though, that Don Pedro told his story at the cemetary in Acul which is on the oposite side of town from our houses. So this run back was not a short one. I do not think that we have ever laughed so hard, and been so happy. We were all giggling and did not care that we were drenched from head to toe. It was a memory that most of us won´t forget.
We took a day trip to Chemal, towards the end of our time there, and got to learn more about the Ixil culture. Keenan and I were sick that day so we spent the day sleeping in the van but from what we heard on the van ride home was that it was an amazing day. David (our MCC`er) had us plant three small pine trees. We were not sure what the point of planting three trees were, but he continued to tell us that by planting three tress we would help families in the future build homes and support their familes. He also told us how important and cherished family is in Guatemala compared to that of north america. For a lot of us, this comment hit home. The rest of that day was spent playing soccer and getting to learn more about that locals that lived in that community.
As for the rest of our trip, there are defintely things that i have not added in, but for the most part we all had an amazing time and enjoyed oursleves through all the thick and thin. I wish i could write more but i have 2 minutes left before this internet cafe closes. Just know that we are all missing out families at home, and we send our love. We are keeping safe and trying our best to stay emotinally and physically stable.
San Marcos is our next destination, which will bring more excitment and interesting things. We are all excited to venture into the next part of our trip.
With all the love i can give from the crew,
Emma Horvatis.
ps. mamma, dad and sweet willy styles...i love you and miss you guys like crazy!
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