Day 4: Labor Begins

 

Franco: Both team of volunteers, ProjectHELLO (USA) and Generación Magnificat (Guatemala), began working with several of the 25 families. Today, you will witness your donations being put to use. I would like to share with everyone reading our blog, particularly those who have donated the impact your donations are having on these families is incalculable. Each and everyone of their gracias from all the families we worked with today were words filled with genuine gratitude. 

All of the 25 families we are working with are Mayan Ma'am. Because of the violence and genocide that Guatemala suffered for 30 years many Mayans were forced high into the mountains as they fled from the Guatemalan Army. I mention all of this because it is important to understand that the people we are helping are not living in poverty because they're lazy or don't want to work. They are the hardest working people I have ever met. For example, one of the families we helped today is a widowed woman who crosses the boarder into Mexico five days a week leaving her five children behind by themselves. She does this because if she doesn't they will starve to death. So the her eldest child who is 12 years old watches his younger brothers and sisters. 

As Americans, we know first hand the devastating effects that war can have on our troops coming back home from overseas. For Guatemala, after 30 years of war, the ripple effect had such power that many Guatemalans, mostly Mayans, have not yet recovered. Our team is here on a humanitarian effort to help impoverished people recover their basic human needs with dignity. We are doing this with your help. Without your donations our work would not be possible. Empowering communities here in Guatemala and knowing that your donations made it possible is a gift that has no price. Thank you all who have taken the time to donate. This Christmas millions of people will be opening gift, after gift, after gift, with a momentary satisfaction soon to fizzle away. However, your donations and contributions to the Mayan Ma'am of Sibinal will have a lasting impact in their hearts and in their homes. Maybe it will have a lasting impact in your heart as well. Thank you. 

 

 

 

 

Olivia: Gratitude, it's what I felt and saw time and time again today. Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to visit the homes of Doña Marcella,  Don Lopez, and Doña Magdelena. The work done to their homes with your donations ranged from new stoves, new walls of new living areas or kitchens, new roofs and concrete floors. Not only was I impressed with the quality of the new stoves and other additions, I was deeply touched by the gratitude expressed by each and every one of the families. Even though the families had never met us members of the U.S. team, they weren't shy when they told us how joyful, excited, and immensely thankful they are for the donations and the volunteers that made this work possible. It was clear from our conversations that these projects are going to have enormous and positive impacts on the lives.

Today, I was also grateful for both my Guatemalan and U.S. teammates and the power of a smile or a sonrisa in español. One of my biggest concerns about coming to Guatemala was my very weak Spanish vocabulary. Would I be able to connect and communicate with the families and the other half of my team? I'll admit that trying to speak and understand Spanish is really challenging for me and often makes me anxious. However, it always seems like when I'm struggling the most with the language or when I'm feeling disconnected that one of my teammates or a child or one of the families gives me a huge smile. Smiles I can understand. Belly laughs, funny looks, hugs and all the other wonderful love languages of the body I can understand. That's all we really need to communicate with others. People (humans) are pretty cool that way. Therefore , I am grateful - for many things - but particularly those smiles. Stay tuned for tomorrow!  And thank you for reading.

 

 

 

 

 Emily: have to make this one short since we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. today we went to Do a Marsella to check up on her brand new stove and to help with the installation of cement floors. i've never worked with mixing cement and never knew the process, especially with the lack of resources. we mixed the cement by shovel and rocks, which required a lot of muscle. after, we played ball with the children and i'm pretty sure you'll be seeing the next Messi soon.

We also visited Doña Magdalena. she has a total of three necessities that needs to be done: an aluminium roof, stove, and walls. she had her make due stove covered with tarp and the smoke from it keeps seeping into their house, causing low visibility and irritation to the eyes of her and her family. So, the three additions to her house will be life changing.

Skipping forward, we also did assessments of our past work with families. I want to remind you that the work that we are doing is not simply a handout. It's a process to healthier living and proper education for the impoverished in Guatemala. if the families cannot keep up their end of the bargain, we cannot provide them with more materialistic help, but simply a harder push on education on hygiene and nutrition. this family that we had visited did not keep their promises. so it breaks my heart to see them be declined of  <a stove > that they need. however, this makes us push harder into our work and focus more on educating. 

Lastly, we prepared for our big event "Christmas for Guatemalan Children". There are over 600 gifts packed and this is going to be a good mental and physical break before we push through these last twelve days. One thing that made me smile today was a random dodgeball game after we were nearing the end of our night. i've seen the guatemalan people climb steep mountains for hours and carry 100 pounds of logs and not break a sweat; but after a quick two minute game of dodgeball, they were panting and couldn't stand. haha! On behalf of all of us, thank you all again for your donations. i can't wait for you too see where your money is going! besos, emily. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shirley: Our first official day of hands on work!!! I mean I'm exhausted and it's only the first day! We got to visit 3 families. The first one we got to see the need in the family and actually help with mixing part of the concrete for the floor. It's crazy because all the work is done by hand is very hard work, unlike in the US where they have machines that mix the concrete for one. People here work very hard to have what they have and it's very admirable. It fills my heart with joy when I see that people work hard to change their way of living and really push for something more for themselves and the future of their children. 

We also got to assemble the gifts for the kids for tomorrow's Christmas for the Children! I stayed the entire time with the group and bonded tons with them because we were there all evening. There was a point where we were all feeling the tiredness so out of nowhere we started throwing playing balls at each other! It was so random but so nice because as a group I felt such a union. We don't always have to be serious and when things like that happen, it makes us all united laughing and playing around. We work together better and more efficient regardless of the language barrier for some of the members of the team. That's all from my part. Buenas noches a todos!