Finally home...

It's hard writing this last post as I have come to the end of my adventures in Guatemala.  On Friday, I woke at 12:55 a.m. and lingered in bed until the alarm rang at 2:50 a.m. which was the time for us to get ready & be at the front of the hotel for 3:30.  It`s very dark at that time of night!  The bus was loaded with the suitcases on top and some bright individual thought it just might not fit through the gate.  Low & behold, the bus tried through the gate (all the team on the bus), but couldn`t make it through so had to back up, suitcases off, bus through the gate, suitcases taken out to the street and reloaded on top of the bus.  Finally on the road to the airport.  No problems through the airports at Guatemala, Houston and Montreal.  Great flights but arriving home at 11:24 p.m. makes it a long day.  Having Larry & Emily at the airport to pick me up made my tiredness all go away as I wanted to share some stories & catch up with them as well.  However, when I eventually went to bed, it was so nice to sleep in my bed again!  Saturday was a lazy day although I did multitask--did the laundry, read some more of my book for bookclub and relaxed by the pool!  I think these qualify. 

Guatemala is a beautiful country and I am extremely glad that I have had the opportunity to participate in this mission trip.  I thank everyone who supported me in this endeavour with prayers, thoughts, support, donations, etc.   My wish/hope for everyone is that you will have a similar opportunity to explore another country, meet other people, gain understanding of another culture and truly give of yourself and your time.  Adios Guatemala!  Until next time... 

Village of Alotendngo - my last day in Antigua

Well it's Thursday & my last day in Guatemala.  This morning Linda, Sarah & I along with guide, Geovany visited in the village of Alotendngo & delivere 30 chicks to 3 different families--5 woman and their children.  Alotendngo is about a 20 minute drive from Antigua, just on the outskirts and has 30,000 people living there.  It is a very impoverished community and the worst of it is, it does not have water!  The mayor did not pay the hydro which pumps in the water and so the village people have to walk several miles/kms daily to get water for their families.  According to Geovany, the mayor, however, lives in a 2 storey home with his own water system.  He also has not paid the village employees for 6 months.   Apparently he knows he is doomed in the next election so is sqaundering away money now.  But in the meantime, this means devastation for the people in the village.  Children in the village attend school at age 7 and go until age 10 and the adults only believe it a necessity that they learn to count numbers.  At 10, the child goes to work or looks after the younger children.  Along the streets were many young children/young teens just sitting around, doing nothing & of course, there is a high incident of youth pregnancy.  There is also an oldness on the faces of the young girls/woman and one can certainly see the harshness of such a life.  The main work is when the coffee beans are ripe for picking which is about 6 months and the the only other thing is picking corn.  The rest of the time there is little in terms of work.  We met with Manuel at the church he runs in the community of which there are around 70 adults and their children--he runs programs for between 150 and 175 children!  The village has been building the church for 4 years yet is it still a long way from being finished.  I will not mention the 2 years our church has been in the works!  Geovany drove us around the village & it was obvious many people know he.  He said he did some work in the village with agriculture and also did some vaccinations against some diseases that were prevalent a few years ago and he visits the village about once a month.  Upon return to the church, there were 5 women and some with children waiting for us.  After introductions and a few words thru Geovany, we divided the chickens amoungst the women.  At first I sensed the women were apprehensive and timid of us but after a while, they warmed up, shared smiles and their appreciation of us visiting their village.  Beautiful woman and children!   It was a pleasure on my part to be part of this and to be able to supply a few chickens which mean so much to these families.  After about 3 months, they will produce eggs for the families but also be able to supply eggs to others and these families will profit from the sales--estimated at $300 a year.  This might not mean much to most of us, but to these dear people, it means everything!  As Geovany said if you have little to give but lots of will, you gain immensely.  But if you have lots but have no will, you have nothing!  How true!

I also stopped into the Club de Leones de Antigua (Lions Club) and although there were no members--Lions present, I delivered a letter and pins from the New Maryland Lions Club who provided financial support for Elaine and I. 

Sounds like I had a busy morning but I did do some pampering this afternoon--a pedicure and manicure at Healing Hands!  Not quite like home but still a wonderful experience and it was relaxing listening to the background music.  Jennifer was sweet and very attentive to me.  Linda and I then walked to the bank, purchased some prints and wandered around the markets until her appointment at Healing Hands for a hot rocks therapy treatment.  I walked her back for the appointment and then headed off on my own to the hotel.  Only made one wrong turn & asked another hotel which is parallel to this one how to get back.  The woman was very helpful & I had no problems finishing the trek.  Great day thus far & hoping for a good meal and decent sleep until 3 a.m.  We head out of here at 3:45 to go to the airport.  Hoping the predicted tropical storm and any other delays miss us!              

Wednesday - Shopping & Ninos Con Bendicion

Up bright & early this morning & after breakfast, Linda & I walked into the shopping centre of Antigua.  An adventure on the way back as we asked a woman for directions to the hotel & she lead us astray--I don't think on purpose.  It's very hard here as there are a lot of streets without street signs and all the streets look the similar.  Once lost or off the path, it's hard to figure out.  Anyway, I waved down a PNC truck (police) & two young men who didn't know where the hotel was located tried to give directions in Spanish, waving their arms in both directions, not able to speak any English and then one said "in truck" which I understood meant they would drive us & indicated so.  So Linda & I climbed in the back & they drove us all around Antigua--even took us outside the cobbled streets--even I knew we were going wrong then.  The driver asked several shops where Quinta de las Flores hotel was.  At one point they even drove right by the hotel & I couldn't get them to stop!  I was busy getting out some money to pay them.  After asking another shop owner, they drove us down the familiar street & were looking sideways back & forth & I indicated that the hotel was on the left.  Finally!  What a sight that would have been getting out of a police vehicle!  And no, I don't have a picture!  For the afternoon, most of the group went to visit at Lesbi's home where she keeps the children from Ninos Con Bendicion (the performers during pre-service) so we spent time with them making picture frames, playing baseball, making tortillas (and eating them too).  I had a chance to see Carlos again.  I handed out packages of playing cards for the girls and another for the boys and taught Jacqueline how to play Fish.  She plans to share this with her friends.  Lesbi and her family (her mother was there as well) are wonderful people and they do so much for the children.  A wonderful afternoon!  Upon return, Linda & I took a Tuk Tuk back into the shoppng area as she had to pick up a gift & of course, I ended up doing some more shopping as we went to a couple of markets.  We had supper and took a taxi back to the hotel.  Certainly would not walk at night.  One thing I`ve noticed is that it gets very dark quickly & much earlier than at home.  No more police rides for us!  The hotel has an open livingroom area--covered area with couches and fireplace and a group of us sat there & chatted until bedtime.  A wonderful day all in all (including the police ride)!     

Tuesday at Funda Ninos

This morning looked as though it would be a gloriously sunny day and I took more pictures around Quintas de las Flores, our hotel.  The gardens here are beautiful & well maintained as they require daily work.  At 11 this morning, I headed out with a group of 9 to visit another orphanage--Funda Ninos, which is a favourite of Kaleah's, the daughter of team leader, Leceta.  Kaleah had taken the teens on our tgeam to Funda Ninos last week & when she asked if I would like to go, I thought it would be a good chance to see her first love and the children who are deeply embedded in her heart. She & some of the teens had done a bit of shopping for cereals, pineapple and chocolate milk mix to take along and a pizza party was planned for noontime.  After a bit of a long drive due to road construction--another wash out that was being repaired we arrived at the gate, behind which is a beautiful property complete with a school, baby house, girls house, boys house and a common house which is a kitchen & eating center for all.  We visited the baby house as the others were at school until 1:30 and it was obvious the teens who visited last week had a connection to the youngsters.  This home is run by an 18 year old girl who started there when she was 16.  She has helpers but it is quite a feat for a young girl, having the youngest 3 months to 4 years old.  Once the pizza arrived (from Dominoes), some of the children filtered into the kitchen/eating hall & Linda & I handed out 20 very large pizzas to the children, workers, teachers and had a very happy, appreciative group.  What was obvious about this home compared to others visited & especially our assigned orphanage last week, the children here warm up very quickly, crave attention, being held and hugged.  It is clear that the children here, although cared for in terms of food and shelter, are craving affection and attention.  While serving up the last of the pizza, Emily (team member) came up to the serving station with a young boy--Ally who reached out his little hands for me to take him.  Of course, I gladly embraced the opportunity and he spent the next while eating pizza I cut up for him and feeding some to me!  Once pizza was gone, I walk out to the eating area with Ally & as he was heavy, I tried to put him down but he quickly indicated he wanted up--he wanted hugs & cuddles.  After a bit, I was able to hand him back to Emily and then I ask the cook (who stayed in the kitchen preparing supper?) if I could help clean up the dishes.  Even though my Spanish is limited, she understood the meaning & her face lit up & she quickly brought out the soap & what they use for cloths (wish I had brought some of my knitted ones with me).  Having no hot water and no plug to put in the sink this task seemed so foreign to me.  However, I managed & before long two girls joined in to help--Maribel who is 15 and speaks some English, told me she has a baby who turns 2 in December--she later showed me Luis.  She seemed so young as did the other girl who's name I didn't catch.  However, considering they are 15 and have possibly seen and been through what most 15 year olds will never know or encounter, it is little wonder they are so immature and stuck in he 10/11 year old mold.  All of the children--both boys and girls and young & old have so many needs and wanted hugs & cuddles.   We visited the school and saw the set up and the library that the Fitts had decorated & dedicated in memory of their 2 year old relative who died.  Linda gave books to the Director and handed out hearts which children at her school had drawn & colored to the children at Funda.  |During lunch and for most of the afternoon, it poured a torrential rain, limiting any outside activities.  But all seemed happy!  Many pictures (slow uploading tonight so I will do this in the morning) and a great afternoon!  Thanks Kaleah for sharing your special home!