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Gifts for all
Everyone was surprised and happy. In Antigua, the Calles run East-West and the Caminos run North-South. This makes it easy to read the map. Visitors think this means it is easy to find your way around.
The only problem is--there are no street signs.
In your hotel room you can think, plan and organize your walk around Antigua. But you won’t find your way around by thinking. There are no signs. You have to look up from the map, find the landmarks and use your gut feelings about which way to go.
Guatemala taught me the joy of going with my guts.
Saturday was our last full day in Santa Lucia. As usual, the mountain sky was a crisp, azure blue in the morning, but turned to an angry grey by afternoon. By 2:00, what was thick as fog covered the village. But it wasn’t fog, it was tropical rain. Torrential. Alva family members turned their attention from sharing a meal, to quiet personal time.
Elsa was in the kitchen with Kitasumi. Luke was sleeping. Julio was working on details of his impending trip to the US. Luis went back to his law office. Henry was at the computer working on
View from the third floor
The open roof and walls let the rain in to the school. an excel spreadsheet. Since Henry was the only available person that spoke English, I asked.
“Hey Henry, What’ ya working on?” I asked to combat my loneliness.
“A budget for Elsa’s school” .
He explained that because the government had shut down all the schools for an extra week of vacation due to the H1N1 flu, they had to account for the money they didn’t spend that week, to the churches that sponsor them.
“I’d like to see the school. Do you mind a walk in the rain?”
“Sure.”
We walked the few blocks to an unfinished building, the first floor painted white with black block letters reading “Colegio El Mesias”-School of the Messiah. There were two working floors with had four rooms each. They were sparsely equipped with desks and bulletin boards. Basic, clean conditions.
The second floor had desks that were bigger as they served Jr. High aged students. There was a computer room with about ten, five year old computers. A gift from a sponsoring church.
He explained that the school emphasizes the basics of Spanish, Math, study skills and biblical values. The students will have a better
Graduates
The first graduating class of the school without a roof. chance of going further in their education than if they were in public schools.
“How do these children pay the tuition?” I asked.
“Fifty percent, or more, of the students are on scholarships. Donations from our sponsoring church in Ohio. The rest is paid by their parents- when they can.”
Thinking of the $2,800 a year I paid to put Luke through Catholic school, I asked:
“ What does it cost a year to put a child through school here?”
“It’s expensive. About $100 a year.”
Silently, I calculated what I had spent at Starbuck’s in April. It was about the same.
The sky was black and the rain pelted down as we walked up to the third floor. The walls were unfinished and there was no roof.
It was cold. Water pooled at the top of the stairs and created a waterfall down to the second floor.
Now I’m thinking...
”How can these kids study with cold rain coming down the stairs? I wonder if I could help raise enough money to finish the roof. Maybe I could get a group of people to come down and help build
Surprise Gathering
We gathered to give thanks and share our blessings it. It has to be.....what? Maybe $9,000 or so to get it done.”
“Henry, what would it cost, in dollars, to get this building finished?”
I expected him to say at least $2,000.
“Hmmmm. Let me calculate from Quetzals.........about $850 dollars”.
My guts spoke up....”I’d like to give you a check for $900 to finish the roof”.
Henry looked a little stunned. “Are you sure?”
I was a stunned. Stunned that I could do so much good with such a small amount.
"Yes, I'm sure!"
When I gave the young Miguel my cowboy hat and not the 200Q, or my sapphire necklace he requested, I felt a little guilty. Maybe I should do it. And I was being mean by withholding. But, Miguel, with his sad story, big brown eyes, and constant asking was trying to manipulate me. That’s what didn’t feel right.
Standing on this wet roof, knowing I could help keep these kids dry, making the donation felt as right as breathing. No one had insisted I look at the “poor school”. No one had asked me for money. No one was looking at me as a rich gringa.
Elsa Explains
Elsa shares the story of why she started the school. I was simply their guest. They opened their home and their hearts to me. It would never occur to the Alva’s to ask me for anything.
I felt the presence of Jesus standing next to me. He whispered in my ear. “I told you, if you followed me to Guatemala, I’d find you a place that needs you. I need you. You are my hands. Thanks for listening.”
When we returned to the house, I called everyone into the living room.
I asked Henry to translate for me. This time he did it without jokes!
“Since my son moved out, I have been looking for purpose, for a place where I could make a difference, where my life would have meaning. It gives me great joy to be able to help you with your school. Here is a check to finish the roof”.
No one spoke for a minute. Luke and Julio stared at each other. Elsa cried.
Henry translated. “ A Pastor once told me that he had attended a Christian school, but walked away from religion. When he found himself depressed and desperate, he remembered what he learned about God’s love in that
school and it saved his life.
God has blessed me. I have had many jobs that pay well. But this work is more important than money. Especially, if one child is like that Pastor. Thank you. Gracias a Dios.” She ended with a prayer.
It was one of the best moments of my entire life. Gracias A Dios.
Mis amigos, always go with your guts!
Adios,
Cynthia
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John Harrison
non-member comment
You made a difference
I was very touched, Cynthia. It was the perfect conclusion to your extraordinary visit.