I haven’t had a cold in at least five years – and the one I have now is making up for all those years. I have almost lost my voice and have used up at least two rolls of toilet paper to catch the drips! I am sure it will be better in a few days but what a drag not feeling 100%.
I am typing this message while looking out of Lago Atitlan, or at least the bay around which the town of Santiago is built. The wind, so normal for each afternoon, is helping the laundry dry. Several of us took our clothes to the only laundaria in town but the clothes come back with so much soap still in the fabric that everything needed to be rinsed so we do our laundry by hand.
We finished teaching lessons at both schools yesterday and today. In retrospect I am fairly convinced that another time I would be asking what help we might provide in or for the schools rather than to tell them we had lessons in to teach. I have been impressed with the level of knowledge the teachers are sharing with the kids in the classes and am even more convinced they do not need our help with curriculum content.
I had the opportunity to attend a meeting a few days ago among a group of NGOs all providing service in one community. One of the NGOs talked about using the relationship model to identify what services they would offer. By this they meant they asked the organizations what services they needed and then through a fair trade of produce, which is sold in the US, they fund the services needed. I like the model a lot because it means the people receiving the services are not receiving charity but are in fact earning the services.
This is actually similar to the stove portion of our work here. The stoves are designed to minimize use of wood and at the same time also to maximize the cooking surface available. The design also forces all the smoke to the far end of the fire box and up the chimney minimizing the amount of smoke the women inhale while cooking. Last year this team installed three of these stoves and they families are very pleased with them. This year an additional three stoves are being installed and the men of the families who received the stoves last year will teach the men of this year’s recipients how to build the stoves.
There is a major school soccer tournament for the next seven days and everything, and I do mean everything, center around the tournament and what teams make it through the various rounds. Soccer is serious business here – for both the boys and the girls.
Adios til next time,
LIFE School
These doors open to the school office and library.
Chalking
On my last day I did a school assembly on Canada. I capped the 45 minute lesson with an activity near and dear to the hearts of most kids in Canada in the spring - drawing with chalk on the sidewalk.
A LIFE School Classroom
Not nearly as high tech as most of the classrooms in Canada and full of us much learning and excitement as any I have been in.
Guatemala
Department of Solala
Like a province or state, the department is the regional political entity. Santiago Atitlan and Panajachel are located on opposite sides of Lago Atitlan
Garden Gate
on the lowlands of Santiago Atitlan
Statue of Christ on the cross
The statue has been cleaned, tied to the cross which is raised at the front of the church.
The casket as it begins the procession.
Sixty men, each with a tag on his shoulder noting his place move the casket along the route. A second team of sixty men take over at the half way point, about 7 to 8 hours after the procession begins.
Statue of Mary
Mary's statue follows the casket on the first part of the procession.
Santiago
Saint James as he follows Mary and the casket of Christ on the church Plaza
Building the Alfombra #1
The pattern elements are chalked on to the cobblestone and the first strips of carpet are laid.
Alfombras #2
The stencils are placed on the sections of coloured sawdust to build layers of contrasting colours.
Alfombra #3
A section of the completed carpet laid in the church plaza.
Catholic Church of Santiago
Friday evening - all is quiet
Photo for Mom
For Kate
A photo she would take
Local Transport
Pickup (notice the bar in the centre for balance) from a tuc tuc
Towards Santiago Atitlan
Strip market gardens roll down to the Lake
Vista Dorado
View from our front steps
Microscopia Amigos
Two grade six students study an onion skin slide with the microscopes we donated to the schools.
Soccer is Serious Play in Guatemala
This is one of a number of games played during a week devoted to basketball and soccer tournaments. Thats the Chacaya Lower School Junior Team in the blue jerseys donated by a league in the Comox Valley.
Dental Lessons
Prior to the arrival of our team dentist many of us were engaged with supporting dental lessons for about 500 kids who live in villages around the Lake. Kids learned the importance of brushing their teeth and had a practical lesson in how to do it.
Water
At Chukamuk Uno the women have to come here to get their water. This settlement built after Hurricane Stan as no water in its pipes because the well water is full of sulfer. The water in this cistern is pumped directly from Lago Atitlan and trucked to the settlement.
Astronomy Lesson
Pedro shows his primary students how the earth (a ball used to play soccer) rotates on its axis.
Coffee Berries
The berries are picked by men who are paid about $7 for a 100 lb sack. The seed is what becomes the coffee bean.
Hauling the Soil for the Garden
A group of boys went with Nicholas and hauled this very rich soil from for spots on the mountain. Then the students used a variety of innovative techniques to get the soil up from the road to the garden plots - about a 50 foot rise.
Working on the Garden
One of the few pictures of me - working with the kids to plant the garden
Stove project - after
This stove, modified to minimize the amount of wood used as well as the amount of smoke generated provides families with a relatively smoke free environment and a place to warm up in the rainy season.
Stove Project - before
Women cook on open fires with minimal ventilation. Kids are often straped to their backs meaning both Mom and baby breathe in the fire smoke
I know what is healthy food
Food groups a la Guatemala
Mother and daughter in tipico ropas
The huipile (embroidered blouse) and corte (wrap around skirt) are typical clothing for women in Guatemala.
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