Thursday, November 1, 2012

Home Visits in El Barrranco Oct 31-12

Once again we piled into pickup trucks that Mayan Families sent to the hotel for the group. We first stopped at MF office and picked up the staff members that would be accompanying us to El Barranco and the food baskets that everyone wanted to take to their families. One truck also had two beds to deliver and water filter replacements. We knew where one of the beds would go and would decide where the other would go once we saw the homes. Then off we were through this beautiful country. The back of a pickup is the best way to see it too. Views of the lake are breath taking. We arrived at the EB preschool first so we could hand out kites to all the kids since the following day (Nov.1) is All Saints Day...Dia de los Muertes...and it is traditional to fly kites for this holiday. Since these families are too poor to buy a kite MF tries to see to it that each preschooler gets one. They loved them and it didn't take long until they were in the yard running with their kites. Since most of the kids whose home we would be visiting were at the preschool we also put them and their moms in the trucks with us. It was a bit crowded but a happy bunch. Somehow through all this poverty they still manage to be happy. We had to split into two groups since we had so many visits to do. I went with the group whose homes I had not been to. The first home was Amanda's sponsored student who I could not figure out why she had such short hair since this is not a style they use here. Turns out she like most of our own kids got hold of a pair of scissors and decided she was a hairdresser. Children all over the world are not that different. This family had so many needs and fortunately none of them were beds. They did however need a mattress and a water filter so I decided in lieu of a bed we would give the the mattress and a new water filter. She is a single mom whose husband died as a result of alcoholism and she is in debt to the bank as many are and in fear of losing her home. The next two homes we visited were children who had lost their previous sponsors and I am so grateful to have tender heart with me who wanted to sponsor them so they could stay in the program. They are preschoolers so this means they get a nutritional meal every day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a yr. One of these has a sibling who is sponsored by a member of my Feb group. They had the picture that was given them of their sponsor on the mirror of their dresser. They now have all the wiring done for electricity thanks to their other sponsor. Now we just need the funds to connect to the pole so they can finally have electricity in their home. The mother fears for her children since they have already had one small fire from using candles. Then the last family we visited was a fair distance. We drove as far as possible then it was a long trek through corn fields and some wooded areas. I can't begin to grasp doing this in the dark. These children walk, I would estimate, anywhere from 30 to 45 min to school. And can I just add none of it on smooth paths. This family now has cosponsors, Kendal and Sandy. They will share in the sponsorship of this sweet little girl. These visits are very emotional for the sponsors since it is hard to grasp the depth of poverty these families live in until you see it first hand. Guatemala is 6th in the world in chronic malnutrition and yet it is not at all a poor country. It is a sad state of affairs. We returned back in Pana exhausted and hungry so we headed to the Deli...they have one of my favorite dishes...Pollo Melinese....and while we were there the rains started. The calle became a river once again. I had to get home because I was in much need of rest so when it was a little lighter I grabed a Tuk Tuk and arrived home where a hot shower and PJ's were in order. Tomorrow is Dia de los Muertes and the kite festival.

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