an unusual week despite not really knowing usual yet..

how often plans dive in for a the game of switcheroo... i left of the last blog sharing that we would be heading out to Pambon Grande for their celebration of Guatemala´s Independence day...but alas, one of our staff members, Ricardo, was on his way back from that village the day prior to our departure, when he befell a tragic accident. Motorcycle and Truck don´t fit well in the same sentence...and this one isn´t exempt. A long story short - Ricardo just had surgery on his broken femur and it seems he is recovering well. The dear friend that was on the back of the moto with him however died hours after the accident. It has been a verydifficult and unusual week and a half. One emotional moment for me was watching the bright colorful parade with cheerful people and marching band music - the enthusiasm of Independence Day when suddenly the clanging of the funeral party came parading on their own mission of sorrow with the casket carried through the crowd cutting though the smiles of the other. The utter contrast and knowing that it was a 23 year old teacher and dear friend of ASOSAP´s was heartwrenching. Another difficult side is the injustice, the lies and the corruption. The truck driver has been paying people off, the police report apparently 180 degrees different from actuality, Ricardo´s missing helmet, and it goes on. Today, Bill y Linda have gone and picked up the women that were at the water pump right in front of the scene and we are all praying as they speak to the lawyer that they will be honest and testify truthfully despite the bribes and threats to their lives and the lives of their family.
Life in Guatemala...for us it´s been a complete step out of our norms, the familiar, the routine, and the usual expectation of our assumed lives - and I assume we expected this. It is a blessing to be apart of and wrapped up in something so unfamiliar and different and have the time to let it soak in deeply. We are steeping.

And is it because of the unfamiliar that we are keener on the darker injustices, that it´s that much more raw here or is it that it lacks the comfort of insulation?
I have a greater appreciation for the rule of law especially since gleaning so much knowledge working for the Ministry of Attorney General and rubbing shoulders with the legislative process and now experiencing the corruption of the system here. But I think that the darkness that broods - just happens to be packaged differently here.

There is a stray dog all curled up behind me taking his afternoon siesta here in the internet cafe enjoying the rather techno-ish musica being loudly played. Its rather amusing. And I tell you there seems to be only one level on the volume button for people here. Between the two churches next to our house here, the neighbor´s TV (or radio?), the marching band that came around at 6:30 this morning and other random events of loud sound, we aren´t lacking noise.

I didn´t get out to any of the villages this week. I am working on curriculum development which I am enjoying. Brad´s been busy too with teaching driving, English, and other different tasks. He did take one day off this week because of being sick. But with a day of sleep - he knocked it off. yay! Other than that we are holding up very well.
and until next time...we will continue eating corn tortillas...

Where to begin?!?

After flying through the night sunday - we arrived sleepy but safely in guatemala city where bill & linda picked us up. a four hour drive took us north through vibrant green landscapes up into the highlands of alta verapaz and into san cristobal - our home till the end of november. we were immediately introduced to Doña Roselia and her family with whom we are living. they are wonderfully warm and welcoming. we have 2 simple rooms - one with a bed and the other has shelves and a chair for a sitting room. we enjoy doña roselia´s cooking each meal -- most of which is traditional guatemalan style - fresh corn tortillas, eggs, black beans, rice, and more. the kellog´s cornflakes for breakfast break that trend however.
So we dove right into working with the mission! Tuesday morning we joined the ASOSAP staff in their usual weekly meeting. With the staff being made up of 6 guatemalans and with us 6 north americans- it´s a mix of english and spanish. this week brad went to one of the villages with Cristobal and they dropped off some materials for water tanks. then brad got pulled to go to the coast with Bill to pick up several stoves that are going to another village - that took a day and a half. In the meanwhile, i, jenn was busy going out to 2 different villages to give what they call charlas. i will be working with the other women on staff to develop curriculum and help present these lessons to the women of the villages. we visit each village twice a month. one lesson will be a Bible lesson and the other is a health education lesson.
the people are Mayan Pokomchi - i have been very impressed with them as a people. they come across as very warm-hearted and friendly. the respond quickly to a greeting with great big smiles and twinkling eyes. i spent an afternoon playing games with about 40 of the children right near the ASOSAP office while their mothers were in a Bible study led by one of the Pokomchi women. the children are precious! - they laughed and enjoy the games and winning treats and were very good at listening and following directions. they also were respectful admist all their fun. they are a real joy!
so we are doing well and have adjusted smoothly! we are heading to one of the farthest village where ASOSAP works for the 15th and will be spending the night. it is guatemala´s independence day and quite a brillant celebration. actually the village, Pompon Grande is the one pictured in the website linked to below (& on the sidebar).