This is a picture of a typical washing area. The big piece in the center is a "pila" and every house had at least one. You put your clean water in the center basin, one wing dirty and other wing clean. Some had several pilas. It was where all the washing was done from food to dishes to kids. In the two houses I worked in this was the first area you came into when entering the house area. I say area because the houses I worked in were more like small componunds with several families living in each. - RoySaturday, October 25, 2008
Typical Washing Area
This is a picture of a typical washing area. The big piece in the center is a "pila" and every house had at least one. You put your clean water in the center basin, one wing dirty and other wing clean. Some had several pilas. It was where all the washing was done from food to dishes to kids. In the two houses I worked in this was the first area you came into when entering the house area. I say area because the houses I worked in were more like small componunds with several families living in each. - Roy
Ferris Wheel
This is the ferris wheel Laura and I rode during the San Lucas Ferria. We were able to look down on the roof tops as they shot off major fireworks. Rockets, bombas and such. It was quite an experience but not one I would recommend or want to repeat.- Roy
More pictures from Roy
Half the crew, ten to a truck, head off to Pompojila to work
This is a fairly typical kitchen scene
Bruce is standing next to an example of some of the stoves we were replacing
-Roy
Pictures from Roy
This is a picture from San Antonio looking across Lake Atitlan at, from left to right: Mount Atitlan, Mount Tolimon, and at the far right Mount San Pedro, all inactive (?) volcanoes. The small hill in the middle is Cerro de Oro, which we hiked on Sunday. We also visited Panajachel and Santiago de Atitlan. It was a beautiful day until early afternoon and then we went back to RAIN OF APOCOLYTTIC PROPORTIONS!
- Roy
From Val, Spence & Bruce
We tried to send messages on Tuesday and Thursday nights as well but there was no satellite connection, maybe because of very wet weather with heavy clouds.
We have seen the rain, in torrents as only happens in the tropics, but the weather has also been sunny each day and the volcanoes have appeared in all of their splendour. On Wednesday when we took the boat trip around Lake Atitlan, the weather was so beautiful and we got some great pictures. Then the rains came and it really poured. We crossed the lake on our return with absolutely no visability and with the rain slamming into our faces. Of course there were no life jackets but that is the way we travel here, with faith and some trepidation. Today we completed our work in the area, some in the remote pueblo of Noventa siete. There are some desperately poor families there and the gratitude and excitement and interest they showed, was unforgettable. I think we all had moist eyes when we said farewell to the new friends we have made this week. Of such relationships is peace in the world created.
We are including some thoughts from other team members:
From Bruce MacKenzie: When we arrived this morning to start construction on the spot where we destroyed a stove the day before, there was no sand or cement. Yesterday I met and visited with Oviveo and his brother Walter who helped on the stove destruction. Oviveo showed up just as we were wanting to get started and he disappeared and soon appeared with sand and cement, two bags each carried on his back. I began to sift and the sifter fell apart. Armando, our mason, who is very resourceful, found some old lumber. It worked well and I managed to sift the two bags of sand. (The black river sand comes from the yards of the families and is coarse volcanic sand.)
The stoves are quite solid and should last for many years, sort of like the old bar bq pits of yore. They contain many cement blocks, and a stout concrete chimney that extends through the roof. The stove has a metal grill with adjustable rings to accomodate different size pots.
To get to section where we have been working, one has to walk about half a mile up and down some very steep hills on very rocky muddy paths. Yesterday we saw a man carrying 10 of the concrete block straped to his back, each weighing 10 or 15 pounds, from the school to district. He was followed by his young son carrying 4 blocks on his back, and later his wife carrying a concrete stove pipe on her head, it must have weighed at least 70 pounds. Amazing that these folks are so wanting the stoves that they go to such measures to get the supplies to their house because there is no road into the area.
Some thoughts from Spense Havlick: Josephina, daughter of Mona melts us with her smile and her enthusiasm to help with stove building. She and I tease our wonderful stone mason, Carlos. She and her five sisters and brothers love the tennis balls we gave to many. As we left by 4, all the kids in the family were building a miniature wood stove and pretending to serve tea from an old tea kettle. On day 3 of work, Community Leader, Rosa, assigned us to a very poor family. Three of the kids had brown hair and protruding tummies which are signs of severe malnutrition.Yet they all helped, stirring mortar, measuring blocks, with the 16 year old Gloria carrying a new 90lb bag of volvcanic sand a third of a mile from the project storehouse. The 44 year old Marcus helped and Lucia the dad of a 3 week old baby also was recruited to carry mortar. Lightning and rain coincided with the end of the work day. Poverty we shall never forget!!
One can never anticipate the human connections that take place when one sheds all pretenses. The shining example is Fabiola who out of the multitude of tattered but elegant children came up and took my little finger. She is a beautiful, petite girls of about 7. She walked with me down the ravine and through the coffee and gravilla trees to our work site. As we walked, me in my heavy boots and Fabiola in her thin little sandles, she grasped my entire hand as the trail became rough. We chatted in fragments of broken Spanish, but complemented by smiles, and gestures of full understanding.
And then there is Cindy Mueller who spent 4 hours playing Follow the Leader, drawing, playing hop scotch, making cootie catchers etc as 20 plus children followed her around, knew her name, copied her laugh and fell in love with her.
Tonight is our last meal together as a group, tomorrow we travel by van to Antigua and then Sunday morning many will fly home. Others of us will spend an extra week exploring this country which we shall never forget.
Val (with help from many) Havlick
We have seen the rain, in torrents as only happens in the tropics, but the weather has also been sunny each day and the volcanoes have appeared in all of their splendour. On Wednesday when we took the boat trip around Lake Atitlan, the weather was so beautiful and we got some great pictures. Then the rains came and it really poured. We crossed the lake on our return with absolutely no visability and with the rain slamming into our faces. Of course there were no life jackets but that is the way we travel here, with faith and some trepidation. Today we completed our work in the area, some in the remote pueblo of Noventa siete. There are some desperately poor families there and the gratitude and excitement and interest they showed, was unforgettable. I think we all had moist eyes when we said farewell to the new friends we have made this week. Of such relationships is peace in the world created.
We are including some thoughts from other team members:
From Bruce MacKenzie: When we arrived this morning to start construction on the spot where we destroyed a stove the day before, there was no sand or cement. Yesterday I met and visited with Oviveo and his brother Walter who helped on the stove destruction. Oviveo showed up just as we were wanting to get started and he disappeared and soon appeared with sand and cement, two bags each carried on his back. I began to sift and the sifter fell apart. Armando, our mason, who is very resourceful, found some old lumber. It worked well and I managed to sift the two bags of sand. (The black river sand comes from the yards of the families and is coarse volcanic sand.)
The stoves are quite solid and should last for many years, sort of like the old bar bq pits of yore. They contain many cement blocks, and a stout concrete chimney that extends through the roof. The stove has a metal grill with adjustable rings to accomodate different size pots.
To get to section where we have been working, one has to walk about half a mile up and down some very steep hills on very rocky muddy paths. Yesterday we saw a man carrying 10 of the concrete block straped to his back, each weighing 10 or 15 pounds, from the school to district. He was followed by his young son carrying 4 blocks on his back, and later his wife carrying a concrete stove pipe on her head, it must have weighed at least 70 pounds. Amazing that these folks are so wanting the stoves that they go to such measures to get the supplies to their house because there is no road into the area.
Some thoughts from Spense Havlick: Josephina, daughter of Mona melts us with her smile and her enthusiasm to help with stove building. She and I tease our wonderful stone mason, Carlos. She and her five sisters and brothers love the tennis balls we gave to many. As we left by 4, all the kids in the family were building a miniature wood stove and pretending to serve tea from an old tea kettle. On day 3 of work, Community Leader, Rosa, assigned us to a very poor family. Three of the kids had brown hair and protruding tummies which are signs of severe malnutrition.Yet they all helped, stirring mortar, measuring blocks, with the 16 year old Gloria carrying a new 90lb bag of volvcanic sand a third of a mile from the project storehouse. The 44 year old Marcus helped and Lucia the dad of a 3 week old baby also was recruited to carry mortar. Lightning and rain coincided with the end of the work day. Poverty we shall never forget!!
One can never anticipate the human connections that take place when one sheds all pretenses. The shining example is Fabiola who out of the multitude of tattered but elegant children came up and took my little finger. She is a beautiful, petite girls of about 7. She walked with me down the ravine and through the coffee and gravilla trees to our work site. As we walked, me in my heavy boots and Fabiola in her thin little sandles, she grasped my entire hand as the trail became rough. We chatted in fragments of broken Spanish, but complemented by smiles, and gestures of full understanding.
And then there is Cindy Mueller who spent 4 hours playing Follow the Leader, drawing, playing hop scotch, making cootie catchers etc as 20 plus children followed her around, knew her name, copied her laugh and fell in love with her.Tonight is our last meal together as a group, tomorrow we travel by van to Antigua and then Sunday morning many will fly home. Others of us will spend an extra week exploring this country which we shall never forget.
Val (with help from many) Havlick
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Rain in a land of contrasts
Hello again from San Lucas Toliman,
The computers here in town did not receive satellite signals last night so you have not heard from us in a while. We are doing well, have enjoyed two and one half days of lovely weather, and have completed 5 stoves with many partially done. Today we traveled to three pueblos, San Antonio, Panjochal, and Santiago de Atitlan. We kept the venders and merchants happy with our enthusiastic purchases ranging from hammock to purses to trays to shirts, scarves, and chocolate among many. We consider it our duty to personally bolster the local economy.
We have had wonderful encounters with the families of the Colonia Pampojila which is the small village where we are building stoves. It is located several kilometers from San Lucas Toliman where we are staying and we commute back and forth in the back of a pick up truck.
While waiting for the jefe to download our pictures I will give you my perceptions of the mission so far.
RAIN!!!!!!!!
Ok, so we have had rain every day since we got here. It flows down the streets. It is everywhere. And yet we are told this is a dry area of Guatemala. Forest fires are a real problem. Sound familiar.
Rain of biblical porportions is more like it.
Actually, we have been very fortunate; it doesn´t rain when we are working on the stoves. This is truely a blessing as we sit in the middle of the road whacking away at cinder blocks with machetes to make the blocks to build the stoves and if we had to do that in the rain it would be rather uncomfortable.
It does rain the rest of the time. We got here during the Ferai of San Lucas. That´s a prolonged festival where they parade a statue of Saint Luke throughout the streets, blasting off fireworks all night long. Think in terms of being serandaded by the 1812 overature at a million decibals at 4 AM. Wherever you hear the dynamite go off that is where you find Saint Luke.
The coolest thing Laura and I did was ride this absulutely horrifying rickety old ferris wheel and while we were on the feris wheel the local pyromanics where blasting off huge rockets right next to us off a roof in the central square. Just as the bombardment abated and we thought we might make it through they cranked up the ferris wheel to a speed never thought of in the US. As we speed around screaming I saw that the ferris wheel was being driven by and old 260 horse power, inline six cylinder gasoline engine and the operator was yelling at someone on his cell phone and the ride was getting faster and faster. Obviously, we survived as you are not getting this from the beyond, but .......
But truely, the people here are unbelievably wonderful. Few that haven´t experienced it can understand the poverty and primitive living conditions that exist here in Gutemala, yet every day we are greeted with smiles and laughter. The most amazing are the children. Sometimes
it is hard to work beause we are surrounded by chidren that want to play, and so do we; it´s infectious. The family love, the enthusiasm, sense of community, the little things that mean so much. It´s a land and people of contrasts.
Stay tuned for more......
Roy and Val
Team 2 arrives in Guatemala
The past two days we have been checking the ¨big wheels¨...the ferris wheels... that are around town. The Festival of St Lucas has been going on since we arrived on Friday late afternoon in San Lucas Toliman. The streets are lined on both sides with booths and rides. Walking through this small town is sometimes almost impossible. The colors, smells and sounds fill the air. There are families dressed in the native fabrics...women with babies slung on their backs, lots of little children clinging to their mother´s skirts. It is all so different from anything many of us have ever seen.
Yesterday we visited the tiny village of Pompajila where we will continue the stove building that Team 1 started. We saw some of the completed stoves...great job, Team 1. It rained almost all day...sometimes a real downpour. Today has been drier, but it still managed to rain a decent amount this afternoon. We are all hoping for better weather to begin the stove building tomorrow.
Some of us went on a tour of San Lucas Toliman today. We walked the cobblestone streets to an area reclaimed by some of the local permaculture mambers. It is almost like an arboritum in the midst of the town. We then got to see a woman weaving in the traditional backstrap loom. She was sitting in her yard in a very poor part of town creating a work of art. It was amazing. We then went to visit an 82 year old woman who makes 1000 tortillas by hand each day. She sits next to the open fire in a small tin roofed hut. We could barely stand being in with her for 10 minutes!
The rest of our group went for a hike up the 400 meter Cerro d´Oro¨Sleeping Elephant mountain nearby. We rode in the back of a pickup truck standing side by side to the trailhead. We were so fortunate for after the hard rains of yesterday we had sunshine and visibility clear enough to see the volcanoes that surround Lake Atitlan. This lake is a mile deep and covers many square miles. Many wealthy people from Guatemala City drive the 50 miles to the lake and their chalets on weekends. We only saw them driving through town for most people here are desperately poor but seem happy. Back to the hike. The trail was very steep, rocky and muddy, but the higher we climbed, the better the views. There were beautiful flowers, many are no doubt the originals of seeds we now sow in the US like cosmos, sunflowers, lantanas, and argeratum. Every little spot of soil nestled between the boulders had a coffee tree growing in it. They are loaded with green coffee beans at the elevation which is 1535 meters above sea level. At the lower elevations the beans are ripening to a deep red and will soon be ready to harvest. The school children began their vacation last week so that every able hand is available to harvest the valuable crops. We also saw avocado trees and some exotic fruit trees growing along the way. Then we saw the farmers climbing the hillside to check their coffee bushes. The guides are so well informed and we learned a lot.
Tomorrow, Monday, we begin our work with the stove building. The beds are comfy, food is delicious, and so far everyone is well and in great spirits. More to come
Beth Yoak and Val Havlick
Yesterday we visited the tiny village of Pompajila where we will continue the stove building that Team 1 started. We saw some of the completed stoves...great job, Team 1. It rained almost all day...sometimes a real downpour. Today has been drier, but it still managed to rain a decent amount this afternoon. We are all hoping for better weather to begin the stove building tomorrow.
Some of us went on a tour of San Lucas Toliman today. We walked the cobblestone streets to an area reclaimed by some of the local permaculture mambers. It is almost like an arboritum in the midst of the town. We then got to see a woman weaving in the traditional backstrap loom. She was sitting in her yard in a very poor part of town creating a work of art. It was amazing. We then went to visit an 82 year old woman who makes 1000 tortillas by hand each day. She sits next to the open fire in a small tin roofed hut. We could barely stand being in with her for 10 minutes!
The rest of our group went for a hike up the 400 meter Cerro d´Oro¨Sleeping Elephant mountain nearby. We rode in the back of a pickup truck standing side by side to the trailhead. We were so fortunate for after the hard rains of yesterday we had sunshine and visibility clear enough to see the volcanoes that surround Lake Atitlan. This lake is a mile deep and covers many square miles. Many wealthy people from Guatemala City drive the 50 miles to the lake and their chalets on weekends. We only saw them driving through town for most people here are desperately poor but seem happy. Back to the hike. The trail was very steep, rocky and muddy, but the higher we climbed, the better the views. There were beautiful flowers, many are no doubt the originals of seeds we now sow in the US like cosmos, sunflowers, lantanas, and argeratum. Every little spot of soil nestled between the boulders had a coffee tree growing in it. They are loaded with green coffee beans at the elevation which is 1535 meters above sea level. At the lower elevations the beans are ripening to a deep red and will soon be ready to harvest. The school children began their vacation last week so that every able hand is available to harvest the valuable crops. We also saw avocado trees and some exotic fruit trees growing along the way. Then we saw the farmers climbing the hillside to check their coffee bushes. The guides are so well informed and we learned a lot.
Tomorrow, Monday, we begin our work with the stove building. The beds are comfy, food is delicious, and so far everyone is well and in great spirits. More to come
Beth Yoak and Val Havlick
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Delayed post from early in the trip
(Big apologies from your webmaster! This post from early in the trip unfortunately landed in my spam folder, where it languished until now! It goes along with the cave pictures in the 'Tours, the market' post from 10/6. )
today we got to sleep a little which was nice. we had pancakes and fruit for breakfast. then half of the group did a walk through town and the rest of us went in an open air truck in the back up the mountain for a hike. it was a three hour hike with bugs that didn´t bite and beautiful views of the lake. it was really nice and sunny for the first time. we climbed through a cave and they had brought candles to light the way. then we climbed down quickly. the hike was pretty hard core for the day before stoves and and is muddier and steeper than mt sanitas. however, our guide told us many things about the culture and trees, which you can drink from to help your stomach, and the islands we could see from the view.
Kate Arney-Cimino
today we got to sleep a little which was nice. we had pancakes and fruit for breakfast. then half of the group did a walk through town and the rest of us went in an open air truck in the back up the mountain for a hike. it was a three hour hike with bugs that didn´t bite and beautiful views of the lake. it was really nice and sunny for the first time. we climbed through a cave and they had brought candles to light the way. then we climbed down quickly. the hike was pretty hard core for the day before stoves and and is muddier and steeper than mt sanitas. however, our guide told us many things about the culture and trees, which you can drink from to help your stomach, and the islands we could see from the view.
Kate Arney-Cimino
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday post
Last day of work at Pampojila. We went to the market before hand to bring fruit to give to our family, papaya, pineaple and mandarins. When we got to Pampojila there was lots of greeting, laughter, picture taking of the 11 stoves which by the end of the day were all finished. Some of us went where the woman were preparing a final celebratory lunch. We tried our hands at tortilla making - aiy yai yai yai - it was so hard and the woman do it so easily. The Guatemala women are phenomenal, strong, joyful people. The children are beautiful sponges, loving to engage in all things. After completing the 11 stoves some groups began cutting blocks, sifting sand for a couple of stoves to be completed by the masons next week. 
The lunch celebration was wonderful, magnificent, full of mayan traditional colors, flavors, tastes and families. There was eating, dancing, laughing, pinatas and game playing. Then we ceremoniously gave each woman a simple gift from our hearts of one pot and a spoon for her new stove and they a surprise for us. A few tears, lots of ¨adios amigos¨ and we were on the road again in the truck back to San Lucas Toliman for a final evening before leaving for Antigua Saturday morning.
The lunch celebration was wonderful, magnificent, full of mayan traditional colors, flavors, tastes and families. There was eating, dancing, laughing, pinatas and game playing. Then we ceremoniously gave each woman a simple gift from our hearts of one pot and a spoon for her new stove and they a surprise for us. A few tears, lots of ¨adios amigos¨ and we were on the road again in the truck back to San Lucas Toliman for a final evening before leaving for Antigua Saturday morning.
Doug Pederson
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Rain, rain rain!
Rain, rain rain! Our most serious rain today. Most of the afternoon and now into the evening. Streets are flooded. However, we continued to make progress on the stove - 7 complete and 4 more well underway. Our plan is to complete those in the morning and perhaps start 3 more.
Barb led a group of about 8 young children in reading stories and the coloring pictures. Louisa turned out to be quite talented - moving on to copying other drawings as well.
Tips: umbrellas and ponchos were the tools of the day. Don't forget to bring yours.
Tina and Mary played with balloons and peekaboo as the young children gathered in their house as well.
Armando, our mason, carried 5 cinder blocks up the hill on his head. Unfortunely, as he arrived at the home he hit a wire and they all tumbled to the floor nearly hitting the owner of the home.
Tonight we are packing our gifts for our families. We are suppose to learn about making wooden spoons tonight but unless we can find a boat, I'm not sure we can make it doen the street.
At dinner tonight, Barb modelled her new customed made vest. Team 2 besure to ask Luis about the tailor. The fabrics are beautiful. If you want something tailored to a specific design be sure to bring a sample for the tailor. Will has a very nice shirt custom made as well.
Today was graduation day at the elementary school in Pampojila. Things seem similar around the world - mortar boards, diplomas, special awards, crying parents... When the rain started everyone moved for cover and the ceremonies continued.
The rain let up enough to make it to the spoonmakers. These craftspersons hand craft these spoons not only for extra income but also donate a portion of the proceeds to the elderly. Our group pretty well cleared the table of spoons. Don' be surprised if you get one for Christmas.
Will promises tomorrows morning run will end with a dip in Lake Atitlan. Don't forget to bring your running gear.
Steve Hultgren
Barb led a group of about 8 young children in reading stories and the coloring pictures. Louisa turned out to be quite talented - moving on to copying other drawings as well.
Tips: umbrellas and ponchos were the tools of the day. Don't forget to bring yours.
Tina and Mary played with balloons and peekaboo as the young children gathered in their house as well.
Armando, our mason, carried 5 cinder blocks up the hill on his head. Unfortunely, as he arrived at the home he hit a wire and they all tumbled to the floor nearly hitting the owner of the home.
Tonight we are packing our gifts for our families. We are suppose to learn about making wooden spoons tonight but unless we can find a boat, I'm not sure we can make it doen the street.
At dinner tonight, Barb modelled her new customed made vest. Team 2 besure to ask Luis about the tailor. The fabrics are beautiful. If you want something tailored to a specific design be sure to bring a sample for the tailor. Will has a very nice shirt custom made as well.
Today was graduation day at the elementary school in Pampojila. Things seem similar around the world - mortar boards, diplomas, special awards, crying parents... When the rain started everyone moved for cover and the ceremonies continued.
The rain let up enough to make it to the spoonmakers. These craftspersons hand craft these spoons not only for extra income but also donate a portion of the proceeds to the elderly. Our group pretty well cleared the table of spoons. Don' be surprised if you get one for Christmas.
Will promises tomorrows morning run will end with a dip in Lake Atitlan. Don't forget to bring your running gear.
Steve Hultgren
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Our Day Off
We all welcomed the much needed day of rest (is it Sunday yet?). We woke up and met for a big breakfast of eggs, beans, toast, OJ/coffee and of course, tortillas @7:30am. Did you know the most nutritious tortillas of all are the negro, black corn variety? We had those today and were thankful of our hosts for taking care of us in the little ways that pay huge dividends in our diet. On our day off, we all decided to tour three of the major towns along Lake Atitlan. As I´m sure you´ve already been made aware, San Lucas Toliman is located on the lake shore in the eastern bay. We departed the Hotel Volcanes for the dock @8:15am and all jumped in the boat named Flory.
Our first stop, San Antonio Palope, arrival time was 9:00am. Acting as our "Tour Guide Operators", Will and Luis were kind enough to show us around town, including a very nice stop at a pottery co-op where a few of us bought some dishes and such, including Caitlin and myself (note to family: expect some Guatemalan gifts for Christmas). San Antonio was mildly touristy, so we were able to start slow and build up to the shopping fever. We hiked up to the top of the hill to peak inside a beautiful old church which I don´t recall the name of. After an hour, our time was up and we went back to the boat.
We again set sail for our second town called Barrio Rastropana Jechel or Panajechel. We arrived @10:30am. This turned out to be the most touristy town of the three. As such, we met many other gringos, including a group of Boulderites who were neighbors to Tina and Doug. Small world eh? We stayed at Panajechel for three hours shopping and eating lunch, including the privelege of discovering a chocolate store and eating the smooth decadence of Guatemalan cacao for the first time (not to mention the fact of being on chocolate withdrawal since last Thursday). With tourism comes the onslaught of street vendors, which there was certainly no shortage of in Panajechel.
And so it goes that we boarded for our next stop at Santiago, arriving on it´s borders @2:30pm. As I was told, Santiago afforded the best opportunity for buying original paintings from the local Guatemalan artisans. We had an hour to head uphill along market street browsing and perusing. The artwork was stunning, every painting was rich in color and expression. One particular style invented by a famous Guatemalan painter positions the viewer´s perspective of the painting from above as if you´re looking straight down on the setting. I loved the idea enough to purchase one for myself. Please continue reading to discover what others have bought for themselves. Adios. - Keith Siggins
Charlotte C. - Burgundy Table Runner
Carol - Earthy Large Woven Wall Hanging
Doug - Ancient Coins
Kate - 5 Beautiful Scarfs
Tina, Caitlin, and Luis - Dina´s Chocolates!!
Pat - Trucks/Cars (for kids)
Charlotte S. - An Azure Bedspread
Tom - Seabass for lunch
Mary G. - 10 Guatemalan Traditional Dress Dolls
Lisa - Beaded Xmas Ornaments
Barbara - Pantalones (Pants)
Jon - The Mask of a Corn God
Abigail - Antique Purple Vest
Steve - A Massage
John - Pajama Bottoms
Mary H. - Roasted Fava Beans
Tips for Team II
1. Ear plugs because the roosters don´t understand "turn over honey and stop snoring".
2. Bring hangers to hang up stuff you wash out in your room. It rains daily.
3. One pair of safety goggles per team.
4. Learn the Spanish noun for the tools. You will use them frequently.
5. Need small Spanish-English Dict.
6. Bring really old work clothes. You will be covered in orange dust frequently.
7. Don´t forget chocolate. It´s hard to come by.
Our first stop, San Antonio Palope, arrival time was 9:00am. Acting as our "Tour Guide Operators", Will and Luis were kind enough to show us around town, including a very nice stop at a pottery co-op where a few of us bought some dishes and such, including Caitlin and myself (note to family: expect some Guatemalan gifts for Christmas). San Antonio was mildly touristy, so we were able to start slow and build up to the shopping fever. We hiked up to the top of the hill to peak inside a beautiful old church which I don´t recall the name of. After an hour, our time was up and we went back to the boat.
We again set sail for our second town called Barrio Rastropana Jechel or Panajechel. We arrived @10:30am. This turned out to be the most touristy town of the three. As such, we met many other gringos, including a group of Boulderites who were neighbors to Tina and Doug. Small world eh? We stayed at Panajechel for three hours shopping and eating lunch, including the privelege of discovering a chocolate store and eating the smooth decadence of Guatemalan cacao for the first time (not to mention the fact of being on chocolate withdrawal since last Thursday). With tourism comes the onslaught of street vendors, which there was certainly no shortage of in Panajechel.
And so it goes that we boarded for our next stop at Santiago, arriving on it´s borders @2:30pm. As I was told, Santiago afforded the best opportunity for buying original paintings from the local Guatemalan artisans. We had an hour to head uphill along market street browsing and perusing. The artwork was stunning, every painting was rich in color and expression. One particular style invented by a famous Guatemalan painter positions the viewer´s perspective of the painting from above as if you´re looking straight down on the setting. I loved the idea enough to purchase one for myself. Please continue reading to discover what others have bought for themselves. Adios. - Keith SigginsCharlotte C. - Burgundy Table Runner
Carol - Earthy Large Woven Wall Hanging
Doug - Ancient Coins
Kate - 5 Beautiful Scarfs
Tina, Caitlin, and Luis - Dina´s Chocolates!!
Pat - Trucks/Cars (for kids)
Charlotte S. - An Azure Bedspread
Tom - Seabass for lunch
Mary G. - 10 Guatemalan Traditional Dress Dolls
Lisa - Beaded Xmas Ornaments
Barbara - Pantalones (Pants)
Jon - The Mask of a Corn God
Abigail - Antique Purple Vest
Steve - A Massage
John - Pajama Bottoms
Mary H. - Roasted Fava Beans
Tips for Team II
1. Ear plugs because the roosters don´t understand "turn over honey and stop snoring".
2. Bring hangers to hang up stuff you wash out in your room. It rains daily.
3. One pair of safety goggles per team.
4. Learn the Spanish noun for the tools. You will use them frequently.
5. Need small Spanish-English Dict.
6. Bring really old work clothes. You will be covered in orange dust frequently.
7. Don´t forget chocolate. It´s hard to come by.
Keith and Caitlin
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Status update (with chickens)
As happens every day during the rainly season the day started very nice and then it poured at 2PM.The rain stopped after one hour and it was very nice again.
This was the second day for team one to build stoves and a lot of progress was made. The team consisting of Carol Corbridge, Charlotte Corbridge, Steve Hultgren and Kate Arney Cimino are clearly the stove building primo team and finished their first stove and almost finished stove two.
John and Mary Humke are the only two person team and are close to completing their first stove. Tina Heilman, Doug Pederson, Barbara Hanst and Tom Cimino completed stove one are are at level three (you will understand this when you get here) on stove two.
Keith Siggins, Caitlin Barritt, Lisa Shearer Cooper and Abigal Sperry finished stove one and started numero dos. They also had to chase chickens out of their work area.
Jan Arney, Pat Wright, Charlotte Stewart and Mary Greenwald finished their first stove, moved to a new house and got to level two on their second stove.
Before dinner we had a wonderful presentation from a local Mayan guy who works for International Mesoamerica Permaculture, an origanization working to diversity food production. Speaking of food, it is really great down here!
We were unable to send you pictures today.
- Mary Humke
This was the second day for team one to build stoves and a lot of progress was made. The team consisting of Carol Corbridge, Charlotte Corbridge, Steve Hultgren and Kate Arney Cimino are clearly the stove building primo team and finished their first stove and almost finished stove two.
John and Mary Humke are the only two person team and are close to completing their first stove. Tina Heilman, Doug Pederson, Barbara Hanst and Tom Cimino completed stove one are are at level three (you will understand this when you get here) on stove two.
Keith Siggins, Caitlin Barritt, Lisa Shearer Cooper and Abigal Sperry finished stove one and started numero dos. They also had to chase chickens out of their work area.
Jan Arney, Pat Wright, Charlotte Stewart and Mary Greenwald finished their first stove, moved to a new house and got to level two on their second stove.
Before dinner we had a wonderful presentation from a local Mayan guy who works for International Mesoamerica Permaculture, an origanization working to diversity food production. Speaking of food, it is really great down here!
We were unable to send you pictures today.
- Mary Humke
Monday, October 6, 2008
To work!
Today was our first work day. We rode in the pickup trucks to our village Pampojila where we were divided into five teams and were introduced to our families. There were three local masons to assist us, and we learned the finer points of leveling the ground, using a machete and hammer to cut the cinder blocks to the right sizes. We also learned how to sift sand and mix concrete.
By lunch time we had all four levels of cinder blocks in place and enjoyed the meal our hosts had prepared for us. It consisted of scrambled eggs, black beans, tortillas, lemonade, with apples for dessert.
A couple of our team members enjoyed playing with and reading to some of the children. Spanish story books are much appreciated.
Attention Team II:
1. Knee pads will make your life much easier.
2. The weather is very variable so bring a rain jacket and pants or poncho.
3. Bring mosquito spray.
4. You might need a jacket for early morning or evenings.
5. You will probably want to pack some ibuprofen!
6. Diarrhea report: To date, no problems!
Stay tuned for tomorrow´s exciting episode!
Team I (Charlotte Corbridge & Mary Greenwald)
Attention Team II:
1. Knee pads will make your life much easier.
2. The weather is very variable so bring a rain jacket and pants or poncho.
3. Bring mosquito spray.
4. You might need a jacket for early morning or evenings.
5. You will probably want to pack some ibuprofen!
6. Diarrhea report: To date, no problems!
Stay tuned for tomorrow´s exciting episode!
Team I (Charlotte Corbridge & Mary Greenwald)
Tours, the market
Í´m a day late because I couldn´t figure out how to send e-mail! Lots of things to learn here that I never thought about including this different keyboard! Bear with me!
So Saturday we visited Pampojila for the first time. We rode in the back of a pickup truck the 4 km from San Lucas Toliman where we are staying. (yes, we stood, hanging onto a bar and zoomed down the highway in the open air with the wind in our faces. It was marvelous.)
We were led by Rosa, a community leader who had the idea to ask for stoves for the families of Pampjila to improve their health. We saw stoves in various stages of construction as well as the 3 rock method of cooking that we are replacing. We walked jungle paths, saw areas of mudlides and many homes in the village. My favorite part was meeting the people and especially the children who begged to have their pictures taken.
Later we went back to the school where lunch was brought to us- rice, beans, tortillas and tree ripened bananas, typical, local foods and very tasty. A lecture on the fuel effecient stoves followed. A tropical downpour pounded the metal roof and we got a taste of what the students must experience.
We got into rain gear for the trip back to the hotel only to find our open truck had been covered with green plastic and fitted with seats- not so exciting but much drier. (smile) Dinner at the hotel amid much merriment followed. (Yes we found where we could buy beer and wine!)
Sunday: I was asked to tell about the group that did the town trip since our other blogger did the hike. I went with Felipe, our host, to see the eco-tourism site reclaimed from swamp land that had been infested with disease and now is a botanical garden of sorts.A great example of community coming together. We also visited a weaver at her home. She weaves between cooking and caring for the home and children and it is her way to get some money of her own. We also a visited a 83 year old woman who has been supporting herself these past 20 years since her husband died. She makes 600 tortillas a day over an open flame and sells them to the local people.
Some of us went to Mass this morning where we enjoyed being in a faith community as well as the live local music. It was First Communion Day so we gota a bonus treat of seeing the little ones in their fanciest clothes.So that is all from Lisa.
Now this from Jan:
Tips for team 2,
Bring walking sticks if you usually use them.
There are no drawers, hooks or hangers in the rooms, you might want plastic bags or plan to live out of your suitcase one way or the other.
Hiking shoes recommended.+
Rain jackets have gotten daily use.
Diarhhea Report: none spotted so far
The First Day
Hola.......We have arrived....after a very long day and night. We arrived in Atlanta at 5:00 (3:00) am , very spacey. The only place open at the airport at that hour was MacDonalds. Some went to the gate and sleeped on the floor for another hour or two...I recommend that and then have a good cup of coffee and some breakfast. Another 3 plus hour to Guatemala City and your adventures begin. It is wonderful and now Pat will give you the next installment.
Charlotte Stewart
Everything worked as planned with all of our luggage in tact and Luis there to meet us with two vans, one for the luggage and one for the adventure travelers. We wound our way through Guatemala City which is huge. Then we got into the country side which is filled with jungled areas, volcanos....all very lush and green. We understood why shortly as it is the rainy season and we drove through rain several different times. Arriving at Hotel Volcano we met our lovely family. We walked around a bit to Lake Attitlan which is to the north of San Lucas Tomilan. San Lucas is beautifully surrounded by the lake and volcanos with clouds moving across them. It has a mysterious and peaceful feel. The church was preparing for a Saturday wedding. It feels simple and lovely and so different from our culture. A great dinner was served by the host family and then I think everyone enjoyed a long and well deserved nights sleep.Pat Wright
p.s. Just a few photos
FirstCong heads to Guatemala!
First Congregational's first adult international mission trip will go to Guatemala October 3rd. We will be helping families build fuel-efficient cook stoves in approximately 40 homes. In addition, we have agreed to collect about 2,000 lbs. of supplies and donations for the villages. A second work trip will be going in the soon.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Chastity
From Janice Branam:
As I read through the blogs of my teammates, Chastity’s face flashed through mind. Chastity was our “client” at the St. Bernard Project. When Katrina hit, Chastity was a divorced mother of 3 children: a sixteen year old son and eleven year old twins (one boy, one girl). Chastity supported her family through her earnings as a hairstylist.
Almost 3 years later, our team just finished mudding her house and began painting. Our Americorp site supervisor estimates Chastity will be in her house within a month, the end of the journey for the young woman who first evacuated to Baton Rouge, then Denver, and then Mississippi.
I can’t imagine paying a mortgage on a house that no longer exists and trying to find food and shelter for 3 children. Chastity’s hair clients of course, haven’t come back. She had to find a new career; in the time since the hurricane she has secured a job with emergency medical services. (As a paramedic, I think). She was able to get enough money to pay off the mortgage on the uninhabitable house, but she didn’t get enough money to make the house livable.
That’s where volunteers like us make the difference.
And that’s what First Congregational is all about. We make a difference…in so many ways to so many people.
Chastity has remarried. She met her new husband, a member of the National Guard, at the rescue shelter in Mississippi.
For Chastity, a new life has emerged from the muddy waters of devastation. We helped. Yes, we helped.
As I read through the blogs of my teammates, Chastity’s face flashed through mind. Chastity was our “client” at the St. Bernard Project. When Katrina hit, Chastity was a divorced mother of 3 children: a sixteen year old son and eleven year old twins (one boy, one girl). Chastity supported her family through her earnings as a hairstylist.
Almost 3 years later, our team just finished mudding her house and began painting. Our Americorp site supervisor estimates Chastity will be in her house within a month, the end of the journey for the young woman who first evacuated to Baton Rouge, then Denver, and then Mississippi.
I can’t imagine paying a mortgage on a house that no longer exists and trying to find food and shelter for 3 children. Chastity’s hair clients of course, haven’t come back. She had to find a new career; in the time since the hurricane she has secured a job with emergency medical services. (As a paramedic, I think). She was able to get enough money to pay off the mortgage on the uninhabitable house, but she didn’t get enough money to make the house livable.
That’s where volunteers like us make the difference.
And that’s what First Congregational is all about. We make a difference…in so many ways to so many people.
Chastity has remarried. She met her new husband, a member of the National Guard, at the rescue shelter in Mississippi.
For Chastity, a new life has emerged from the muddy waters of devastation. We helped. Yes, we helped.
Monday, May 12, 2008
beignets, getting lost, reminders
From Jim Arnow:
I believe (despite the fact that this is my first work trip here) that this trip has been unlike all others that have come before us. We share many things in common with the Boulder UCC groups that have preceded us – not only do we have members who have been here before, but we bring with us the intent passed along by many back in Boulder. However, like all trips, we have our own special twists to the experience. An example:
Thursday, because of logistics and whatnot, I split from my group (team #1) and traveled down to the worksites with one of the other two teams. We were running a touch late, but acknowledged the fact that beignets were necessary for maintaining our bodies, minds and spirits. So, as I attempted to navigate our way to the French Quarter to stop at Café du Monde, I managed to not only get us off the intended route, but also almost ran over a man working on the street wearing a bright orange vest.
As I drove closer, I realized that not only did he look familiar, but it was Herb, the dad of the family who will be living in the house we are rebuilding. After he figured out who we were, we went on our way. For me, this brought home the fact the St. Bernard Project is providing a way for families to get back into their homes while still maintaining their jobs.
Thursday also saw us take our Americorps site leaders out to lunch. These young adults have sacrificed huge amounts of their lives to spend it helping others. Without them, I think that the St. Bernard Project would not have made the huge progress they have so far (128 families back into their own homes with approximately 30 in progress and a huge waitlist.) Lunch was the least we could do.
Thursday afternoon, we went back to the St. Bernard Project offices and met with Liz McCartney. She helped to answer many questions that we had and gave us many insights into the lives of the people in the area. I didn’t take a picture, but you can read more about her at http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/05/08/heroes.mccartney/index.html and see a video about her that was shown on CNN recently. Speaking for myself, it seems that St Bernard Project is doing a lot of things right and allowing a huge number of people to assist them in helping huger numbers of folks.
On our way home, we attempted a tour of some of the locations near by, which included getting lost and also finding our way to a house that people on the first Boulder UCC trip worked on. Unfortunately, it has not progressed any since that trip and is currently being managed by the local government, likely to be sold or demolished. While there, we ran into a local newspaper writer/photographer (who’s name escapes me) who talked to us a little about the state of the neighborhood. In the block we visited, he said that there only a couple of people living in the area.
Afterwards, we were treated to a dinner by our hosts at St Paul’s. In addition to filling our bellies, they also told us all about what they do, the struggles they encounter and some of the support they have gotten from around the country. This assistance means the world to many of these people who feel rejected and abandoned by their government and country.
Friday, my team went back to our house and did a lot of finishing work: including texturing, priming and applying the first coat of paint. We really feel like we made a lot of progress this week, but again, we were extremely lucky to have come in on the project at a very productive stage.
During the day, we were lucky enough to have a visit from Carmelite, her husband Herb and their daughter Dakota. Dakota had been in the emergency room all night last night, but still was in great spirits when we saw her. Since she’s having her fifth birthday party this weekend, we bought some small gifts and gave then to Carmelite to give to her. Here’s a picture of Dakota out front. She’s pretty camera-shy. ;-)
Afterwards, Jean and I wandered around the Lower 9th, visited the levees around the Mississippi and wandered around.
While it made us run a bit late for dinner, we did make a stop at a house that a previous group (the second, I think) had worked on Burbank Street. We were pleased to find a work permit in the window and fresh drywall inside.
So, despite the fact that we can’t always see it or the fact that sometimes the work doesn’t bring about what we’d like, there is progress going on, and we’ve now had a had in it.
This will probable be my last post from New Orleans as we leave tomorrow, so I will end with the following comments from Zack at the St Bernard Project:
Remember that the people down here want two things:
1. Know that the people down here a good people and work hard to take care of themselves
2. Don’t forget them.
For these two things, all I can add is that we need to not only keep coming down here to work and sending money to get this area back to where is should but we also need to be coming down here to show the people of New Orleans that we haven’t forgotten about them.
-Jim Arnow, NOLA 5, Team #1
I believe (despite the fact that this is my first work trip here) that this trip has been unlike all others that have come before us. We share many things in common with the Boulder UCC groups that have preceded us – not only do we have members who have been here before, but we bring with us the intent passed along by many back in Boulder. However, like all trips, we have our own special twists to the experience. An example:
Thursday, because of logistics and whatnot, I split from my group (team #1) and traveled down to the worksites with one of the other two teams. We were running a touch late, but acknowledged the fact that beignets were necessary for maintaining our bodies, minds and spirits. So, as I attempted to navigate our way to the French Quarter to stop at Café du Monde, I managed to not only get us off the intended route, but also almost ran over a man working on the street wearing a bright orange vest.
As I drove closer, I realized that not only did he look familiar, but it was Herb, the dad of the family who will be living in the house we are rebuilding. After he figured out who we were, we went on our way. For me, this brought home the fact the St. Bernard Project is providing a way for families to get back into their homes while still maintaining their jobs.
Thursday also saw us take our Americorps site leaders out to lunch. These young adults have sacrificed huge amounts of their lives to spend it helping others. Without them, I think that the St. Bernard Project would not have made the huge progress they have so far (128 families back into their own homes with approximately 30 in progress and a huge waitlist.) Lunch was the least we could do.
Thursday afternoon, we went back to the St. Bernard Project offices and met with Liz McCartney. She helped to answer many questions that we had and gave us many insights into the lives of the people in the area. I didn’t take a picture, but you can read more about her at http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/05/08/heroes.mccartney/index.html and see a video about her that was shown on CNN recently. Speaking for myself, it seems that St Bernard Project is doing a lot of things right and allowing a huge number of people to assist them in helping huger numbers of folks.
On our way home, we attempted a tour of some of the locations near by, which included getting lost and also finding our way to a house that people on the first Boulder UCC trip worked on. Unfortunately, it has not progressed any since that trip and is currently being managed by the local government, likely to be sold or demolished. While there, we ran into a local newspaper writer/photographer (who’s name escapes me) who talked to us a little about the state of the neighborhood. In the block we visited, he said that there only a couple of people living in the area.Afterwards, we were treated to a dinner by our hosts at St Paul’s. In addition to filling our bellies, they also told us all about what they do, the struggles they encounter and some of the support they have gotten from around the country. This assistance means the world to many of these people who feel rejected and abandoned by their government and country.
Friday, my team went back to our house and did a lot of finishing work: including texturing, priming and applying the first coat of paint. We really feel like we made a lot of progress this week, but again, we were extremely lucky to have come in on the project at a very productive stage.
During the day, we were lucky enough to have a visit from Carmelite, her husband Herb and their daughter Dakota. Dakota had been in the emergency room all night last night, but still was in great spirits when we saw her. Since she’s having her fifth birthday party this weekend, we bought some small gifts and gave then to Carmelite to give to her. Here’s a picture of Dakota out front. She’s pretty camera-shy. ;-)Afterwards, Jean and I wandered around the Lower 9th, visited the levees around the Mississippi and wandered around.
While it made us run a bit late for dinner, we did make a stop at a house that a previous group (the second, I think) had worked on Burbank Street. We were pleased to find a work permit in the window and fresh drywall inside.So, despite the fact that we can’t always see it or the fact that sometimes the work doesn’t bring about what we’d like, there is progress going on, and we’ve now had a had in it.
This will probable be my last post from New Orleans as we leave tomorrow, so I will end with the following comments from Zack at the St Bernard Project:
Remember that the people down here want two things:
1. Know that the people down here a good people and work hard to take care of themselves
2. Don’t forget them.
For these two things, all I can add is that we need to not only keep coming down here to work and sending money to get this area back to where is should but we also need to be coming down here to show the people of New Orleans that we haven’t forgotten about them.
-Jim Arnow, NOLA 5, Team #1
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Martie's week
From Martie McMane, Senior Pastor:The week started with a trip to the Jazz Fest – a true New Orleans experience. Thousands of people come to listen to all kinds of New Orleans’ favorite musical genres: jazz, blues, gospel, rock – here the crowds await Gallactic Indian Chiefs accompanied by steel drums march through the crowds.
A smash hit at the Festival was jazz singer Diane Reeves. Martie officiated at the wedding of her pianist, Peter Martin and his wife Kelly ten years ago, so it was a treat to see them again and get to sit back stage.
And then to work – Wanda is the woman whose home we are helping to rebuild. She has lived with her husband and teen age daughter in this FEMA trailer (yes, the ones with the infamous formaldehyde) for two years.Her in-laws lived in the other one, but the father-in-law had a stroke and so they had to move to a care facility.
This house is across the street. The one on the left is fixed up nicely, becausethe woman who owns it had some flood insurance. She lived in a FEMA trailer for nearly a year, fighting off the rats, mice, and snakes that had nested in her house that had been sitting under water for three months until she could come back home. The two houses next to hers still remain empty, as do many on the street. During the flood, her neighbor right next door drowned in the eaves of her house; her son survived but could not save his mom. They had been neighbors for 34 years. No one came for the body for three months.
Directly across the street, four houses have been completely demolished. The county has an aggressive demolition program now to avoid pestilence and the blight on the neighborhood that empty houses signal. You must show that you are beginning some work on your house now or the county will come and bulldoze it down.
It will be three years this August, and though there is definite improvement, the ravages of the flooding are still evident everywhere in the neighborhood.
And so we do what we can. Our crew was taping, mudding, and sanding the drywall in this house all week.
Our crew captain was a fine young Americorps volunteer named Bret. He had been growing his hair and beard since November. Time out for a haircut and a shave – brave young man that Bret!
The traveling barber and a happy Bret sporting his new look!
This is Musicians Village, a Habitat for Humanity Project.They’re beautiful, with their bright colors and friendly front porches, don’t you think? Yet some longtime residents of the neighborhood are skeptical and said to us, “Who are these people who will be moving in here? We don’t know them.” The destruction of the storm and flooding disrupted whole communities where people had felt comfortable and had known their neighbors for generations.
Even so, everyone seems thankful that real progress is being made, and the connections between people who come to share their concern are creating healing throughout the area. The human spirit is resilient. The people we met were overwhelming grateful and were able to find surprising blessings in all they had been through. One thing we heard over and over again, was “Thank you for not forgetting us.”
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