Post by Liz Oxandale

It’s a beautiful morning here in Guatemala and we just finished a breakfast of panqueques, fruit salad and biscotti.  Last night the rain was pretty significant so it’s great to see the sun – this will hopefully enable us to catch up on some work.  We have a packed day and I’m already catching up on our day yesterday!

Anyhow, yesterday was our first work day in San Gregorio.  The children of the community are on vacaciones so they were hanging out with us most of the day while we worked and while we waited for the late morning, early afternoon rains to cease – which took a while.  As a group we had four main projects to tackle for the day.  Four of us spent time on the roof painting the metal rods that were put in should the need for a second level ever arise.  We took turns working to clean the windows which proved to be a harder job than one would imagine!  However, this was not nearly as hard nor risky as the job of digging the sanitary hole or poso.  Our two younger men travelers braved the trek down into this hole and dug their hearts out.  We have 2 meters more to dig – approximately 6 feet – and some major boulders to get through first. We may not finish this week but seeing our group members’ heart to get as much done as they can is awesome.  Finally, many members worked to sift the dirt and soil that comes from the hole that is being dug.

This is one of the most striking things I learned/saw yesterday is how efficiently these citizens use their land and resources.  From the dirt that is dug from the sanitary hole they sift it to make a fine sand that can then be mixed with rocks and then with water and cement mix to create the cement used to build the building and also the columns needed for the poso.  There is no machinery digging the 20 foot hole and no cement truck pouring the cement.  IT IS INCREDIBLE.

We were slowed down by the two hour rain but for part of the time it was for lunch.  Another incredible fact: our lunch on site was not a brown bag lunch.  We were brought hot lo mein made by the cooks from the hotel where we stay.  Fresh tortillas, fruit and juice accompanied the main meal.  Yesterday they drove from San Lucas Tolíman to bring this.  However one of our group members who has been before said that ordinarily they hop on a chicken bus with all the food and serving ware and then walk from the main road all the up to the work site which is quite an uphill jog.

We were able to interact a lot with the community kiddos during the rain with books and jokes and then throughout the rest of the afternoon with games and such.  We worked until about 4:30 and made our back to San Lucas Tolíman.

Our night consisted of a talk by an impressive young man in the community who is also the son of our hosts here at Posada los volcanes, Mike.  Mike is a university student in environmental issues and gave us a talk on the water issues that exist in Guatemala.  He was incredibly articulate and exceptionally kind to talk with us and prepare visual aids on short notice.  We then walked to the municipal building where another community member prepared a talk on his program helping young boys find alternatives to street life through boxing.  He is (apparently) a champion boxer from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and invited us to watch the program and invited us to leave a donation J.  While the talk and event seemed pretty purposeful to seeking money, it was amazing to see these 10ish young boys dedicate time to exercise and boxing.  Furthermore, these kids were not dressed in athletic clothes as we think of them, they had on whatever they could find which included dress shoes or tennis shoes that were barely staying together.  So regardless of the bluntness and questionable details of our presenter, any money was going to a worthy cause.

We had a late dinner and rested for today.

Because I’m already behind, I will make my account of today’s events short and the pass the torch onto my mother to recount the details from this evening’s activities.  Today was great because the rain was short-lived compared to yesterday.  We continued on many of the jobs from yesterday and made progress.  Many of our group members also attended a traveling health clinic that was visiting San Gregorio from Stanford.  There was one doctor and two students.  I was not there so cannot describe the details but no those who attended were impressed.

We stopped a bit early to come home and clean up before we are meeting with leaders of San Gregorio on any questions we have about the school and its future.  Then we are off to a special Evangelical church service where none other than Pastor Ted Pierce will be given a sermon.  What and exciting time!

Sunday, June 22

Our morning began at 6:00 walking to the market and watching the locals setting up their wares.  What an eye opener watching the people carry their products on their backs and their heads to get to their spot to sell.  Breakfast consisted of banana pancakes and fresh papaya and was delicious! 

After breakfast we all loaded on to the back of our truck and rode to San Gregorio to see the school that has been built.  It was such a joyful experience to see the excitement of the children in the community when our truck turned onto their road.  Balloons lined the roadway and there was a welcoming committee of all who were involved in this project.  It was a pretty incredible experience.  A few members of the community spoke to our group to thank us and welcome us back.  To interact with the children and women was such fun.  Also, it was wonderful to see the reactions of members of our own group who have been before on all the progress that was made.  It is almost a finished project.

After we left the school, we came back to a delicious soup lunch at our hotel which was followed by a fascinating, educational talk by Goyo, a community farmer, on Permaculture and medicinal plants.   The USA/Portugal soccer game was watched by some and a walk to the lake was taken by others before our evening meal.  This was a fun, relaxing and educational day.

Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church Trip, Day 1

Introducing the newest Rolling Hills Guatemalan Mother/Daughter Blogging Duo!  Just kidding – not that exciting but we will do our best to keep you update on the happenings of this group’s amazing adventures here in San Lucas Tolíman.  Our 10 day journey started yesterday, Friday, June 20^th.   I write this entry at the end of the day on Saturday, for day 1 consisted pretty much of sitting in the airport with a flight thrown in here and there.  Then throw in some (a lot of) lost luggage and you would have summed up our day.  Our lovely TJ leader, Candace, arranged for us to spend Friday night in Antigua so we would have a shorter van ride following a lot of airport/plane sitting.  We arrived at our posada and crashed – literally.

Since we were already in Antigua, we took advantage of the sights and shopping for the majority of the day.  While it was unfortunate that we could not get some work started at our site in San Gregorio, we were able to tack on to the front end of the trip what would normally be tacked on to the end, hopefully enabling us to spend additional time in the community where our school is being built.  The final Saturday will most likely be inauguration day so this may have worked out well – been meant to be – thanks United Airlines!  Antigua was beautiful and fun to explore.  We met for a delicious desayuno tipíca (traditional breakfast) in a darling restaurant and then split up to experience Antigua.  My mom and I bought some awesome clothes and ceramics and the others, too, had an enjoyable time looking around.  Ted and Gabe especially liked the meat market (?).

We were picked up from the hotel by our fabulous van driver and left for San Lucas Tolíman , home base until Saturday.  The drive was fascinating.  We saw an active volcano, beautiful scenery and sights of communities that certainly do not exist in the United States.  One in the U.S. cannot imagine the impoverished conditions these families live in unless they have driven through them first hand.  I mean, “wow.”  We stopped at a pineapple stand where a young woman chopped the heck out of the most delicious pineapple I have ever had the pleasure of tasting and our leader purchased 3 for $1.50.  Again, wow.  We saw coffee fincas, corn crops and miles and miles of pineapple plants.  So cool.

We were welcomed to our hotel by the greatest smiles and laughter of our hosts Marbila , her husband Felipe, and Mary.  We had a delicious fried chicken dinner, complete with fried potatoes, rice and tortillas.  We also have the pleasure of listening to the celebratory music from a school-opening Anniversary.  Apparently each year, on the day a school was opened, they have an anniversary celebration.  Perhaps San Gregorio will be having their own next year.

Anyhow, luggage or no luggage, delayed flights or not, I know that I am one lucky chica and my mom is one lucky mamá and am incredibly grateful for all that I have - it is so much more than I need.

Feb. 11, 2014 (Day 5)

Began another beautiful day with our usual 7:00 a.m. Prayer & Reflection.  Breakfast this morning was very different.  We ate masa with herbs, masa rolls stuffed with tomato, vegetables and chicken and topped with cheese and onion, similar to a tamale, as it was cooked in corn husks.  A sweet bread, similar to a cookie, was on the side.  We’re really enjoying all the different local foods!

Our day ‘on the job’ was very fruitful.  Everyone works so hard!!  In addition to our RHPC group and the hired masons, volunteers from the town, men and women, helped out, too.  We’re a well-oiled machine!

Lunch was a tasty ‘stew’ of chicken, carrots and potatoes with pasta on the side.  Another lite lemonade drink and cantaloupe.  Oh yes, tortillas!

Finished work at 4:00, stopped for cold drinks, and were home and into the showers pronto (see, you do understand Spanish!).  Dinner was Italian style tonight:  spaghetti, bolognese sauce with vegetables and garlic bread—muy bueno!

Carol Malarky
Photos: Gabe Hopkins

Feb. 10, 2014 (Day 4)

7:00 a.m. Prayer & Reflection was followed by breakfast.  Marbila prepared a beautiful tray of local fruits, most of which we’ve never eaten before.  When you have to be told how to eat fruit, you know they’re different.  We were also served scrambled eggs, black beans, fried yucca, rolls, juice and coffee.  Marbila did all this while suffering from a seriously abscessed tooth.  Everyone tried to talk her into going to the dentist (Gary even offered to pay her dentist bill), but she would not do it.  Candace explained there is a belief in Guatemala, if you have a tooth pulled, you must spend four days in bed.  Marbila just would not go; she felt the need to be here for us.

Arrived at our work site by 9:00 and quickly divided into our work groups.  We were overjoyed to find the community members lugged a whole lot of cinder blocks up the hill, to the worksite yesterday (our day of rest).  This saved a ton of heavy work for us!  Worked hard all morning with a brief break for snacks.  Around 1:00, we broke for lunch, which was a repeat of Saturday’s dinner.  Just as good the second time!  We drank a rice drink, which was very lite and refreshing.  Didn’t taste a thing like rice.  Chased it with a banana.   

Kids were once again at the site but not quite as many.  They’re always looking for a photo or treat.  We enjoy accommodating them!  They are such sweet, beautiful children, oozing personality.

Wrapped up about 4:00 today, having made great progress.  Like the Phoenix, the walls are rising! Cannot say enough about how hard everyone works.  I, personally, am very impressed with the variety of work Vickie and Candace can do.  They can hang with the guys for sure.  Then there’s Cindy who is a master block splitter and chiseler---all done with a machete.  Thank heavens we have our men who are doing the extremely heavy work------and when you consider their ages (Gabe not included), it’s even more impressive!  Piled in the truck and stopped for ice cream before heading home.  Did we enjoy this!

Earlier dinner tonight.  Marbila prepared stuffed mini squash filled with a tomato, vegetable and cheese mixture.  Several had seconds; the rest of us wanted to but were too full.  Accompanying the squash were sausage, salsa, and did I say tortillas?

Candace took us to see a local spoon maker cooperative tonight.  These gentlemen hand make beautiful spoons and other kitchen implements.  They carve them out of coffee, ebony and other local woods with a machete and another smaller tool, then coat them with beeswax.  These men started and organization to benefit a local homeless woman they found sleeping in the street.  With their profits, they bought a plot of land and built a house for her and continue to support her.  All of us bought some beautiful pieces.  Candace is all about helping people who help others.  That is why she takes us to these special places.

A quick stop on the way home (by foot tonight) for another ice cream (for a few of us), some lively conversation in our hotel salon and to bed.

Buenas noches!
Carol Malarky
Photos: Gabe Hopkins

Feb. 9, 2014 (Day 3)

Began our day with Daily Prayer & Reflection led by Rev. Ted.  An almost ‘American’ breakfast followed of banana pancakes, pineapple, papaya and the usual delicious coffee and juice.  Honey replaced syrup.  Ted mentioned this was his favorite meal!

Today, the Sabbath, is a well adhered to day in Guatemala---a day of rest except for the vendors at the expansive market extending all around the streets in town.  Market would be like going to the grocery store for us, but with limited refrigeration, the people must shop often.  Our hotel hostess, Marbila, accompanied us today, and she and Candace educated us on some of the food not indigenous to the States.  Guatemala’s fruits and vegetables were much larger than ours.  A little disconcerting for me were all the raw fish, seafood and meat lying out in the open air, usually with someone swatting the insects vying for sustenance.  Add to that the many dogs everywhere hoping to find a scrap or two.  In addition to food, you could buy clothes, toiletries, household products, live chickens and on and on.  Marbila bought some fruits and vegetables, which she later incorporated into our meals.

We toured the town, including a stop at the cemetery---very different from ours, with mostly crudely constructed mausoleums.  There were many mounds of dirt for those who couldn't afford a mausoleum.  Standing in the center of the cemetery was a beautiful mausoleum, the burial site for Father Gregory for whom San Gregorio is named, and two other prominent Priests.  A brief stop to buy some souvenirs and back to our hotel for a short rest before noon lunch.  Marbila prepared a dish called pache, which was mashed potatoes mixed with salsa surrounding a piece of chicken, wrapped in local leaves and cooked.  A special treat of chocolate covered bananas topped off the meal.

Our afternoon trip took us to the Café Tzampetey Coffee Cooperative for a tour and detailed explanation of the coffee making process.  Candace has been supporting this business by importing their coffee to Kansas City.  We even saw her next partial shipment being held under lock and key.  For a sample, go to the Broadway Cafe in KC.  Before departing, we bought bags of coffee to take home with us.  We thanked the President and General Manager for our tour and the handmade bracelets they gave us and were on our way home, stopping at two scenic overlooks for photo opts.

After a two-hour break, we gathered for an Educational Meeting with Dennis Evans, a local educator, originally from England, who has devoted the last 22 years to promoting education in San Lucas Toliman.  It was an hour of enlightenment in understanding how the school system works in Guatemala.

Our usual devotion was followed by another delicious dinner.  We ate pork chops and fresh green beans from the market today accompanied by a tomato based sauce.  Did I mention tortillas?

Today was truly a cultural experience.

Buensas noches!
Carol Malarky
Photos: Gabe Hopkins

Feb. 8, 2014 (Day 2)

No wake-up alarms needed----if it’s not roosters crowing it’s fireworks at dawn!  Daily Prayer and Reflection led by Rev. Ted.

A delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, black beans, fresh pineapple, guacamole, chips, tortillas, juice and coffee followed.  After a brief money exchange, handled by Candace, we were packing ourselves into our open-bed truck and heading for the hills of San Gregorio.  Our l/2 hour jaunt was better than any amusement park ride I've experienced.

A balloon-decorated street and fireworks greeted us upon our arrival along with the grateful adults and children.  We began our introduction to the community with a meeting of the locals in their newly-built community building (salon).  Candace translated as Ted spoke, and then a representative of the local government of San Gregorio spoke to us followed by two of the local ladies who were instrumental in starting this project.  Gabe began his day of photos with Polaroid shots of the kids, which absolutely fascinated them.  It began a day of non-stop photo requests by the kids, and Gabe quickly became the Pied Piper of San Gregorio.  After a group photo was taken, we headed uphill to our work site.  After introductions, we split into groups, each with a different mason to lead us.  The monumental task began of carrying ‘a ton’ of cinder blocks up the hill to the foundation site.  Amazing the loads our guys carried on their backs!  The gals carried their fare share, just not as many at a time.  A number of us got our crack at wielding machetes (actually chiseling the blocks), and this was an unbelievable task.  The local labor laid the blocks in cement as fast as we could supply them.  Around 1:00, we broke for lunch (Chow Mein, tortillas, juice and watermelon) prepared for us by our hotel hosts.  An hour later, we returned to our work and finished our day of toil about 4:00 (whew!).  Stopped for cola and snacks at a local establishment before heading home for a much-needed shower. 

Candace took us on a short walking tour of our village before dinner.  Once again, Jack led our devotion before dinner.  Tonight it was pasta and a tasty tomato and beef dish which resembled spaghetti sauce.  Tortillas accompany every meal.  After our meal, we shared thoughts of our day together.  Think everyone will sleep well tonight!

Buenas noches!

Carol Malarky

Photos: Gabe Hopkins