Last day at the lake

Today we visited the San Antonio preschool where the children entertained us with a couple songs. Then to the well known San Antonio pottery workshop and store.

So many beautiful designs to pick from. A stroll through town brought us to a young man selling woven bracelets and a couple of people in the group noticed the horrible condition of his shoes. After a call to Sharon at MF we put him on the truck we were riding in and took him back to Pana and MF offices to find him a new pair of shoes. They had a pair of like new trainers that fit him perfectly. Then several contributed money and Lisa took him shopping for a new backpack and a food basket was also donated for him to take home. I am sure he felt he won the lottery that day. He was so sweet and very timid. Selling on the street is not easy and it must be near impossible for someone so timid. But you do what you have to do to survive. While we were walking around Cheryl took a step and felt something crack so when we returned to MF off the visiting doctor at the MF Medical Clinic happened to be a podiatrist. What were the odds on that one. So she was taken for ex-rays and they showed a small spiral fractures so of cousre MF had a boot that fit her and she continued on the remainder of the trip not letting a little break stop her. What a trooper. We then visited the MF wood shop trade school where they make beautiful gifts and practical furniture to order.

In the evening we had our MF farewell dinner where they provided an hour of Salsa lessons. Too much fun.

Home visits, stoves and deliveries today. Five students to visit and two stoves to install. As usual things did not go quite as planned. The stoves were delayed because of a parade or some such thing in Solola where we have to pass through to get to El Barranco. Once they arrived we were able to get after it. It turned out that one of the stoves we were installing was also one of the students we were visiting. We split into two teams and unfortunately because of the way things worked out one team installed both stoves. I guess the other will just have to return again so they can install a stove. We brought food baskets, corn and a closet plus lots of donations for the families of the sponsored students. The closets are locally made so this also helps other families along the way. This day is very emotional for most as they see the extreme poverty these humble Mayan people live in. In spite of having so little they still often give gifts to the sponsor. Today was a first for me….The family makes their own clothing so they presented Lynette with a full traje ( complete traditional outfit). Then on top of that they had prepared lunch for us of a traditional Mayan dish called polique…of which I am sure I spelled incorrect. So beautiful and so generous. All returned dirty and tired but with full hearts.

Today was a fun day of launchas….lake…..demonstrations and shopping. My favorite boat captain, Juan, met us at the dock where we boarded the launcha for a trip to San Juan la Laguna on beautiful Lake Atitlan. The launcha sometimes calls for reenactments of the Titanic. We were joined again by our friends, the Tillamook Rotary Club. Upon arrival, Francesca who manages one of the women's co-ops, had prepared a demonstration for us of the process of dying the cotton with natural dyes and all the sources those dyes come from since that is all this village uses to create their beautiful weavings. Then she explained all the steps it takes to create the one of a kind accessories. Then the shopping began. All were tired and worn out on the ride back. Shopping is exhausting.

We started our day out going to MF offices with all the wonderful donations that everyone brought with them. Those got sorted while the group was taken on a tour of Mf offices. We were joined today with some of the Tillamook Rotary Club who are good friends and doing lots of good things here in Guatemala. We stopped off at the Solola Women's Co-Op to see the dying and weaving process of the beautiful bamboo products they make there. After some good shopping was completed we headed on up to El Barranco. After lunch there was a soccer game with some balls that were brought up to the preschool and lots of goodies handed out such as little flutes, balloons and stickers. Some kids were covered in stickers. Then the children performed their traditional dance and of course the monkey dance calls for audience participation. Four students got new sponsors today and anyone who knows me knows how happy that made me. We will visit them in their homes on Wed. After the dances the kids lined up to receive donations. There are never enough jackets and sweaters for girls or enough shoes for boys. It is always heart breaking but in spite of that there was a lot of smiling faces that left with a lovely treasure of something new to wear. After a bit of a rest it was off to Jose Penguino's for dinner and entertainment. Everyone got their chance to make a tortilla. Then it was off to bed to rest up for the busy day tomorrow.

Nov. 2015 G of G Arrival Day

Trip to the city to gather the Nov. Grace of Guatemala group at the Barcelo Hotel. First time ever they all arrived the day before. Sure makes the trip a quicker one so that we got back to Pana earlier than usual. Lots of donations to pack onto the MF pickup. With everyone ready at the hotel it gave everyone a chance to unwind a bit at the hotel in Pana before the welcome dinner at Mayan Families. Normally it would have been at Sharon and Dwight's home but we were too big of a group since the dinner was shared with our wonderful friends from the Tillamook Rotary Club. We did stop at the mirador ( vista view) that overlooks Lake Atitlan on our way into Panajachel where we will spend the next 5 nights.A long but fun day.

Feb. 2015 G of G Tour Arrival

Getting ready to head into the city to pick up the Feb. 2015 Grace of Guatemala group. The Toriello/Shultz contingent arrived a couple days ago and have been enjoying some time in Antigua and will meet us back up here in Pana. However there are still four in the city to pick up plus two Mayan Families employees who need a ride back to Pana. It will be a long day…3 hrs. there and 3 hrs. back…..but it will be fun. We will get everyone settled into the hotel then head to Sharon and Dwight's home for a welcome dinner. Then tomorrow we hit the ground running.

Day 7 G of G Dec. 2014

Off to Antigua to enjoy this beautiful UNESCO Heritage site. But first the vendors worked on getting just one last sale in while we packed the van. Once we got to Antigua we unloaded our bags then headed to the heart of the village stopping along the way for lunch at Fridas's where the food is great and the margarita's are wonderful. After lunch we continued down Arch street which if you Google Antigua, Guatemala you are bound to see a picture of the arch. Along the way we encounter conquistadors announcing events to come. I don't believe I have ever been in Antigua near Christmas so it was lovely to see all the lights and decorations. It's a fun place to explore with all the beautiful churches and ruins that occurred during a massive earthquake in 1773 leaving this capital of the Spanish empire in ruins. After which they moved the capital to Guatemala City where I have been told is actually on a larger fault line!!! Then finally, after a nap for some of us, we went to dinner at La Fonda where I always have to have the Caldo Real soup. Lorenzo and Kathy had a redeye flight so they left before dinner. The rest enjoyed some Christmas carols at the main Cathedral on the square being sung by children. Then off to bed for those who had early morning flights. It was another wonderful trip with great and generous people. Remember that all the pictures can be found on the Picasa link at the right of the page. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all and come join us on a future Grace of Guatemala Trip in 2015. God Bless.

Day 6 G of G Dec. 2014

Another very busy day. We toured the site of the San Antonio preschool and the first, of what we hope will be many more, community gardens. The mothers of sponsored students have helped to put in a community garden that is the experimental project in which they hope to be able to do in other communities. There is a plan for one on the site of the new preschool in El Barranco which I am very excited about. We then visited the pottery where a man named Ken Edwards who was a potter from the US migrated to Mexico and started a pottery company. He then trained people in other areas where he found good clay soil to make pottery. This included San Antonio Palopo, Guatemala. I have several pieces in my Guat home and love them. So some shopping had to be done. We saw women washing clothes on the rocks in the lake, a life size Nativity and Alan and Steve sporting their man bags. Back in a pickup and on to the carpentry trade school where students are taught a skill they can use to make a living and be able to support their families. After lunch we toured the Mayan Families facility where they not only have all their offices but house the Panajachel preschool and the sewing trade school. Traditionally in Guatemala men have been the sewers since it is a machine!! But now women are being taught to sew and create items they can sell and help support their families. At the end of their training they are given the opportunity to own a sewing machine and start their own cottage industry. Then one more stove to install for a family in Panajachel so we returned to the carpentry school where the stove parts are stored and loaded the parts and performed another successful stove installation. We finished just in time to shower and attend the farewell dinner at Sharon and Dwight's home where they show a video of the weeks highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y2pVeA95sg In the morning we leave for a night in Antigua.

Day 5 G of G Dec. 2014

FREE DAY…time to explore on their own. Some went to Chichicastanego for market day…some went hiking…others recovered from travelers discomfort. No picture for today but lots of memories. Here's an old picture from Chichi

Day 4 G of G Dec. 2014

Busy Busy Busy day….. visit to the Solola women's co-op, 8 home visits, one stove installation, delivery of a water filter and several food baskets and dinner at Penguinos. I am exhausted thinking back on it. Our first stop was at the women's co-op in Solola where they weave mostly with bamboo and use low impact dyes. Beautiful colors and soooo soft. Like the co-op in San Juan it helps the women in this area to make a fair wage for their work. Then once again in El Barranco to visit sponsored students in their homes. Since there are eight homes…you see some sponsored more than one student…. we split into two groups. I hate it when I have to make a decision as to what group to go with because I want to go to all of them. We had six new students sponsored. Steve was returning to visit his two boys he sponsors and to spoil them with gifts he brought with him for the whole family. There is so much joy in this day when each sponsor gets to have a personal relationship with the students they sponsor. They realize how important it is to give the gift of an education so these children can have a better chance in life to end the cycle of poverty. Silvia got a bit of travelers sickness so could not go with us but we visited her sponsored student and took photos for her. It's always so moving when these families are so incredibly poor and yet are so eager to give a gift of thanks to the sponsors. Very humbling for all of us. When we finished with the home visits we had lunch and awaited the stove parts to be delivered….however they were so late in arriving we decided to save the second stove for Fri. since it was going to be installed in Pana anyway. The reason for the delivery delay was that MF was suddenly down one driver…Juan Carlos's wife went into labor and he had to head to the hospital!! Stoves be damned. Back again in time for a shower and off to Penguino's for a traditional meal of Pepian and entertainment by the owner and his daughters. Everyone gets a try a making tortillas and Lorenzo won the contest. The owner Miguel tells the history of his people…with lots of humor…and his daughters play the marimba. His niece was also there to sing for us in Spanish and French. It was a wonderful end for a very full day.