In April, we took the children on an excursion to the beach at Puerto San José. It was the first time most of them had seen the ocean despite only being about an hour and a half away. I got partnered with Hector, a 10 yr old first grader who can cause trouble, but gets along well with me. He's always trying to find out my futbol loyalties, and one time talked about joining a gang, but I know he's all talk. Him and Wendy held my hands as we walked out to the ocean, and their attitudes were entirely different. When the water first came barely touching our feet Hector got scared and jumped; he closed his eyes and squeezed my hand tight every time more water came. He got used to it eventually, but one time when a big wave came he managed to claw my forehead as he grasped for me which left me marked for a few days.
Here's Blanky and her mom Dalia, the school's cleaning lady. This trip was very special for the children in wheelchairs, because their parents or someone who cared for them had to take them out of the chair and into the ocean or on the sand.
Wendy is the most courageous 3rd grader I’ve ever met, considering she’s deaf. We made a rule
that the children couldn’t go in past their shins because the undertow here is deadly, but the
waves come so sudden that you’re up to your waist in water before you know it. And Wendy kept
inching further in, more than the older boys, and then we’d sit down and wait for a big wave to
come and carry us away. I wonder what it must be like not to able to hear the sound of the waves
coming or crashing.
It was nice watching Wendy and Mirna (her sister) with their mom and dad. They’re both poor,
uneducated, Mirna’s teeth are semi-rotted, but these parents have so much love for their
children. When I’m in their home, I feel so much more love there than in any other place in
Guatemala. But there’s so little hope, if any, for them in this world. They weave or work in the
fields, and their deafness or cerebral palsy will keep them from doing anything out of this
isolated town. At the beach, Mirna's dad took her out of the wheelchair and into the water to
sit down. At first a big wave got her in the face and she looked pretty frightened, like she
was about to cry, but I came over to talk to her, she smiled and her dad was asking her "Tenés
miedo, Mirna?" (are you scared?) and at first she nodded yes but soon she was nodding no (I
guess this is where Wendy’s fearlessness also comes from), and Mirna’s dad spent at least half
an hour sitting with her in the water. Here are Don Andres, Mirna, and Wendy.
Fausto and Brad, fighting the waves.
And here's everyone's favorite trouble-maker, Tany, wearing the largest shirt of anyone in the group, including adults.
Israel, me, Gustavo, and Mel showing off the tattoos that Becca drew on our shoulders.
This is the Xar Coroy family. I try to visit them at least once every two weeks to say hi to the mom, Maria Cecilia, and give Mirna and Wendy company. You can't stop by a family's home without staying for at least an hour, so I usually do and the custom is that they bring me a drink or some food, which is pretty nice. They've been so gracious to me ever since I first arrived and met them.
And here's Gracy, Blanky's little sister. She's very young, but very smart and loving. After I hadn't seen her for 2 weeks, she visited the school one day and run to my arms, saying "Te extrañé mucho, Daniel" (I missed you a lot, Daniel) which was unexpected but made the rest of the day run smoothly.
Anyway, eventually the Bethel team had to leave, along with their beloved leader, Alicia. This was pretty major, since she won't be coming back anytime in the foreseeable future. Well, what better way to celebrate someone leaving than mariachis and fireworks? Hilmar took care of the 2nd part, and here are Jason and Kristin with the fireworks. Notice the the detailed close-up of "El Puma".
And here are the mariachis. Video here.
The real mariachis arrived soon after to serenade Alicia with Besame Mucho and select Brazilian songs.
The next team we had here was from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Chris, Rachael, and Hilary were at Nueva Vida with Amy and I, helping out greatly to work with the kindergarteners, first graders, and some math with second graders. Chris was also a contender in playing cincos (marbles) with the boys.
I went on the excursion with them and got to pose with a chick.
And here's the whole team. They were all motivated and very friendly towards me and the staff. Thanks for serving here =D (Click for larger version)
