PANAMAQUIM WELCOME

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THIS TRIP HAS BEEN AN EYE OPENER AND VERY REWARDING. YESTERDAY WE DROVE 90 MINUTES NORTH. WE WERE WELCOMED BY VILLAGERS GATHERING IN PANAMAQUIM FROM THE NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES - READ - GREAT DISTANCES ON STEEP PATHS . THEY DECORATED THE IMMACULATELY TIDY CENTRAL SQUARE WITH STREAMERS AND BALLONS. THE DIFFERENT GROUPS DANCED, GAVE SPEECHES AND A WEAVING TO EACH OF US. SOMEONE TRANSLATED FROM KICHE, A MAYAN LANGUAGE INTO ENGLISH FOR US. THIS VILLAGE IS A COHESIVE COMMUNITY WITH A REAL STRONG LEADER. FELT LIKE A KIBBUTZ IN THAT THEY SHARE IN CREATING A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR PEOPLE.

A SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN THIS VLLAGE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IN MEMORY OF SAM CLARK, RITA AND TOMS SON WHO WAS KILLED IN A BIKE - CAR ACCIDENT. ALSO A KITCHEN FOR THE NUTRITION PROGRAM WHICH WE ESTABLISHED AND CONTINUE TO FUND RIGHT NOW. THEN A SHED FOR A DIESEL RUN CORN GRINDING MACHINE SAVING THE WOMEN HOURS OF BACK BREAKING WORK. THE NEXT PHASE IS TO BUILD A CHICKEN HOUSE TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE FOOD PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL CHILDREN. AFTER TWO YEARS A CUSTOM MADE WHEEL CHAIR WILL BE FINALLY DELIVERED NEXT WEEK FOR AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD BOY WITH SERIOUS CP WHO IS CARRIED BY HIS MOTHER EVERYWHERE. I SAW HER BALANCING AND RESTING WITH HER HEAD AGAINST A WALL. BACK BREAKING AND HEART BREAKING.

OUR MEAL OF BLACK BEANS FRIJOLES DONATED BY US... THANKFULLY THEY WENT EASY ON THE SALT...WITH A CHUNK OF GOAT CHEESE A FETÁ TYPE CHEESE WAS THE BEST WE´VE HAD SO FAR. WE PROVIDED DESSERT. PIECES OF BREAD DIPPED IN MAPLE SYRUP WAS A BIG HIT. THE BOYS ENDED UP FOLLOWING US ANXIOUS FOR MORE. MY STRING GAMES WENT OVER WELL AND I LEARNED SOME NEW ONES.
TWO MORE DAYS OF STOVE BUILDING THEN WEDNESDAY TO A HUGE MAYAN MARKET IN CHICHCASTENAGO EN ROUTE TO ST. PEDRO DE LAGUNA ON LAKE ATILAN.
DO WRITE.

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Comments

[Kathryn]

Good to hear of your adventures...
Hi Joni, Hi Jackie, I've been following your adventures! Sounds fascinating! Now for the more mundane... :) We've been getting small amounts of snow and when it clears that brilliant, blinding sunshine that Canadians associate with cold days in January. It hasn't been cold. Windy, yes. Makes me think about March. We are supposed to get 10cm of snow tonight, but time will tell. Continue to enjoy! Thanks for including us in your adventures! Kathryn

[Nancy Simpson]

Thank you for the visions
Hi Joni and Jackie, I have to say that I am throughly enjoying your blog. It gives me great delight to find an email and be able to read about the goings on in Guatemala. I so long to be there with everyone and seeing the life that takes place so far away. Panamquim and the school are definitely a highlight of the trip. I hope you are enjoying the families where you are building the stoves, the people of Guatemala can be very wonderful. Keep enjoying your time there and I look forward to hearing more and seeing pictures when you return.

[mteisen]

It's all fascinating and wonderful - especially from where I sit :)and I look forward to the many photos I hope you're taking. Yesterday, Jackie described the welcome reception, which must have been so great. (Do you remember that Bobby and I, about 10 years ago, delivered a bus to a village on the West Bank? An amazing experience and we were similarly feted - by the toddlers and the elders of the village.) Moving, memorable - I can almost picture you. ...love...Ellen

[Sandi Goldman]

Great Blog
Hi Jackie and Joni I am enjoying reading about the daily activities and highlights of your trip. It sounds amazing but I know I would never have the strength to do what you are doing. I congratulate you on your achievements there. I forget when you will be back but we leave for Florida on Feb. 26 and will be back around April 3. Love, Sandi

[ronny]

happy valentines day
Its so good to hear that your life is full of new experiences. Alls well here on the Northern front. Jesse arrives in TO on feb 25 on his way to Chile. I'm off to Caribbean for a long sailing trip on Saturday. Teresa busy at work and doing great. Sabra is back at work full steam ahead. Lau is continuing to battle world water shortages. I just Skyped Ami last week and alls very well in PTY. See you at passover april 18th if alls well, ie. no snow or health issues. 70'F here today...amazing sun!!! Love Ronny xx000 ps. proxima carta en espanol!!!!

[fseligman]

response to blog
just love reading about your experiences. what an adventure. we are fine here. spoke to aden yesterday, shes having a ball and ivan has been wonderful. spoke to ami this morning and hes loving his own pad. everthing is going ahead so thats good news. still cold but the sun is shining. danis party is on thursday should be fun. jesse is coming here on his way ro chili. keep well love mom and dad