Preparing for a Guatemala mission isn’t quite like that of an Everest expedition or a lunar landing, but it does take a fair amount of planning and hard work.
First, a team must be formed. We have a team. Check. Actually, our team this year started with around 20 who were highly interested, dwindled to 16 “solid”, then shrunk to nine before a final recruitment push settled us in at 12. Early on we even transferred three of our initial team members to the new Fauntleroy UCC/Rotary team being organized by Greg Dirks, thinking we had too many. Then I wished for them back. That team, which leaves the week after our return, now has 16 to our dozen. But 12 is a great size. Our team, which includes two teens, will all be introduced in a future post.
And speaking of checks, funds must be raised. We’ve done that. Check. We were especially blessed with the generosity of the parishoners at Marine View Presbyterian Church, a gift from corporate Costco as well as Costco employees (and matching funds) and a host of individual donors. We thank them all!
Our Guatemala Dinner
Our big fundraising event was our Guatemala dinner in March, assisted again with the lovely people at Iglesia Cristiana LA VOZ church in Federal Way, which brought us over the top of our goal of around $40,000 for 110 Aller stoves and Ecofiltro water filters and mission supplies. In fact through your collective generosity we are able to do some additional projects on top of our main mission. This includes major kitchen remodels in the schools of the two villages where we will work, water tanks, library books for the schools, garbage containers, white boards and more.
A Bridge Too Far?
Our team will work in two distant villages this year, one we can drive directly to and another that involves an hour-long hike each way, including the crossing over what appears to be a rickety foot bridge over a rushing river. This will be a new adventure for us, as Marine View teams have never had to hike to a work destination before. Early on our team was given a choice of a central location with a larger stove count or the two villages with a smaller stove count but involving the trek. The team, perhaps against my better judgment, chose the latter, and I hope they’ve all been taking long hikes, doing squats and otherwise preparing themselves physically for this journey. Here’s a video I found that shows a little of the trail and suspect bridge. (I don’t like that he calls it an adventure).
The Villages Prepare for Us
While we have been preparing here in the United States, our friends at the Hands for Peacemaking Foundation in Santa Cruz Barillas and the villagers in Las Limas and El Moxon themselves have also been readying for our visit. The stoves and water filters are now delivered and carried to each home, awaiting our arrival for assembly. Check. The school where we will stay is ready with new latrines and washing facilities. Check. All we have to do now is get on an airplane at SeaTac, transfer at LAX, fly the redeye to Guatemala City, drive two days by bus to Barillas then another hour to the Las Limas and we will be there!
Leaving on a Jet Plane
We depart around 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 and will return the night of May 19. I’ll keep you posted with at least two more updates before we leave and as often as I can during our mission itself.
Again, thanks to all for your support, it’s been a huge blessing.
Hasta la vista for now,
Brian
OMG- that bridge at 4:05 is inviting!