Guatemala Team Reports

A woman cooking tortillas on her new stove as our team watched became the coda of our experience in Rancho Palmeras this week, all the proof we needed that the job we set out to do in this village months ago was now complete.

The woman, whose home neighbored the school where we stayed, was all smiles and glad to show off her new appliance to us. Her old stove, a behemoth and rapidly deteriorating model sitting in the kitchen, will soon be demolished. She was especially impressed, she told us, at how much less wood her new one burned to accomplish the same task. And certainly the reduction of wood consumption is one of our primary objectives in installing these stoves, although not as important as the health benefits of clearing inside air by piping smoke outside.

Our team, working in tandem with Hands for Peacemaking staff and village helpers, put in 116 of these stoves this week, finishing up by mid-afternoon on Wednesday.

The number of stoves for the village actually increased while we were there as we learned of more need. For instance we learned that my stove team’s helper, a fellow named Caeser, somehow had not signed up for a stove himself. That brought the new count to 121. And on Thursday morning just as we were preparing to leave one of the village leaders pointed out that the four churches in town each had resident pastors who lived in the village also – somehow they had been overlooked. Marco asked how I felt about supplying stoves for them too, and it didn’t take me too long to agree. These nine additional stoves will be built in Barillas and brought to the village later and assembled on site by Hands for Peacemaking staff.

Our final morning in Rancho Palmeras was a busy one. We were told to have all of our personal gear packed and ready by breakfast at 7 a.m. so the crew could load up our bunks. As we were preparing for that several of the villagers approached individual team members to present us with hand-sewn handiwork in the form of purses and children’s garments. At 8 a.m. we opened our eyeglass clinic and helped fit villagers in need – several dozen of them anyway – with the reader glasses of varying magnifications we had packed along.

While we were doing that one of our team members, Janet Thompson, inspected the teeth and mouths of several villagers and took notes to pass along for a possible future dental mission to the area.

That work was immediately followed by another gathering of the village in the school compound for a closing ceremony. We gave gifts to our hard-working helpers, took photos with the villagers and offered a speech of deep gratitude by one of the leaders.

During his remarks I could not stop the tears welling up as I realized that while our time at the village was nearing its end, the impact of what we had done was just beginning. Marco made a few remarks of his own, telling everyone that our team really represented a greater force, that being the force of all of you who have contributed to this mission in so many ways. We were just the lucky ones who were present for the work.

Then the hugs and handshakes began, with almost every woman, man and child going up to each one of us individually to thank us for our help. It was truly an emotional moment for the team, and I saw others with moist and red eyes too as we boarded the bus and waved our final goodbyes. It was hard because we know we will not see these people again, but hope they will remember us as we will long remember them.

For we did descend on this village, like the swarm of stingless Tetragonisca angustulu bees we saw being kept at some of the homes, did the work that we’d planned and more. And hopefully, like the bees, we’ve left some honey of sorts behind.

The clean-air stoves and pure water filters we installed should last many years, especially if properly maintained. The large water tanks we purchased now stand firm and large to serve the school. The school will soon receive 132 new school desks, four teacher desks and four white boards funded by this project.

The villagers may remember the song we sang for them last night when everyone gathered for a movie and words from the local pastor.

A few will be able to read and thread a needle better due to the gift of eyeglasses. And what a joy it was to see the children kicking around the soccer balls we had brought, use the jump ropes, color the workbooks, and toss the tennis balls. Perhaps some may even learn to juggle after my brother Greg gave a simple demonstration.

We also believe the Seedplayer solar-charged Bible story audio devices we brought were a hit. In a couple of instances we missed giving some out, but once made aware we were able to rectify the situation. Thankfully we had over ordered so had enough.

I asked the team over lunch if they had a favorite memory of their time in the village to share and received a round of soft laughter instead as there are so many experiences to think about it is like being in mental overdrive. But I would encourage you to ask the same question the next time you speak – you will no doubt be impressed and maybe amazed at what they have to say. For me it was making new friends with both the villagers and the team and doing the work for people in such great need. It was also a pleasure to share this experience with two of my four brothers – perhaps the other two will also join in time.

We were blessed with good weather throughout our time in the village, with the rain coming only at night. The only complaint was the sweltering heat, but our team remained cheerful throughout.

As I write this it is Thursday afternoon in Barillas, where we arrived around 1 p.m. and shortly treated to another delightful lunch by Mimi and team. It is pouring outside now, and the rest of the team is out taking a walking tour of the town, buying coffee, ice cream and souvenirs. I have been nursing an achy back this week so decided to stay behind, but for them certainly the rain is refreshing.

After their return we will meet with members of the Barillas Rotary Club, who were kind enough to draft a letter of support for our project to help secure a grant from the Bellevue Rotary, brief them of our time in the village and show some photos.

On Friday we will again rise early, pile in the bus and began our all-day drive to the beautiful Lake Atitlan for a day of R&R before our flight home on Sunday.

I’ll report as I can of our final time in the days ahead.

Until then,

Brian