Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Dayli Receives Her Christmas Tamale Basket!

I am just so excited that I found a picture of my little sponsored child, Dayli and her little sister Fristy (on right) with their mother receiving their Christmas Tamale Basket from Mayan Families!



After meeting this sweet family, I feel such a strong connection to them and cannot wait to go back to visit with them in 2008!

I also notice in this picture that her mother is still pregnant with her baby. She told me when I was there that the baby was due December 10th. So, they should be expecting their little Christmas miracle any day now. Sharon tells me that most of the births in San Jorge are home births assisted by a midwife. Very rarely do they go to a hospital, only if complications arise and by then it is usually too late. Please pray for a safe delivery and a healthy baby for Dayli's mother, Regina. Sharon has promised to check in on them for me and will let me know when the baby arrives.

Love and FROG!

Sarah

Friday, November 30, 2007

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Natural Beauty of Guatemala

The volcanoes were absolutely stunning!!! You just can't imagine waking up to such beauty each and every day! Catherine, Kelly and I were talking that the view from their sponsored children's (Juan Armando's and Lesby) homes would be million dollar views in anyplace but Guatemala!

On the road to Panajachel looking out at Lake Atitlan


The GAFI gang - Julie, her mom Marie, Pam, Kelly, Catherine, Rena, Sarah




This awesome waterfall along the road to San Jorge




This is the view from the school yard... takes your breath away!


Here are those million dollar views from the top of San Jorge looking down at Panajachel from Juan Armando's and Lesby's homes



See that boy only inches from the ledge? I was having panic attacks with him standing there until I told him to "venga" after I saw him in the picture...



And, in case you are wondering... yes, that is a very high cliff that I risked life and limb (with my fear of heights) to go to those beautiful babies homes... it was so incredibly worth it!!

Windows and Doors - Glimpses of San Jorge

I love doors and windows... they speak volumes to me and are quite interesting when you think about them, they are your first impression of the place you are entering... these were amazing to me! As we walked through San Jorge, some doors were closed and some were open. In the middle of such poverty, the beautiful colors that adorned some of the homes were symbols of such pride and hope to me.










This little guy was watching us leave out the window of his home... so precious!

Catholic Church



At the center of the village stands this breathtaking church... it is filled with beauty and grace, serene and tranquil...

Smiles



LOVE to see the beautiful smiles!


Genuine


One of the most memorable moments of the trip for me was when Kelly met Lesby... we were so prepared, we thought, to love these little, sweet kids whom we had only seen in photos... but the emotion that overcame us was immense... greater than we ever anticipated. When Kelly found Lesby... she was completely speechless... yet look at her eyes and you know the story... the love just overflowed... it is an image I will treasure always...

My Juan Armando




They say the eyes are the door to ones soul
speak volumes with a glance...
language barriers do not exist
when you are consumed in a trance

A smile, annunciates the unspoken word
laughter is universal ~ a gift for all from God above
only one language spoken
love

An embrace that bonds two people for life
holding on so tightly ~never wanting to forget the joy
my heart so dearly devoted
to my sweet Guatemalan boy

I miss my little Juan Armando!!

Visiting with Luis and Miriam

One of the highlights of this trip was getting the opportunity to meet the families of the children we have been sponsoring for school. Luis Alfonso and Miriam Josefina were sponsored for the 2007 school year in honor of my parents and I am proud to say that we will be sponsoring them again for the 2008 school year. In Guatemala, the school year starts in January and ends in October. Both children did very well in school this past year, and will be continuing to the 2nd grade in January.
On our first day in San Jorge, we were able to briefly meet with the children at the community center at which time we gave them all the gifts we brought for them and the food that was purchased for them. I was completely overwhelmed over this process. We were in a small community center that isn't much bigger than my living room with no windows and little lighting. The room was packed not only inside but also by people at the doorway waiting and looking to see what was going on inside. They were so greatful for the gifts they received, and I think they were a little overwhelmed at the scene as well. I can't imagine what it must be like from a 8 year old perspective. Someone you never met before coming and giving you gifts in front of all the other people in the community who aren't getting anything, or if they were lucky, a piece of candy or a rosary that Catherine brought from her church to distribute.
Here are pictures of Luis Alfonso and his mother: He loved the Redskins cap I brought for him and was still wearing it the next day:This is Miriam Josefina and her mom both in beautiful traditional clothing: Miriam has such a beautiful smile and such an innocent face.Finally, a picture of all of us together: The following day, we were fortunate enough to be able to visit the homes of our sponsored children. We first went to the home of Luis Alfonso. Although I had brought him new clothes, I was disappointed to see that he was still wearing the same dirty clothes from the prior day. Most other sponsored children were wearing all their new clothes.

This was the start of the pathway to the home from the main street of San Jorge. You had to cross over a narrow unstable piece of cement.
Then, up a dirt path that must be just horrible during the rainy season which took a sharp turn to the left where you went up some stairs.This is the bedroom where Luis Alfonso sleeps along with his sisters. His father was upstairs in the parents room. He is very ill suffering from diabetes and cannot leave the room. In Guatemala, the homes are very unique in that each room has a doorway to the outside and very few homes have inside passageways. Access to other rooms is done through the outside. This family was a lot better off than some we saw as they actually have separate bedrooms for the kids and the adults, have another room for the kitchen. They have a small chicken coop outside along with a unique small building that you have to crawl on your hands and knees to get in or out which is a like a sauna and is the way in which this family cleanses themselves.
The final picture with Luis before we said goodbye
We were also able to visit the home where Miriam lives. It actually belongs to her paternal grandmother who is allowing them to stay there, but the whole family shares one room. The parents sleep on the bed and the kids (5) sleep on a mat on the floor.

This is the kitchen and I was very sad to learn that the pila (wash basin) that we bought for them earlier this year does not fit on this property. Miriam's family does own a small piece of property however nearby and the pila sits there. They bring their laundry there and do all the wash there. They hope one day to be able to build thier own home on that land, but do not have the money. I hope one day to be able to help them do that.
This picture is of their bathroom facilities with the lids covering the holes in the ground. And, finally, one last picture of Miriam Josefina with her mother.