Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Wednesday, June 25, 2014



Upon our return yesterday to San Gregorio, we had a meeting  with the local cocode, a committee in the community to address any concerns and answer any questions we might have about the school.  Several members spoke to us and first always thanked God for our being there and thanking us for our presence.  The main speaker was a father, and a teacher in the town next to San Gregorio.  (Interesting to note: he lives in a one room wooden house with a metal roof and an outhouse - and is a teacher.) We talked about what role the government plays in supporting the school and getting it ready for students.  Their hope is that they will start with two teachers for the four classrooms with mixed grade levels.  Teachers in Guatemala have to have a specific degree in teaching elementary education.  The school does not yet have desks and they are unsure of how those will be financed.  It is technically the government’s responsibility but the government is slow to respond to needs of communities.  The leaders expressed how they had really not anticipated the vastness of this project and that they did not know what they were getting into because they had never built a school before.  We expressed the same sentiment in that we did not know what we were getting into either!   We both took a leap of faith and together a school has been built.  One of the many wonderful things about this project has been the cooperation between members of Rolling Hills and the members of the San Gregorio community.  None of us were skilled builders, however we have all given our time, talents and learned so much from each other.  Through this relationships have formed that cross borders of all kinds. After our meeting we shook hands, gave thanks, gave hugs and left to attend their church service.

There are just some things that are almost impossible to put into words and that was the case at this church service.  We walked to the church and were greeted as if we were visiting dignitaries.  The women of the church had lined the aisle with grasses for us to walk on and everyone clapped and cheered when we entered.  There were flowers everywhere and welcome banners in both Spanish and English.   The pastor welcomed us all by name and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for us attending their little church.  Children were everywhere!!!!  We were given a schedule of service which began with three of their youth singing along with guitar and keyboard accompaniment.  (I will interject that we were sitting in the front row about 12 inches from gigantic speakers.  Still trying to recover my hearing today J.)  While they were singing, down the aisle strutted a chicken!  After a few minutes of the chicken walking around the front of the church, one of the men picked it up to great squawking and indignation.  All the while the kids just kept singing.  After a couple of joyous songs where we all clapped along, there were prayers, scripture readings, more singing and then the highlight of the evening a sermon from Pastor Ted.  Our guide, Candace, translated Ted’s sermon, which moved everyone.  (No surprise there.) 

When Ted finished his sermon, the pastor said they had one more act they would like to share.  At this time women of the church came down the aisle to give us all drinks and crackers.  They had soft drinks as well as bottled water.  Finally, they presented us our gifts.  Wow.  Our jaws dropped as they walked out with baskets laden with food.  It looked like the three wisemen carrying their gifts – from a community that does not have anything to spare.  They gave one basked to Rolling Hills and a smaller basket to the head mason who was also with us.  After the presentation of the baskets, they came with a carefully wrapped box which seemed to be moving.  The look of anticipation on their faces was evident and you could just tell they were so excited for Ted to open the box.  Ted passed the honors to Will to open this wrapped box with holes.  In this box were TWO roosters.  Oh the joy on their faces when Ted and Will picked up the animals with feet tied and held them in the air for all to see.  That is just one of those things that none of us will never forget.  This was one of their most valued assets and they were so proud.  They gave us TWO and I say this because it would have been incredible to receive even one.  We were all laughing and cheering and just so full of joy.  Ted expressed how humbled he was to receive this precious gift and that we would have a relationship with this church.  Through his tears, the pastor said how never in his wildest dreams did he ever think he would have visitors from the United States and he was just so honored to have us there.  After every one of the adults in attendance came and shook our hands and hugged us it was time for us to leave.  They lined the way to our truck where we climbed in and headed home in the rain (in the open truck).  We arrived back at our hotel wet but thrilled, knowing that the experience we had all just lived through was one that no one had ever had and can ever forget.

Due to the length of the above recount which was totally necessary because of the beauty of the event (and still cannot totally be imagined), I will tell the details of today in one short, succinct sentence.  We had an amazingly beautiful day riding on Lake Atitlan, visiting wonderful towns and shopping our hearts out.  Good night!

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