Mas Estoufas!

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We arrived at Lago Atitlan last Sunday after a few hours in a packed van drinking water and eating trail mix. After taking a boat across the lake we were greeted by lots of kids on the dock in San Marcos. The smallest of all decided to carry my big backpack up the hill and around the corner to our sleeping quaters, the pack was basically the size of the child! We stayed in San Marcos and travelled to 2 small villages nearby to begin our stove building adventure.
The first day I helped build a stove in a house that was smaller than my room at home. We were mixing cement, breaking cement blocks and bricks with machettes, and buliding the stove alongside 5 people in one tiny house. The Mayan people we are building these stoves for do not understand us nor do we understand them but we,ve managed to do great together. So far we have built approx. 20 some stoves as a group. I have to say Jeff and I felt right at home, almost like we were in Lanark County, during the pick up truck rides to the villages. We managed to stick 26 people and one dog (Hobo) in a small cab 2 days in a row! The roads up and down the mountains are crazy windy and steep, it has been so fun!
For the last couple days we have not been building stoves but rather visiting indigeneous communities hit by Hurricain Stan. One highland community we went to is living in what is basically a refugee camp. Their village was completely destroyed by the mudslides. They are so very grateful for any help they can get, their story was very emotional and heartbreaking. One elderly lady stood up and between tears said :We didn.t have much of a home to begin with, but it was our home: They are hoping to have a home again someday but for the time being are on rented gov{t land. The stove project will be working to support this community
On a lighter note Jeff and I adopted a dog...Hobo...he followed us everywhere during our time at the Lake. Hobo went to the stove building sites with us and even slept outside our room at night. He even followed us on a 2 hr hike up the mountain, now that is dedication. I guess that is what happens when you give a dog half a french fry (Jeff).

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Photos

The Littlest Hobo
This is our adopted puppy dog for a week. One french fry and he´s loyal for life!!

Comments

[duckesq]

thanks
I'm coming to Guatemala (Xela) for 6 weeeks the end of the month, and am interested in what you are doing there. Hope to hear more.

[[e-mail]]

Poco a poco
Keep sharing those french fries ...Rangers beat the Leafs twice on the weekend 4-2 each time ... Gaffer says your basketball team keeps winning ... plays Carleton Place this week for the champ. ...Can. won a gold medal on Day 1 in Turin ...it is clear sunny and cold inPerth .. mom and I are walking on the lake today ,,, Keep the faith

[Steve Scott]

Half a french fry?
Jeff, You've changed man, you've gone soft in your old age. The Jeff I know wouldn't give a half french fry to man nor beast. Tell me it fell on the ground or something. Have fun. Steve