Catching up!

The weekend brought lots of excitement.  Saturday evening we were invited to Chona's house for her birthday.  We joined a couple groups at the mission as well as her family for a meal and delicious cake.  It was great to visit her house for the first time after several visits here.  It was a beautiful house with a yard full of fruit trees and shade trees.  They are truly blessed! 

We have gotten to know several of the long term volunteers down here, and they are all wonderful.  Each has come with an attitude of service, and have been a great help to all that ask their assistance.  Lori has really taken on to her Spanish, and is complimented regularly.  I also have received compliments, but I feel it is more relative to my trying than my success or accuracy.  I will keep learning. 

Yesterday, we were able to visit Santiago and the death place of martyr Father Stanley Rother.  He served in the violence with Fr. Greg, and was a great supporter of the protection of his people, much like Fr. Greg.  He returned to Guatemala even amongst the people telling him he will die if he returns.  It was very powerful to be in the shrine and room where he was killed. 

After visiting the church, we spent some time haggling in the market for different gifts for our loved ones back home, as well as things we would like for ourselves.  Our group's favorite item was art.  We came away with several pieces we can display in our homes to remind us of our journey here.

We returned to the mission, and spent a couple hours unwinding before Mass, and then we were off to another invitation to eat with Dave and Anna's at the Spencer House.  The Spencer House used to be where the long term volunteers stayed.  It was wonderful to be treated with such hospitality, and provided another opportunity to practice Spanish some more.  It is much easier to learn here compared to other places, as they speak much slower and clearer.  It builds confidence to continue using it more.

After we retired from Dave and Anna's we returned to the hotel to take up our favorite nighttime activity in Carbles.  We have played games every night, and more and more people are learning and really enjoying this game.  Rohlik's make the game boards, and they do a great job! 

This morning we head out for construction help, so we are getting our working gloves ready, and stretching our muscles.  We will add more pictures and comments at lunch.

Brett Mathiowetz

 

Friday a group of us spent the afternoon aerating coffee plants, a simple process that allows the coffee plant to take on needed water.

Guillermo and Frederico (in picture holding a cocao fruit) spent Saturday morning explaining to us about the reforestation project they are involved with.  This property was one of the first fincas purchased by Father Greg back in the early 70's. A finca means "farm" (or large plantation) and this one was a sugar cane plantation. A "finca" generally has a negative connotation since the property was owned by a wealthy landowner and working conditions were very oppressive; la violancia (lit. "the violence" but that is the term for the Civil War between 1954-1996) started largely because 98% of the land was "owned" by 2% of the people. When Padre Greg purchased the finca from the landowner, he then gave it to the people. At first it was called "Project Juan William" (Juan was a good person, not a finca landlord), but it eventually was called Fruto Pan. Now instead of sugar cane, the area is used by the people to grow a variety of plants, trees, fruits. A stream runs through the middle of the area that originates in Lago Atitlan (the lake that San Lucas Toliman is on). When Frederico showed us the cocao tree, he told us that its seeds are used to make chocolate; you suck off the white exterior fruit and then dry the seeds. You grind the seeds to make chocolate.
Vince Skemp


To try to describe the experience I have had here in San Lucas is difficult. The contrasts are everywhere:  welcoming, smiling faces of the Guatemalan people against the backdrop of poverty with such incredible needs  still unmet.  The huge milestones achieved by the Mission and all that Father Greg has accomplished and last night, the death of a young pregnant woman in childbirth. I have such a hard time accepting this.  There is so much I have learned about what has been done over the past 50 years here at the Mission, but, there is so much more to  accomplish.  I am amazed at the generosity of so many.  The Kansas City group that has been part of this effort for so many years, building and funding 37 buildings, one , a church which I visited a day ago.  These are not projects that can not be completed in a two week trip once a year.  These are projects that have long range goals yet to be accomplished by very generous people  (some of which are with us on our team) that see this as a long term commitment and have done so for generations.  I am humbled by their level of commitment and have such respect for what I have seen accomplished here.  The Mayan people have faced a long history of violence and oppression, they live in such poverty and yet they also have such gratitude for all that has been done.  They do not "expect" us to continue this without their own effort, they are a proud people who humbly accept what has been done  but take such pride in what they do every day.  Guillermo  and Frederico talked today about the work they do with the reforestation project.  It was easy to recognize their commitment, their pride, but also their need for validation in their efforts. In their own humble way, they were able to communicate their need for additional equipment to continue their efforts.  Every moment has been a learning experience none of which has ever resonated in quite the same way on any other mission trip I have participated in.  It is so easy to fall in love with every child I see, certainly in every child who  holds my hand and laughs at my broken Spanish.  Every face I look in to smiles, and appreciates my attempts at speaking their language.  I have to laugh, because I know it wasn't perfect, but was appreciated.  Each story I hear of the tragedies faced by these individuals, especially during their civil war, make any trial we face on a day to day basis seem trivial.  I have such respect for so many who have shared their stories.  I promise to share them with all of you when I return. The group I am with is each special in their own way, I have found so many people who are just like me...what a blessing! In the mean time, know that I am doing something I have long been meant to do, loving every moment and only wish you all could be here with me.  Love to my girls, Greg, and my grandchildren, all of whom keep me from spending even more time here.  I love you more.

Sally Rademacher

A day in the life in San Lucas Toliman

We're having a wonderful time here in San Lucas working side by side with the people. Yesterday we worked in the coffee grove, picking coffee beans in the morning. A very dusty job,  it is really dry here. In the afternoon some of the group went to cultivate coffee plants and Andrea, Karen, JoAnn and I stayed back to sort through all the donations that our group brought. The donations filled the tables at the Biblioteca or Library/dining hall. We had everything from medical supplies and hospital bedding to clothes, shoes and school supplies. As we unpacked things Chona quickly picked out things for the kitchen and the Women's Center. When we were done sorting and bagging things up a group of women who work at the mission went through the boxes and grabbed a lot of clothes and shoes. They were very appreciative. Then a family came to the Parroquia (Parish Center) and took the majority of the clothes and shoes for their 8 children. Also a women died in child birth on Thursday and our donations furnished them with baby clothes and formula. These are just some of the ways we have been able to help out.

The weather has been beautiful and the food amazing. We are spoiled!

Jean Becker

hello everyone.
Brian here,  We are now adjusted to sleeping at 40 degrees.  It is different sleeping with multiple layers, full long sleeve shirts, jeans and some stocking hats.  It is very nice during the day, but it can get pretty cool at night due to our elevation.  The people here are very interested to know that since Fr Gregg passed away...will we continue to support them, or will we slowly forget them?  This is an interesting question.  I know now that we have the' Friends of San Lucas' organized as a 501c3 non profit corporation...we have the ability to continue Fr Gregg's vision.  But it will take many of us to step up and be there for the people of San Lucas and the surrounding areas.  If we can find 1000 people to give $100 per month..($1200 per year)...we can continue this amazing work of beating back the process of poverty. So, during our visit, we come to know the people and their needs...and when we return home we discern our role in relieving the poverty we have witnessed.  If you have not been here...please believe that it is a worthwhile extension of our calling to be Christians and to be generous with our brothers and sisters.  If we do it to the least of these...we do it for HIM.
Off to a remote Finca today...
Blessings.

Brian Mathiowetz

CFCA visit

Hello Everyone,
What a wonderful day!  I was able to visit Emiliana at her home in San Andreas, which is about a 40 minute walk from San Lucas.   I have sponsored Emiliana for about 9 years and this is the third time I was able to meet with her over the years.  The picture below is was taken in front of the church in San Andreas.   

What an awesome experience entering the church with Emiliana for prayer and meditation.  The faith she has is so strong and I am so blessed as she is praying for my family daily.  What a beautiful woman she is.



Below we are in front of Emiliana's home.   She invited us into her home and was so thankful for our visit.    I sponsor  through CFCA (Christian Foundation for the Children and Aging)  They were very kind in sending a guide/interpreter with us.  Vincent (far right) was most kind in helping to interpret as well. He speaks spanish and is part of our group.  Two translators  were needed as Emiliana speaks Kaqchikel. 

Once again, I am having a wonderful experience.  Words and pictures cannot fully describe or show  the beauty of the people and the land in Guatemala.

Karen Gibbs

Donations

Thank you for all who donated. We are blessed to have friends, family, co-workers and parishioners who are willing to support the Mission.

 Hello to all
We are having a wonderful time. It is absolutely beautiful down here. This morning I was able to go with about half of our group to see a family that Karen sponsors. We went to their house and was able to see their church.  We played with the children and had face paint and had a blast painting the kids arms and they painted us.  These are a few pictures of the children that we played with.  We also playing duck, duck, grey duck with them and that was a blast.  They liked our sun glasses so also had a picture of them all wearing our glasses. It was hard to communicate with them, but knowing a few works and using motions we could communicate enough to get our point across.
Thanks for the continuous prayers.
Kristin Kahle