Here is a comment Jennifer made on this blog a while back. I thought it was very insightful and well written, so I decided to post it for everyone to see.
Tiffany, thanks for getting this off the ground. What a great way to share our thoughts about our life-impacting trip to Guatemala. I'm still "processing" all that we experienced but remain tremendously inspired by all the wonderful people we met and the stories we were introduced to.I'm remembering the stark images and smells of desperate poverty in the city, the seeming hopelessness of the thousands of men, women and children, who daily pick through the city dump for items they can sell to recyclers. I'm thinking of the strong souls who comprise the widows' community and how they empowered themselves to build a sustainable life creating and marketing beautiful crafts. I think of the woman doctor who works four jobs in the hope that she can save childrens' lives. I think about the struggles of the indigenous people and how they strive to hang on to their customs and traditions in a rapidly changing world. These are but a few heart wrenching yet incredibly inspiring memories that linger. What can I do with these images and impressions? How can I help raise awareness to the lives of people in Central America, seemingly far removed from us? What are the lessons we can apply to our daily lives?
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Monday August 4, 2008 2:46pm
Dear Journal,I am on the plane home from Dallas. And, as much fun as I had on this trip and as awesome and amazing as it was, I am really glad to be going back! And what a trip it has been! I can't even begin to count everything that I gained from this experience, but I will try to hit the major parts... One of the things I gained from this experience was an understanding of how little I know about politics, how ignorant I am and always have been about the things my own country is doing in the world and the influence it has in the global market. I always knew the U.S. was powerful, but I never realized just how powerful it really is, and what an influence it has. I will definately make it an issue to actually look at when I vote, and keep up on it in the coming years, because I am part of my country and sometimes my country doesn't do the right thing-at least what I feel is right. Like with Guatemala, we are totally exploiting them and taking advantage of them and many other countries in Central America, and in my mind that's not okay. Another thing I gained from this experience was a global perspective. I really got to see how another culture lives. And, though they are different from us in many ways, they are very similar to us. They are still people, wonderful people, who deserve respect and deserve a chance. Another thing I gained was the realization that we don't have a lot of control over our lives and that things do-and should-change. But, these changes have a purpose. Life is not random; things happen for a reason. We are meant to learn and grow through these changes. And, sometimes, we can affect changes; sometimes we have to take control of our lives. But, through these changes, we need to have hope. Hope guides us, it is the only thing that can get us through anything. The Guatemalans had hope for 36 years through a war, one where people were dying left and right, one that looked hopeless. But, they pulled through with hope, and even though things have a long way to go, they continue to have hope for the future. Hope gets you through anything. Another thing I gained was an appreciation and pride in being a woman. I've never been terribly excited to be a woman. For me, it hasn't exactly been a burden, but it's mostly been bothersome. But, this trip showed me how strong women are and can be. We met so many women that have done amazing things, without the help of men. Also, being a group of all women turned out to be a real blessing. It was amazing and I met some fantastic women. One last thing I will touch on was what I gained in my personal life. I changed and grew through this trip, mostly from being away from my everyday life. Another thing that changed in my personal life is I gained a better appreciation of what I have. I truly have been so blessed in my own life. Seeing the Guatemalans, I realized just how blessed I have been. I really do have a great life. I don't need things to make me happy, I have everything I need to be happy. And I am happy and satisfied, very satisfied. I have love in my life, and hope. I am complete. It's going to be challenging going back to my everyday life for many reasons. I have grown and changed from this experience, not significantly, but enough that it will be challenging. But, I'm glad to be going home. And I look forward, with hope, to the future. So, that was my trip to Guatemala. What a journey it was! ¡Adios!
Sunday August 3, 2008 11:25pm
Dear Journal,
Today was our last day in Guatemala! I still can't believe it. At first I thought it would never be over, but it flew by! Part of me doesn't want to leave, but most of me is ready to go home. All of us are a little home sick-okay most of us are a lot homesick-me included. Tomorrow we have to have our bags outside at 4:45am! So, in like a little over 5 hours! That's insane! Well, today was kind of an odd day, for me at least. We had breakfast in Panajachel.
Then, we had about an hour and a half to explore the city, or do whatever. I went back to the hotel and took a shower. Then, I started to not feel well. My stomach just felt off. Well, we got in the van at 10am to head to Antigua for our last day. 
I was trying to sleep for most of the 2 1/2 hour drive. My stomach was really bothering me, especially over the bumps! Jeanine gave me some Rolaids and some sort of herbal something that's supposed to help stomach issues, but nothing really helped. We finally arrived in Antigua and went to lunch. I hardly ate, but sipped a Coke. Then, we had the rest of the day free in Antigua. I went back to the room to lay down for a little while. After relaxing for a little and feeling my stomach settle down, I re-packed my bags for tomorrow. I decided I was going crazy in the room, so I went for a walk. 
I didn't get more than a few blocks away when my stomach started feeling sour again. So, I turned around, went back to my room and read. Caren came in and out and we talked a bit. Then it was time for dinner. I had a few small slices of pizza and a coke. I was feeling better, kind of. On the walk back to the hotel, I started feeling sour again. I'm still not feeling great, but I think it's mostly lack of sleep now. We had our final reflection tonight. Ruth asked us what we would bring back with us from this trip. I can't even begin to describe. I have learned so much and gained so much from this experience! I will reflect more on this on the plane tomorrow. I really need to sleep tonight, especially since I have to wake up at 4am! So, this is good night. ¡Buenos noches!
Today was our last day in Guatemala! I still can't believe it. At first I thought it would never be over, but it flew by! Part of me doesn't want to leave, but most of me is ready to go home. All of us are a little home sick-okay most of us are a lot homesick-me included. Tomorrow we have to have our bags outside at 4:45am! So, in like a little over 5 hours! That's insane! Well, today was kind of an odd day, for me at least. We had breakfast in Panajachel.
Then, we had about an hour and a half to explore the city, or do whatever. I went back to the hotel and took a shower. Then, I started to not feel well. My stomach just felt off. Well, we got in the van at 10am to head to Antigua for our last day. 
I was trying to sleep for most of the 2 1/2 hour drive. My stomach was really bothering me, especially over the bumps! Jeanine gave me some Rolaids and some sort of herbal something that's supposed to help stomach issues, but nothing really helped. We finally arrived in Antigua and went to lunch. I hardly ate, but sipped a Coke. Then, we had the rest of the day free in Antigua. I went back to the room to lay down for a little while. After relaxing for a little and feeling my stomach settle down, I re-packed my bags for tomorrow. I decided I was going crazy in the room, so I went for a walk. 
I didn't get more than a few blocks away when my stomach started feeling sour again. So, I turned around, went back to my room and read. Caren came in and out and we talked a bit. Then it was time for dinner. I had a few small slices of pizza and a coke. I was feeling better, kind of. On the walk back to the hotel, I started feeling sour again. I'm still not feeling great, but I think it's mostly lack of sleep now. We had our final reflection tonight. Ruth asked us what we would bring back with us from this trip. I can't even begin to describe. I have learned so much and gained so much from this experience! I will reflect more on this on the plane tomorrow. I really need to sleep tonight, especially since I have to wake up at 4am! So, this is good night. ¡Buenos noches!
Saturday August 2, 2008 9:53pm
Dear Journal,
We are almost done here in Guatemala! We have one more day and then we have one day of travel back to Minnesota. My feelings are very mixed about this. On one hand I am having a great time here and loving the country and learning about this country and getting to know the people, both in this country and in our group. On the other hand, I miss Erik and my bed and a good night's sleep! I am ready to go back. Well, today was a really great day. We got in the van early (bags by 6:30am, breakfast at 7am, leaving at 7:30am) and drove and drove and drove and wound around mountains and finally after about 3 1/2 hours ended up in Santiago. It's a really beautiful city on a gorgeous lake.
We had lunch at a beautiful, but extremely touristy resort. Lunch was delicious. Then, we had a tour of the city. We walked to a place called the Peace Park. 
It was a memorial to 13 people who were killed in a massacre in 1981. The woman giving the tour told us about how the people had gathered in front of the church wondering what was going on and the army thought they were guerilla fighters so they started shooting in the air, with women and children present. After that, we walked to an area that had been devastated by a mudslide in 2005 from Hurricane Stan. We could see the damage. There were some buildings still standing where we could see the mud line. 
The mud was apparently 4 meters deep. We walked in a field that had housed many families and their crops, but we couldn't tell; there was no trace of homes ever being there. It was very sad.
Then, we hopped in a truck and headed to downtown Santiago. Our first stop was in a place that I'm not quite sure what it actually was, but it was a building that housed many of the Mayan gods and goddesses. They were covered in clothing, especially their main one. He had many ties and scarfs on his neck and a cigarette in his mouth. Apparently, he is the god who heals the people. Then, we walked to the church. We learned that there was a Mayan temple there, but the Catholics had come and built their church on top of the site. So, ever since then there has been a struggle between the Mayans and the Catholics. The Mayans want to have their ceremonies there because it is sacred land to them, but the Catholics don't like it because it's their church. Now, Mayans can practice in the church, but there is one room that is exclusively Catholic. We learned about a priest that was here for about 15 years. 
He was from Oklahoma, but came down here in I think 1968. His name was Stanley. He came to Guatemala and decided that he wanted to help the people of Santiago. He helped the poor and started many programs. He was the one who let the Mayans come into the church for their ceremonies. He was really an advocate for the people, so much so that he was murdered in 1981 by the army. We visited the room where he was killed, which has now been turned into a chapel. It was sad because the woman giving the tour had known Stanley personally. After the tour of Santiago, we got on a boat and headed across the lake to Panajachel. 
It is a very touristy city and you can really tell. We had about 2 hours to explore the town and do some shopping. I called Erik. It was good to talk to him, but I could hardly hear him; he could hear me. I was a little more than annoyed that I paid for a conversation where half of the time was spent telling him I couldn't hear him or asking him to repeat himself. I'm glad I called him, though. After wandering around, we went to dinner at this cute little family run restaurant on the beach. 
It was good food. We started off with some gorgeous fruit platters, which were a nice treat. After dinner, most of the group (myself included) went to a bar because Donna wanted to try a specific kind of rum from Guatemala. It was so great and just what I needed. They even had a live "band" (a drummer and a guitar/singer) which was pretty good. I had a margarita, which promised to be the best you've ever had, and it was good. I also tried the rum, which I actually liked. It was a very fun night and a great end to the evening. Well, I should probably go to bed-it's getting late and my roommates probably want the light off. ¡Buenos noches!
We are almost done here in Guatemala! We have one more day and then we have one day of travel back to Minnesota. My feelings are very mixed about this. On one hand I am having a great time here and loving the country and learning about this country and getting to know the people, both in this country and in our group. On the other hand, I miss Erik and my bed and a good night's sleep! I am ready to go back. Well, today was a really great day. We got in the van early (bags by 6:30am, breakfast at 7am, leaving at 7:30am) and drove and drove and drove and wound around mountains and finally after about 3 1/2 hours ended up in Santiago. It's a really beautiful city on a gorgeous lake.
We had lunch at a beautiful, but extremely touristy resort. Lunch was delicious. Then, we had a tour of the city. We walked to a place called the Peace Park. 
It was a memorial to 13 people who were killed in a massacre in 1981. The woman giving the tour told us about how the people had gathered in front of the church wondering what was going on and the army thought they were guerilla fighters so they started shooting in the air, with women and children present. After that, we walked to an area that had been devastated by a mudslide in 2005 from Hurricane Stan. We could see the damage. There were some buildings still standing where we could see the mud line. 
The mud was apparently 4 meters deep. We walked in a field that had housed many families and their crops, but we couldn't tell; there was no trace of homes ever being there. It was very sad.
Then, we hopped in a truck and headed to downtown Santiago. Our first stop was in a place that I'm not quite sure what it actually was, but it was a building that housed many of the Mayan gods and goddesses. They were covered in clothing, especially their main one. He had many ties and scarfs on his neck and a cigarette in his mouth. Apparently, he is the god who heals the people. Then, we walked to the church. We learned that there was a Mayan temple there, but the Catholics had come and built their church on top of the site. So, ever since then there has been a struggle between the Mayans and the Catholics. The Mayans want to have their ceremonies there because it is sacred land to them, but the Catholics don't like it because it's their church. Now, Mayans can practice in the church, but there is one room that is exclusively Catholic. We learned about a priest that was here for about 15 years. 
He was from Oklahoma, but came down here in I think 1968. His name was Stanley. He came to Guatemala and decided that he wanted to help the people of Santiago. He helped the poor and started many programs. He was the one who let the Mayans come into the church for their ceremonies. He was really an advocate for the people, so much so that he was murdered in 1981 by the army. We visited the room where he was killed, which has now been turned into a chapel. It was sad because the woman giving the tour had known Stanley personally. After the tour of Santiago, we got on a boat and headed across the lake to Panajachel. 
It is a very touristy city and you can really tell. We had about 2 hours to explore the town and do some shopping. I called Erik. It was good to talk to him, but I could hardly hear him; he could hear me. I was a little more than annoyed that I paid for a conversation where half of the time was spent telling him I couldn't hear him or asking him to repeat himself. I'm glad I called him, though. After wandering around, we went to dinner at this cute little family run restaurant on the beach. 
It was good food. We started off with some gorgeous fruit platters, which were a nice treat. After dinner, most of the group (myself included) went to a bar because Donna wanted to try a specific kind of rum from Guatemala. It was so great and just what I needed. They even had a live "band" (a drummer and a guitar/singer) which was pretty good. I had a margarita, which promised to be the best you've ever had, and it was good. I also tried the rum, which I actually liked. It was a very fun night and a great end to the evening. Well, I should probably go to bed-it's getting late and my roommates probably want the light off. ¡Buenos noches!
Friday August 1, 2008 9:53pm
Dear Journal,
Today was a good day. We left Chichicastenango early this morning (7:30am) and drove and drove. We drove for about 4 to 4 1/2 hours and wound up at plantation and community. 
We arrived a little earlier than they were ready for us, so we got some free time to explore the area. We all kind of took off. I went off by myself. I walked around in a basically jungle. It was so awesome to follow tiny dirt paths through lush, green areas with some of the coolest plants I've ever seen. I didn't get very far before I had to turn around, though. We met for lunch, which was delicious (the community fed us) and then we went for a walk with one of the women and her daughter. They took us through the plantation and showed us how the coffee is grown.
They brought us to the overlook that had breath taking views of the mountains and a waterfall. 
There we learned about the woman's story. She was a guerilla member during the war and got a pretty high rank. Sometime during the war she had to flee to Mexico. When she, among some 40,000 other refugees, returned to Guatemala she couldn't go home; the government wouldn't let her. The government threw a bunch of people from several different Mayan cultures- four actually- onto this plantation. The people are still trying to buy the land, but they started growing and harvesting the coffee here. They had to learn how to live in community. They are pretty much self-sufficient here, they even have a school for the kids. After learning from her, we walked back to the main village and talked to another guy whose story was very similar. It really is incredible what these people have been through, and are still so happy and full of life. 
After his talk, we bought coffee from them, and actually wanted more than they had, so a few people got less then they asked for. The guy was so happy, but also a little sad to be giving back money. Then, it was time for dinner, which was also served by the community. It was great food. After dinner we had a reflection. Tonight's question was what we had learned and would bring back with us from Guatemala. Personally, I've learned a lot on this trip. I talked about learning about life. How all life is precious and beautiful and fragile and precise. I have learned, more than ever, that life is not just some random course of action, but is set out, and everything happens for a reason. Things happen the way they are supposed to and we learn and grow from them. I really felt this today. The guy told us that during 2005, Hurricane Stan came through here and wiped out a bunch of the crops. They are still recovering, and are only producing about 65% of what they produced before the hurricane. But, they learned something new about coffee plants 
and are now taking precautions from something like that happening again. I am realizing that my life is not random, that the things that happen are supposed to, that everything has a purpose. Well, I'm tired! ¡Buenos noches! Bon nuit!
We arrived a little earlier than they were ready for us, so we got some free time to explore the area. We all kind of took off. I went off by myself. I walked around in a basically jungle. It was so awesome to follow tiny dirt paths through lush, green areas with some of the coolest plants I've ever seen. I didn't get very far before I had to turn around, though. We met for lunch, which was delicious (the community fed us) and then we went for a walk with one of the women and her daughter. They took us through the plantation and showed us how the coffee is grown.
They brought us to the overlook that had breath taking views of the mountains and a waterfall. 
There we learned about the woman's story. She was a guerilla member during the war and got a pretty high rank. Sometime during the war she had to flee to Mexico. When she, among some 40,000 other refugees, returned to Guatemala she couldn't go home; the government wouldn't let her. The government threw a bunch of people from several different Mayan cultures- four actually- onto this plantation. The people are still trying to buy the land, but they started growing and harvesting the coffee here. They had to learn how to live in community. They are pretty much self-sufficient here, they even have a school for the kids. After learning from her, we walked back to the main village and talked to another guy whose story was very similar. It really is incredible what these people have been through, and are still so happy and full of life. 
After his talk, we bought coffee from them, and actually wanted more than they had, so a few people got less then they asked for. The guy was so happy, but also a little sad to be giving back money. Then, it was time for dinner, which was also served by the community. It was great food. After dinner we had a reflection. Tonight's question was what we had learned and would bring back with us from Guatemala. Personally, I've learned a lot on this trip. I talked about learning about life. How all life is precious and beautiful and fragile and precise. I have learned, more than ever, that life is not just some random course of action, but is set out, and everything happens for a reason. Things happen the way they are supposed to and we learn and grow from them. I really felt this today. The guy told us that during 2005, Hurricane Stan came through here and wiped out a bunch of the crops. They are still recovering, and are only producing about 65% of what they produced before the hurricane. But, they learned something new about coffee plants 
and are now taking precautions from something like that happening again. I am realizing that my life is not random, that the things that happen are supposed to, that everything has a purpose. Well, I'm tired! ¡Buenos noches! Bon nuit!Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday July 31, 2008 9:39pm
Dear Journal,
Today was a very interesting day. I thought it would be boring for most of the day with so much free time, but it actually turned out great. We had a lot of free time this morning after breakfast. Chichicastenango is famous for its market. It's one of the most well-known markets in the world!
So, we had from breakfast to lunch to explore the market. I bought a bunch of stuff for people and couldn't believe how little I spent in American dollars. The exchange rate is currently 7.13 quetzals to 1 American dollar. So, 100 quetzals is about $14. I didn't think I would be interested in the market, but I actually enjoyed looking at all the cool things, bargaining with the locals, brushing off some others, and just seeing all the bright colors and crafts and food. I walked around with a bunch of the women, different at different times, and had a great time. Around 10:30am, I was kind of overloaded, so I went back to the hotel, up to the top level and sat on the roof and wrote postcards to some people. It was very relaxing. Then, I mailed them off at the local post office, so I should beat them home! All well! Most of the people I sent to today will more than likely see me before the postcard! Then it was time for lunch, which was delicious!! We had another hour after lunch in the market, so I went and bought a throw/shawl for Peggy, which turned out to be a lot cheaper than I thought it would be.
After the market, we met Pedro and his wife, two Mayan people, at the hotel. We got in the van and drove and drove and drove up and down mountains until finally we arrived at a hotel. We got out of the van and walked down a few paths into the woods, down the mountain a little ways and arrived at an altar. Pedro and his wife explained that we would be participating in a Mayan ceremony. This was the day when they connected with the Ancestors, so we were lucky. They prepared the fire, talked to us a little more, and then asked us to kneel as they lit the fire. All of the sudden, bees were swarming around. Pedro and his wife explained that the bees were our ancestors and were coming to join us. They handed us 3 candles, and the ceremony started. They spoke in their native language as we went through the ceremony, occasionally they spoke English or Spanish to explain what was going on. The fire grew and grew. And then they asked us to take one of our white candles, which represented our ancestors and they said some things and we kissed the candles and threw them in the fire. Then, they talked a lot about Mother Earth and prayed for it. After a while, we took our other two candles for two wishes: the yellow candle to pray for Mother Earth, and the white to pray for women and to remind us what a blessing it is to be a woman and to bear life. Then, Pedro came around and prayed for each of us individually. Then, Pedro's wife prayed for each of our families and threw a candle in the fire for each one of our families. After that, we were asked to receive energy from the fire, then to give it to the Earth, then to our homes, and then to the fire. Pedro and his wife told us that the fire was very strong and had a very feminine energy, and they were happy and it was because we were all women. Then, Pedro told us that he felt that many of us women were sad and that we should leave that, offer it to the fire, because what we need in this life is to be happy- that is our one mission. Then, the fire did things I've never seen a fire do; it swirled and almost cycloned. Then, it was over. It was so amazing. I've never experienced anything quite like that. It was so powerful for me. I felt so many emotions. I think they were all bottled up. But, I could feel the energy from the fire and at times I felt it move through me, sometimes directed, sometimes not. After the ceremony, I felt a release. I felt something leave and I gained something. I was able to let go of some fear and let my heart and my emotions take over. Well, it's been an exhausting day, but a great one. We have a nasty early morning tomorrow, so ¡Buenos noches!
Today was a very interesting day. I thought it would be boring for most of the day with so much free time, but it actually turned out great. We had a lot of free time this morning after breakfast. Chichicastenango is famous for its market. It's one of the most well-known markets in the world!
So, we had from breakfast to lunch to explore the market. I bought a bunch of stuff for people and couldn't believe how little I spent in American dollars. The exchange rate is currently 7.13 quetzals to 1 American dollar. So, 100 quetzals is about $14. I didn't think I would be interested in the market, but I actually enjoyed looking at all the cool things, bargaining with the locals, brushing off some others, and just seeing all the bright colors and crafts and food. I walked around with a bunch of the women, different at different times, and had a great time. Around 10:30am, I was kind of overloaded, so I went back to the hotel, up to the top level and sat on the roof and wrote postcards to some people. It was very relaxing. Then, I mailed them off at the local post office, so I should beat them home! All well! Most of the people I sent to today will more than likely see me before the postcard! Then it was time for lunch, which was delicious!! We had another hour after lunch in the market, so I went and bought a throw/shawl for Peggy, which turned out to be a lot cheaper than I thought it would be.
After the market, we met Pedro and his wife, two Mayan people, at the hotel. We got in the van and drove and drove and drove up and down mountains until finally we arrived at a hotel. We got out of the van and walked down a few paths into the woods, down the mountain a little ways and arrived at an altar. Pedro and his wife explained that we would be participating in a Mayan ceremony. This was the day when they connected with the Ancestors, so we were lucky. They prepared the fire, talked to us a little more, and then asked us to kneel as they lit the fire. All of the sudden, bees were swarming around. Pedro and his wife explained that the bees were our ancestors and were coming to join us. They handed us 3 candles, and the ceremony started. They spoke in their native language as we went through the ceremony, occasionally they spoke English or Spanish to explain what was going on. The fire grew and grew. And then they asked us to take one of our white candles, which represented our ancestors and they said some things and we kissed the candles and threw them in the fire. Then, they talked a lot about Mother Earth and prayed for it. After a while, we took our other two candles for two wishes: the yellow candle to pray for Mother Earth, and the white to pray for women and to remind us what a blessing it is to be a woman and to bear life. Then, Pedro came around and prayed for each of us individually. Then, Pedro's wife prayed for each of our families and threw a candle in the fire for each one of our families. After that, we were asked to receive energy from the fire, then to give it to the Earth, then to our homes, and then to the fire. Pedro and his wife told us that the fire was very strong and had a very feminine energy, and they were happy and it was because we were all women. Then, Pedro told us that he felt that many of us women were sad and that we should leave that, offer it to the fire, because what we need in this life is to be happy- that is our one mission. Then, the fire did things I've never seen a fire do; it swirled and almost cycloned. Then, it was over. It was so amazing. I've never experienced anything quite like that. It was so powerful for me. I felt so many emotions. I think they were all bottled up. But, I could feel the energy from the fire and at times I felt it move through me, sometimes directed, sometimes not. After the ceremony, I felt a release. I felt something leave and I gained something. I was able to let go of some fear and let my heart and my emotions take over. Well, it's been an exhausting day, but a great one. We have a nasty early morning tomorrow, so ¡Buenos noches!Wednesday July 30, 2008 10:15pm
Dear Journal,
We woke up early this morning and left Guatemala City. I must admit I was looking forward to it and was kind of glad to be leaving. We climbed higher and higher and higher into the mountains and 3 hours later wound up in Chichicastenango. We met a Methodist pastor on the road and went down the mountain a ways. We wound up at a church in the middle of what seemed like no where. The pastor told us that we would be visiting a community of widows, but he wanted to start at the church because that was where the project started. In 1982, during the civil war, the army came into the village and bound most of the men and stacked them on top of eachother. They left them like that for several hours, and then they threw all of the men in the church and started it on fire. I believe there were 40 men in there. Later on, the women who lost their husbands were coming into the church after services asking the pastor for money or corn to feed their families because they could not make money on their own without their husbands. The pastor had nothing to give them, but went to the higher church to see if the they could do anything. The church told him if they feed the widows, the women will still be in need in a week, but they would be willing to try to find a few cows and chickens and land if the women were willing to work. The pastor told the women and 15 agreed to do it. They formed the community that has now expanded to about 350 families. After we learned about them, the pastor led us down the mountain, some spots were very steep and kind of treacherous, to the community.
We were greeted by the most adorable kids. Then, we sat down and talked to the women. 
They were all Indigenous, so we had the pastor translate from their language to Spanish and Ruth translate his Spanish into English. The women were so beautiful and the weavings and crafts were just gorgeous! I was so sad I did not bring more money! 
They fed us lunch, and even gave us pop, which they had carried down the mountain along the same steep path we had come down. I have to say that I think this was probably my favorite thing I've done or seen so far on this trip. It was great to be hiking in the mountains, but to meet these beautiful women and be welcomed so warmly into their community and to see how humbly they lived, but how much joy they had was just profound. After lunch and buying some stuff,
we hiked back up the mountain and got in the van and climbed higher and higher (sometimes wondering if we would make it- the van was not too happy!) and finally arrived in Chichicastenango. On the way to the hotel, we picked up our next speaker and went to the hotel and talked to Ricardo about Indigenous rights. He was interesting. He said that currently he is trying to get the government to let the Mayan people have a choice to be tried under the government's law or under the Mayan law. He believes that the Mayan people need to go back to their traditional ways and the Guatemalan government needs to let them. He also talked about the efforts to bring back the Mayan spiritually. He was pretty facinating to listen to. After talking to him, we got our rooms and left almost immediately to go to the a project in the city. This was kind of an off shoot of the widow's community. The pastor had taken the boys who needed jobs from the community and taught them how to sew and started a school for them to learn and given them a place to live in town. They mostly specialize in making purses, which were lovely. I bought a few. Then, we left and went into town and were a little early for dinner, so we walked around town for a little bit. It is a really cute town, and we will have lots of time to explore it tomorrow. We had dinner, which was great, and then went back to the hotel for a reflection. Tonight, Ruth asked us what feelings we had felt strongest and where. I had a hard time with that question. The most I've felt was with the kids today. 
I felt joy from those kids; when they greeted us, when I was photographing them, when they were trying to talk to me, when they took my camera. I think part of what's happening is that I've seen some horrible things and to save myself from emotional overload, I just shut down. I was glad to feel joy today, though. It was strong. Hopefully, I can start feeling more emotions on the trip, but not get overloaded. Well, I'm tired and I need to go take a shower. ¡Buenos noches!
We woke up early this morning and left Guatemala City. I must admit I was looking forward to it and was kind of glad to be leaving. We climbed higher and higher and higher into the mountains and 3 hours later wound up in Chichicastenango. We met a Methodist pastor on the road and went down the mountain a ways. We wound up at a church in the middle of what seemed like no where. The pastor told us that we would be visiting a community of widows, but he wanted to start at the church because that was where the project started. In 1982, during the civil war, the army came into the village and bound most of the men and stacked them on top of eachother. They left them like that for several hours, and then they threw all of the men in the church and started it on fire. I believe there were 40 men in there. Later on, the women who lost their husbands were coming into the church after services asking the pastor for money or corn to feed their families because they could not make money on their own without their husbands. The pastor had nothing to give them, but went to the higher church to see if the they could do anything. The church told him if they feed the widows, the women will still be in need in a week, but they would be willing to try to find a few cows and chickens and land if the women were willing to work. The pastor told the women and 15 agreed to do it. They formed the community that has now expanded to about 350 families. After we learned about them, the pastor led us down the mountain, some spots were very steep and kind of treacherous, to the community.
We were greeted by the most adorable kids. Then, we sat down and talked to the women. 
They were all Indigenous, so we had the pastor translate from their language to Spanish and Ruth translate his Spanish into English. The women were so beautiful and the weavings and crafts were just gorgeous! I was so sad I did not bring more money! 
They fed us lunch, and even gave us pop, which they had carried down the mountain along the same steep path we had come down. I have to say that I think this was probably my favorite thing I've done or seen so far on this trip. It was great to be hiking in the mountains, but to meet these beautiful women and be welcomed so warmly into their community and to see how humbly they lived, but how much joy they had was just profound. After lunch and buying some stuff,
we hiked back up the mountain and got in the van and climbed higher and higher (sometimes wondering if we would make it- the van was not too happy!) and finally arrived in Chichicastenango. On the way to the hotel, we picked up our next speaker and went to the hotel and talked to Ricardo about Indigenous rights. He was interesting. He said that currently he is trying to get the government to let the Mayan people have a choice to be tried under the government's law or under the Mayan law. He believes that the Mayan people need to go back to their traditional ways and the Guatemalan government needs to let them. He also talked about the efforts to bring back the Mayan spiritually. He was pretty facinating to listen to. After talking to him, we got our rooms and left almost immediately to go to the a project in the city. This was kind of an off shoot of the widow's community. The pastor had taken the boys who needed jobs from the community and taught them how to sew and started a school for them to learn and given them a place to live in town. They mostly specialize in making purses, which were lovely. I bought a few. Then, we left and went into town and were a little early for dinner, so we walked around town for a little bit. It is a really cute town, and we will have lots of time to explore it tomorrow. We had dinner, which was great, and then went back to the hotel for a reflection. Tonight, Ruth asked us what feelings we had felt strongest and where. I had a hard time with that question. The most I've felt was with the kids today. 
I felt joy from those kids; when they greeted us, when I was photographing them, when they were trying to talk to me, when they took my camera. I think part of what's happening is that I've seen some horrible things and to save myself from emotional overload, I just shut down. I was glad to feel joy today, though. It was strong. Hopefully, I can start feeling more emotions on the trip, but not get overloaded. Well, I'm tired and I need to go take a shower. ¡Buenos noches!
Tuesday July 29,2008 11:00pm
Dear Journal,
Today was actually a really good day. We started off the day by going to meet with a congressman, who was actually a woman, from the party with the most power.
She was a member of the UNE party (that stands for Unity for New Hope). It was really nice office and there were tons of people. We were being recorded and photographed and everything! It was pretty chaotic! It was interesting to hear what she had to say. She gave us a very elaborate presentation on what she and her party saw as issues and what their plans were for improvement. One of her main things was poverty and the health issues that arise from that. Her party addressed many issues and had plans for almost all of them. It sounded like her party was all talk and no action. One of the things that struck me was her view on the petro-chemical agreement with Venezuala that we have been learning a bit about. The thing is the Venezualan government has offered to make an agreement with governments in Central America and the Carribbean where they would give the country 20,000 barrels of oil per month and instead of having to pay at least 80% up front, the country would have to pay 40% in 2 years and 60% over the next 10 years with 1% interest and they could pay in goods as well as money. It sounds good, right? Well, a lot of people are against it. A lot of people do not like or trust the Venezualan president. Also, it just puts off paying the money; they will have to pay it eventually. Well, this woman was very much in favor of this agreement and wanted it implemented. So far, the president of Guatemala has approved it, so now it's in Congress to be voted on. I see many issues with the agreement and think it will more than likely come back to bite them in the butt. After talking to her, we went to talk to another congressman. He was a member of the URNG-MAIS, which stands for (the first part) basically unity for national peace. He was also an ex-Guerilla member who fought in the civil war. He was a bit (okay, a lot) more liberal than the woman we spoke to. He told us about how his party is really working hard to make Guatemala better, especially by being a strong voice in Congress. He said he and his party were trying to fight to hold the people in congress accountable to their promises. One thing about the Guatemalan government is that it is set up quite differently from the U.S. government. They have a president and a one house congress and a judicial system, but it does not have as much power as ours. Another thing that is quite different is they have 17 political parties that are active and actually serving, versus our mostly 2 (almost 3) parties. It is interesting. Most people in our group find it confusing to have so many parties, but I can definately see the benefits. Although, even though Guatemala has 17 parties, the current ruling party has I think 51% of Congress. It was very interesting to hear from two very different congressmen, especially back-to-back. After going back to the guest house for lunch, we left for one more interview for the day. We went out to the dump to talk to the principal of a school that was started to keep children from working in the dump. 
They seemed to have a very good system set up. It was heart-breaking, though. We got to see people bringing trash in and the bad conditions they not only work in, but also live in. The principal told us stories about how the kids that come to the school have many issues because most of them have non-involved parents. So the kids suffer from low self-esteem, malnurishment and often times not respecting authority because they have never had authority figures. It was very hard to see, but also good to know that things are happening and, for these children, there is a light at the end of the very dark tunnel. After the day, we were pretty exhausted. Our group hung out for a while and had a blast. Later in the evening, I called Erik. It was really good to talk to him and I realized while on the phone and after getting off just how much I miss him. It was really hard to say goodbye. But, I'm mostly over it now. I still can't wait to get home and see him again, but I'm excited for the rest of this trip!
Today was actually a really good day. We started off the day by going to meet with a congressman, who was actually a woman, from the party with the most power.
She was a member of the UNE party (that stands for Unity for New Hope). It was really nice office and there were tons of people. We were being recorded and photographed and everything! It was pretty chaotic! It was interesting to hear what she had to say. She gave us a very elaborate presentation on what she and her party saw as issues and what their plans were for improvement. One of her main things was poverty and the health issues that arise from that. Her party addressed many issues and had plans for almost all of them. It sounded like her party was all talk and no action. One of the things that struck me was her view on the petro-chemical agreement with Venezuala that we have been learning a bit about. The thing is the Venezualan government has offered to make an agreement with governments in Central America and the Carribbean where they would give the country 20,000 barrels of oil per month and instead of having to pay at least 80% up front, the country would have to pay 40% in 2 years and 60% over the next 10 years with 1% interest and they could pay in goods as well as money. It sounds good, right? Well, a lot of people are against it. A lot of people do not like or trust the Venezualan president. Also, it just puts off paying the money; they will have to pay it eventually. Well, this woman was very much in favor of this agreement and wanted it implemented. So far, the president of Guatemala has approved it, so now it's in Congress to be voted on. I see many issues with the agreement and think it will more than likely come back to bite them in the butt. After talking to her, we went to talk to another congressman. He was a member of the URNG-MAIS, which stands for (the first part) basically unity for national peace. He was also an ex-Guerilla member who fought in the civil war. He was a bit (okay, a lot) more liberal than the woman we spoke to. He told us about how his party is really working hard to make Guatemala better, especially by being a strong voice in Congress. He said he and his party were trying to fight to hold the people in congress accountable to their promises. One thing about the Guatemalan government is that it is set up quite differently from the U.S. government. They have a president and a one house congress and a judicial system, but it does not have as much power as ours. Another thing that is quite different is they have 17 political parties that are active and actually serving, versus our mostly 2 (almost 3) parties. It is interesting. Most people in our group find it confusing to have so many parties, but I can definately see the benefits. Although, even though Guatemala has 17 parties, the current ruling party has I think 51% of Congress. It was very interesting to hear from two very different congressmen, especially back-to-back. After going back to the guest house for lunch, we left for one more interview for the day. We went out to the dump to talk to the principal of a school that was started to keep children from working in the dump. 
They seemed to have a very good system set up. It was heart-breaking, though. We got to see people bringing trash in and the bad conditions they not only work in, but also live in. The principal told us stories about how the kids that come to the school have many issues because most of them have non-involved parents. So the kids suffer from low self-esteem, malnurishment and often times not respecting authority because they have never had authority figures. It was very hard to see, but also good to know that things are happening and, for these children, there is a light at the end of the very dark tunnel. After the day, we were pretty exhausted. Our group hung out for a while and had a blast. Later in the evening, I called Erik. It was really good to talk to him and I realized while on the phone and after getting off just how much I miss him. It was really hard to say goodbye. But, I'm mostly over it now. I still can't wait to get home and see him again, but I'm excited for the rest of this trip!Monday July 28, 2008 11:38pm
Dear Journal,
Today was a busy day. We met with 2 people and one organization today. First this morning, we drove toa meeting with a guy from an organization called CACIF. I don't know what it stands for, but it is essentially a group that brings Chambers of Commerce together. He was a really nice guy and gave us some good infomation about the organization and what it was working towards and how things were going. He told us a lot about the trade market and how small and medium businesses were getting help. He gave us good infomation, but pretty biased information. For example, we talked about CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement). It is an agreement between the United States and several Central American countries that was written to open up the free trade industry. Well, it sounds great, but there is a lot of fine print and essentially it's not a great agreement and highly favors the U.S. This guy working for CACIF told us how it has benefitted Guatemala and how this organization has always supported this agreement. After speaking with him, we went to the Ministry of Economy and spoke with a representative there. We learned just how important and influential the U.S. is to Guatemala. It was very surprizing actually! I was shocked, and actually a little concerned as to the amount that Guatemala depends on the U.S. Again, we asked the representative about CACIF and he said that it had been good and his department was very much in favor of the agreement. I have a feeling we will be hearing a different tune later in the trip as we encounter different, less political, people. After the talk at the ministry, we had a rushed lunch and got in the van for our final venture of the day. We drove and drove and drove and drove for what seemed like forever and finally wound up in what's called the "red zone," meaning very impoverished. It was a very rough part of town and it was hard to see the conditions in which people were living. We toured and learned about an organization called UPAVIM.
It was founded more than 20 years ago by a woman and her husband from Texas (we actually got to meet her today). It is a women's cooperative that works to benefit the neighborhood, in many ways. They offer a day care, school, computer lab (with computer classes), medical center, and many other services to the community at very low rates. In order to fund all this, they make and sell crafts, and fund raise through churches. I was so impressed by the work UPAVIM does; inspired, actually. And one of the coolest parts is by offering these services, they are creating more jobs for women in the community. It was just fabulous. It was definately the highlight of the trip for me so far. On the way back, we stopped to change our money, then at a chocolate shop and a gas station for people who needed their fixes. I didn't need anything. Actually, I have been doing really well so far this trip, not like it's been that long, but besides the allergies everything has gone great. I'm not homesick, I'm not craving anything, except to cuddle with Erik- but I can get over that for now... And I've been getting along really well with everyone. And the food here is really good so far. We have only eaten at the guest house so far, but it's been delicious. 
After dinner tonight, we had a reflection time. Ruth kept it simple since we are not far into the trip, but she asked us what we've found most surprizing, or what we didn't expect, so far. It was interesting to hear what people had to say. Some talked about the disrepair of the city, some about the levels of poverty, some about how the government really doesn't represent the people it's governing. The one that rang truest for me was how much I feel I stick out. Walking down the street, you can spot our group from a mile away, especially me with blond hair. We are worse than sore thumbs, especially when we don't speak Spanish and there are 10 of us. I do feel self-conscious and very... aware when we're walking down the street. Another for me were how there are men with guns all over. Everywhere you go, even the gas station. It's a little annerving. Well, tomorrow is our last day in Guatemala City. I'm kind of glad. Especially since all we've done so far, with the exception of UPAVIM, is political, that that really is not my thing, even when I have half a clue what's going on. Well, I'm really tired. Good night.
Today was a busy day. We met with 2 people and one organization today. First this morning, we drove toa meeting with a guy from an organization called CACIF. I don't know what it stands for, but it is essentially a group that brings Chambers of Commerce together. He was a really nice guy and gave us some good infomation about the organization and what it was working towards and how things were going. He told us a lot about the trade market and how small and medium businesses were getting help. He gave us good infomation, but pretty biased information. For example, we talked about CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement). It is an agreement between the United States and several Central American countries that was written to open up the free trade industry. Well, it sounds great, but there is a lot of fine print and essentially it's not a great agreement and highly favors the U.S. This guy working for CACIF told us how it has benefitted Guatemala and how this organization has always supported this agreement. After speaking with him, we went to the Ministry of Economy and spoke with a representative there. We learned just how important and influential the U.S. is to Guatemala. It was very surprizing actually! I was shocked, and actually a little concerned as to the amount that Guatemala depends on the U.S. Again, we asked the representative about CACIF and he said that it had been good and his department was very much in favor of the agreement. I have a feeling we will be hearing a different tune later in the trip as we encounter different, less political, people. After the talk at the ministry, we had a rushed lunch and got in the van for our final venture of the day. We drove and drove and drove and drove for what seemed like forever and finally wound up in what's called the "red zone," meaning very impoverished. It was a very rough part of town and it was hard to see the conditions in which people were living. We toured and learned about an organization called UPAVIM.
It was founded more than 20 years ago by a woman and her husband from Texas (we actually got to meet her today). It is a women's cooperative that works to benefit the neighborhood, in many ways. They offer a day care, school, computer lab (with computer classes), medical center, and many other services to the community at very low rates. In order to fund all this, they make and sell crafts, and fund raise through churches. I was so impressed by the work UPAVIM does; inspired, actually. And one of the coolest parts is by offering these services, they are creating more jobs for women in the community. It was just fabulous. It was definately the highlight of the trip for me so far. On the way back, we stopped to change our money, then at a chocolate shop and a gas station for people who needed their fixes. I didn't need anything. Actually, I have been doing really well so far this trip, not like it's been that long, but besides the allergies everything has gone great. I'm not homesick, I'm not craving anything, except to cuddle with Erik- but I can get over that for now... And I've been getting along really well with everyone. And the food here is really good so far. We have only eaten at the guest house so far, but it's been delicious. 
After dinner tonight, we had a reflection time. Ruth kept it simple since we are not far into the trip, but she asked us what we've found most surprizing, or what we didn't expect, so far. It was interesting to hear what people had to say. Some talked about the disrepair of the city, some about the levels of poverty, some about how the government really doesn't represent the people it's governing. The one that rang truest for me was how much I feel I stick out. Walking down the street, you can spot our group from a mile away, especially me with blond hair. We are worse than sore thumbs, especially when we don't speak Spanish and there are 10 of us. I do feel self-conscious and very... aware when we're walking down the street. Another for me were how there are men with guns all over. Everywhere you go, even the gas station. It's a little annerving. Well, tomorrow is our last day in Guatemala City. I'm kind of glad. Especially since all we've done so far, with the exception of UPAVIM, is political, that that really is not my thing, even when I have half a clue what's going on. Well, I'm really tired. Good night.Sunday July 27, 2008 9:14pm
Dear Journal,
Last night we arrived in Guatemala City. We met our tour guide, Ruth, at the airport and she took us to the guest house we will be staying in while in Guatemala City, Casa San José. It is very nice. There are 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a big dining place and a gathering room. The staff here is great! They also cook all of our meals, which so far have been delicious. I am in a room with Caren. She's great. We've been talking quite a bit. Actually all of the women (yes, we have 10 females and no males in our group) seem really great. I have had conversations with I think all of them. They all seem like really great people. I think the trip will be really awesome. Today we didn't do a whole lot, but we got a lot of information. We did our orientation this morning. Then, we went to the Central Plaza for a while.
That was really cool. I wish we had money (we haven't been able to change money yet) and more time to explore it and the cool things around it like the cathedral, but we had to get back to the house for a talk. We had two talks today, one wit a woman doctor about healthcare in Guatemala, and one with a man who teaches history. He talked about the history of Guatemala and what steps are being made toward change. He himself is a leader in revolution trying to get the children to think about how their choices can effect change. It was very interesting. He's trying to change the way people think and live and everything. He believes men ahve to stop being macho and be allowed to be sensitive and need to help the women and create more equal gender roles before much of a change can occur. He was great. We also learned about the healthcare from the woman doctor. Most of the population of Guatemala does not have access to healthcare, and those who do cannot afford it. There are high child, infant, and birth death rates and a low life expectancy here. Life expectancy is about 67. And the people that are alive, especially the children, are malnurished, well large percentages. It was kind of sad to hear, but it was good to hear that there are people who are trying to change all of that, like this woman. Besides the two talks and the tour of the Central Plaza, we really didn't do much but hang around the guest house. I didn't care too much because I was tired today and my allergies are really acting up, so that doesn't help. Tomorrow we have 3 talks, some with very important (politically) people. It should be interesting, but honestly, I'm kind of ready to leave Guatemala City. We are kept on a very short leash, like we can't go out after dinner. Also, even though it's a city, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to do, at least in our part. Today went by really slowly. I think once we leave and are moving around things will start to pick up. Well, I'm off to take a shower. Good night!
Last night we arrived in Guatemala City. We met our tour guide, Ruth, at the airport and she took us to the guest house we will be staying in while in Guatemala City, Casa San José. It is very nice. There are 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a big dining place and a gathering room. The staff here is great! They also cook all of our meals, which so far have been delicious. I am in a room with Caren. She's great. We've been talking quite a bit. Actually all of the women (yes, we have 10 females and no males in our group) seem really great. I have had conversations with I think all of them. They all seem like really great people. I think the trip will be really awesome. Today we didn't do a whole lot, but we got a lot of information. We did our orientation this morning. Then, we went to the Central Plaza for a while.
That was really cool. I wish we had money (we haven't been able to change money yet) and more time to explore it and the cool things around it like the cathedral, but we had to get back to the house for a talk. We had two talks today, one wit a woman doctor about healthcare in Guatemala, and one with a man who teaches history. He talked about the history of Guatemala and what steps are being made toward change. He himself is a leader in revolution trying to get the children to think about how their choices can effect change. It was very interesting. He's trying to change the way people think and live and everything. He believes men ahve to stop being macho and be allowed to be sensitive and need to help the women and create more equal gender roles before much of a change can occur. He was great. We also learned about the healthcare from the woman doctor. Most of the population of Guatemala does not have access to healthcare, and those who do cannot afford it. There are high child, infant, and birth death rates and a low life expectancy here. Life expectancy is about 67. And the people that are alive, especially the children, are malnurished, well large percentages. It was kind of sad to hear, but it was good to hear that there are people who are trying to change all of that, like this woman. Besides the two talks and the tour of the Central Plaza, we really didn't do much but hang around the guest house. I didn't care too much because I was tired today and my allergies are really acting up, so that doesn't help. Tomorrow we have 3 talks, some with very important (politically) people. It should be interesting, but honestly, I'm kind of ready to leave Guatemala City. We are kept on a very short leash, like we can't go out after dinner. Also, even though it's a city, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to do, at least in our part. Today went by really slowly. I think once we leave and are moving around things will start to pick up. Well, I'm off to take a shower. Good night!Saturday July 26, 2008 1:54pm
Dear Journal,
I am currently sitting on the plane on my way to Dallas/Fort Worth and then Guatemala. We just took off, an hour and a half later than we were originally supposed to. My parents couldn't drop me off at the airport because they are currently at the cabin, so Erik brought me, which was really good of him. He's such a good sport. I told him he could drop me off at the door and not have to park, but he said he wanted to come in and say goodbye. It will be hard to be away from him for this long (10 days) especially this soon after we started dating, but I'll get through, and ultimately I think this will be beneficial. I will miss him, but I am really looking forward to this trip. It's going to be a blast! I am looking forward to it, but it still doesn't feel like I'm actually going; it hasn't set in yet. Even though I'm on a plane, I just can't comprehend it yet. Well, there's not a whole lot else to say right now. More later.
I am currently sitting on the plane on my way to Dallas/Fort Worth and then Guatemala. We just took off, an hour and a half later than we were originally supposed to. My parents couldn't drop me off at the airport because they are currently at the cabin, so Erik brought me, which was really good of him. He's such a good sport. I told him he could drop me off at the door and not have to park, but he said he wanted to come in and say goodbye. It will be hard to be away from him for this long (10 days) especially this soon after we started dating, but I'll get through, and ultimately I think this will be beneficial. I will miss him, but I am really looking forward to this trip. It's going to be a blast! I am looking forward to it, but it still doesn't feel like I'm actually going; it hasn't set in yet. Even though I'm on a plane, I just can't comprehend it yet. Well, there's not a whole lot else to say right now. More later.
Journal
So, it's been a long time since I've posted! I've meant to, but I've been so busy this semester! Well, here is my journal for the Guatemala trip. I will make each day/entry a different post. Hope you enjoy it!
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