Thursday, October 13, 2011

“For Every time there is a season…a time to embrace…” Ecclesiastes 3:5b

Hello from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala! After a long four weeks in San Juan Del Obispo and a one week stint in Pachaj, I am settled in to my new home for the next 9 ½ months! The last six weeks have been a complete whirlwind but I am happy to finally be settled in and getting in to a routine.

I apologize for being incommunicado, but living in very rural areas does not really offer much opportunity to be on the internet. That being said- this is a very long series of blog posts, my apologies! Now that I have internet in my house, I promise to be more in touch!

Before I explain everything I have been doing for the past six weeks, it is with a humbled and grateful heart that I let you know that, in just a short three months, I have been able to raise the total $8,000 necessary for my stay here in Guatemala!

I want to thank you for whatever ways you have supported me, be they words of encouragement, financial donations, warm hugs at my send off, prayers, or even a fleeting thought regarding my time here. I have most certainly had a faith-enriching experience. I praise our maker for such supportive people in my life! Goodness and mercy surely flow!
For the four weeks we were in language school in San Juan, we stayed with host families in town. My host mother during this time was Rosa- she is 48 and runs a daycare center out of her home (which was fun to help with in the afternoons, but made studying a bit difficult!).  My former host father’s name is Chico- he is 68 and a gardener in Antigua. My host sister was Les- she is 16, very good at math, and hopes to be an accountant one day. My host brother was Oto- he is 12 and is very in to soccer these days. We watched a few games together and he got me really excited about Xela’s team “XelaWho.” (Below: my family in San Jaun from L to R: Chilo, Oto, Rosa, Lys & Tanya (a family friend; my room; myself with the kids in Rosa's school)



During language school, my routine was to wake up and eat breakfast at 7, then walk to school, which ran from 8am to noon. At noon, I would return home and have lunch with my host mom, brother, and all of the children at Rosa’s daycare (which totaled 18-25 on any given day!). In the afternoons, I would either play with the children, head to the small town cafĂ© to study, or take a bus in to Antigua for activities with the school and/or our site coordinator, Marcia. In the evenings I would return home and have dinner with my family. Often, we would play a game afterwards, such as “Uno” or “Loteria” (the equivalent of “Bingo”).

Language school went well. It was, of course, challenging, but I feel that I can adequately communicate here in Xela. People speak very fast here, but I feel that I am making slow progress every day! Once things settle down a bit more, I hope to take a weekly class in order to improve my grammar. I really enjoyed working with my teacher, Carmen. She is a law student who is taking a bit of time off to teach. She has a long-term boyfriend and promised to keep me updated, as they hope to be married next fall! (Below: Carmen and I & The teachers and students goofing off on the last day of school)

Along with language school, we took part in several cultural experiences throughout the country. One Saturday, we climbed the volcano “Picaya.” It was about an hour and a half up the mountain and once we got there, we got stuck in the rain! It was very cold at the top, but we could stand in or near crevices that had steam coming out of them because of the lava below- this kept us pretty warm! 
We also climbed “Cerro de la Cruz,” “The Hill of the Cross,” which gives a breathtaking view of the city of Antigua. It’s a good workout too!

One Friday, we visited a group called “Corazon de Mujer,” “The heart of the Woman.” Guatemala has a sad history of civil violence that ended within the last thirty years, but the effects are still evident. The indigenous Mayan population found themselves victims of a horrendous genocide. Even now, as it is safe for them to return to their homes, some refuse. This group, Corazon de Mujer, is made up of several Mayan women who weave for a living. Their products are scarfs, headbands, table runners, purses, etc. Basically anything you can make from woven material. Pictured below is a picture of myself with the two women who made the scarf and headband I bought.

Guatemala is also known for exporting Macadamia nuts. That being said, one of the after school programs offered a trip to the macadamia nut farm. While there, we learned the process of making macadamian butter, candles, and natural oils. 

I’ve also had the opportunity to learn some salsa around town! They offer free classes on Monday and Tuesdays. I’ve learned the Pachata, Salsa, and Merengue. Once I get more settled in, I hope to take more classes!

We also took a field trip to Guatemala City, where we had a Bible study with the staff of CEDEPCA. CEDEPCA stands for “Centro Evangelico de Estudios Pastorales en Centro America.” CEDEPCA is an ecumenical program in Guatemala that hosts visiting groups from the states, provides education on women’s issues, facilitates emergency assistance during times of crisis (such as landslides and earthquakes), provides assistance to working single parents and works fervently with community ministry programs. There is some chance that I will assist with groups visiting from the United States in the future.
We also visited an immigration office in the Capital. This office assists several groups of people: individuals who have been deported from the states after living there for years (and sometimes decades) and need assistance with finding any family members in Guatemala; individuals who have migrated from other countries and have found themselves hungry and without shelter; and individuals who have been manipulated by coyotes and have been captured, kept under house arrest, and sometimes forced in to prostitution (this group mostly consists of women and children). The goal of this office is not to smuggle individuals into the states (as some might assume). Rather, the goal is to care for those who are living on the streets and have no place to go. Much like First Presbyterian Church’s Stewpot program ( http://www.thestewpot.org/ ), The Migrant office offers breakfast and dinner and a place to sleep. During the day, patrons are expected to go out into town and find work. Social workers and volunteers assist the patrons in networking, finding jobs, and locating family members.

We also visited Ventanas Abiertas (“Open Windows”), where Young Adult Volunteer Austin Langley will be working. This is a program in San Miguel Duenas which provides after school programs and character building to children in the surrounding areas. The program offers after school tutoring, computer lessons, community projects, and education to parents. Below is a picture I snapped of a group of donors- not sure if it is Kerrville, Texas, does anyone know??

Another program we visited near the Antigua area is “Common Hope,” where Young Adult Volunteer Julianne Blaha will be working. This program, in Ciudad Vieja, was founded by Americans and provides a plethora of services. They have a large dorm where they host international volunteers. They are in the process of expanding their library, which is available for use by the children involved in the program. They train teachers and volunteers that work in schools they sponsor and offer literacy classes, breast feeding courses, and computer literacy classes to parents. http://www.commonhope.org/ 

We also visited Young Adult volunteer Jackie Wonsey’s hometown of Pachaj, where  she will be  working in a women’s shelter as well as a clinic for Indigenous women and children who do not have easy access to medical aid. This clinic has a regular doctor and nurse who bring supplies from larger cities and educate the women on proper nutrition, breast feeding, and vaccinations.

Independence Day in Guatemala happened to be September 15th. We had a wonderfully cultural day where we watched the parade and had a barbeque in the afternoon with friends of our site coordinator, Marcia. There were parades throughout the entire day with bright colors and school bands, some of which included members of our host siblings! (see below)

After four weeks of living with my language school host family, we said a very tearful goodbye and they gave me a pair of earrings as a parting gift. I miss them dearly and look forward to visiting when I am in the Antigua area again.
The weekend before we left for Pachaj, Julianne and I decided we needed a break! We found a group of people we had met throughout the month and took a shuttle to Monterrico, a beach town on the Pacific coast. There, we relaxed, caught some sun, swam, and took in a breathtaking sunset. (see above)

From there, we headed to Pachaj- a very rural town about thirty minutes outside of Xela. We lived in Pachaj to get a better idea of what a rural part of Guatemala looks like. Julianne and I lived with a family of seven: Great grandmother, grandmother, two daughters, one son-in-law, and two little boys, Benjamin and Bryan. This Mayan family was very sweet and spoke not only Spanish, but also Quiche, an indigenous language (I picked up a few phrases- but not too many, because my head was so full of Spanish!). Jackie and Austin lived with another Mayan family of four. (see Julianne and I's family above)


While in Pachaj, we participated in more cultural experiences. One day, we were given a tour of Xela (very helpful for me!), another day, we talked about the 30-year war and the conflict between Catholic and Evangelical churches. We relaxed one day, and then we visited one of my favorite sites thus far: Fuentes Georginas. Fuentes Georginas are a set of natural springs in Zunil, about an hour outside of Xela. This was a much needed relaxing morning, and I enjoyed it thoroughly! (see above)

The next morning, I would have participated in a Mayan ceremony with the rest of the girls…but I was in bed nursing a terrible bought with food poisoning. The only conclusion we have come to is that Austin and I drank some homemade juice with fruit that had been cut with a dirty knife. Julianne and Jackie never came down with the issues Austin and I had- and it only took about 24 hours for both of us to recover. Attached is a picture of the outhouse I had to use during this time… I will spare you all the details, but it was probably the worst place to come down with food poisoning! (Above: infamous toilet above; below: our second Spanish school in Pachaj)
This past Sunday was difficult for me because the other three girls left Xela and went to their sites for the year. Watching them drive off, knowing that two of them would be four hours away from me and that I was on my own was a tough pill to swallow. Things are getting real now- the experience I have been interested in since age 18 has begun!

But my sadness was short lived because a taxi soon picked me up and took me to San Marcos Episcopal Church- where I was welcomed with open arms!! The Presbyterian Church in Guatemala is very different than that of the PC(USA). Here, Presbyterianism is considered more Evangelical than Reformed. For this reason, I am ecstatic to be working and building community at San Marcos because it is the closest practice to Presbyterianism in the area. Shortly after being greeted by everyone, the Padre asked me to preach at the English service in two weeks- so I’m hittin’ the ground running! In addition to preaching, I am also volunteering at the church’s lunch program. http://stmarksxela.org/

On Tuesday, I met about 30 individuals who come to San Marcos every day for lunch and social interaction. Enrique is a 55 year old recovering alcoholic. He claims God alone is responsible for his recovery- for he stumbled into a church drunkenly 30 years ago and has never been the same. He has two daughters, age 16 and 18- one who is single and pregnant with her second child. He has no other family but those at his church and San Marcos’ lunch program. He makes his living by leatherwork- making saddles and belts.

Norway is a 48-year old woman who has found herself homeless in the last week. She has no family but finds comfort in the company of those at the lunch program. Thanks to networking among this group, Norway is looking in to housing options this week through a local community ministry.

Juan is a deaf and mute mid 50-year-old who finds spiritual, physical, and relational nourishment in the company of the members of the lunch program. He has one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen.  

I am very excited about this ministry- I will be building community with those whom society often deems “the least of these” by sharing a meal, playing games, and giving them a space to tell their stories. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!
On Monday, I began my work at Ceipa. As a reminder, Ceipa is a program which offers education to children who are behind in their studies because they have had to work to provide adequate income for their families. In the morning, 90% of these children work in markets. In the afternoons, they attend one of the four schools in the area that are conveniently held in markets.

At least for now, my schedule is to volunteer at San Marcos’ lunch program Monday through Friday from 10:30am to 1:30pm. From 2pm to 5:30pm, I will be working at one of three schools held in markets. On Tuesday, I visited the Ceipa School at the terminal (where all the buses run and the biggest market in town is). This school has about 50 children in it, ages 8 to 18. Several of the 18 year olds have a USA equivalent of a second grade education. My responsibilities here include crowd control, facilitating teaching lesson plans (-once my Spanish is more secure!), one-on-one tutoring with those who need it, and offering English classes every once in a while. In addition, once the director of Ceipa found out that I have my Bachelor’s in psychology, he asked that I consider counseling with some of the students one-on-one. Unfortunately, domestic violence runs rampant here in Guatemala. And because the culture is thus that children are very close with their mothers here- they are more likely to open up to a female counselor than a male one…so I hope I can be of assistance, I will keep you posted!

The children at these schools are precious. Andrea is an 8 year old girl, and three of her siblings attend the same school as her. Andrea and her siblings work at the market with their mother in the mornings, selling fruit and chickens they have raised in their house. After school, Andrea and her siblings ride the bus home together to help cook dinner for their older siblings.

Gloria is a 17 year old mother of two who works with her mother in the market in the mornings. In the afternoons, her mother keeps her sons and continues to sell the vegetables from their garden so that Gloria can go to school for three hours to learn how to read and offer her children a better future.

These beautiful children have a thirst for knowledge, but little opportunity. I pray that I will share a small part in facilitating their dreams this year.


My current house is very much in the center of town, but I am excited for the change of scenery! My host family is wonderful!!  I have three host sisters: Marilyn (17), Karen (15), and Stephanie (13). Marilyn is in her first of six years of study- she wants to be a doctor. Karen wants to be a teacher and will start her studies in this specialty next year. Stephanie (lovingly called “Funny”) still has time to decide what she wants to do. My host mom (Maria) has 7 brothers and sisters...and I have about 27 cousins! BIG family and lots of names to remember- but I’m trying! We will have lunch nearly every Sunday with the majority of my family, and I am really looking forward to these future gatherings! (Above: my family from L to R: Maria, Karen, Marilyn and Stephanie; my room)
Yesterday, two of my host siblings accompanied me to the store to buy a few things. I thanked them for the company by buying them each a bottle of nail polish and tomorrow their mom promised we could watch a movie, paint nails, and have pizza for dinner. Being the youngest of two, and the youngest cousin of six girls, it’s nice to be a big sister for once, I’m enjoying it thoroughly!

…So that is what I have been up to for the past six weeks!!

If you’ve been following the weather lately, you know that we have been getting very heavy rains here in Central America! Hurricane Irwin hit a few days ago, followed by Jova- which is causing severe damage to Mexico. Because of this, school has been cancelled for the remainder of the week, so I have not been volunteering in the afternoons, but organizing my room, spending time with my family, and getting to know the individuals at San Marcos’ lunch program. We have also experienced several earthquakes- the damage mostly affecting the southeastern part of the country. I ask for your prayers, as this weather has caused severe flooding and landslides in several cities, leaving many people homeless and, some, without family members.

As always, I want to thank you for your support and prayers as I get settled here in Guatemala and pursue the calling that God placed on my heart long ago. I hope to learn much from the people here about life, love, family, and faith as I embrace this experience. Dios Se Bendiste, until we meet again!

Love, Kristi