Violence in Guatamala City

This week was a short week for the volunteers of Camino Seguro due to shootings in the capital.  On Tuesday afternoon we were informed that the school might be closed on Wednesday due to the murder of four bus drivers that morning.  Unfortunately the killing of bus drivers is a common occurrence it he capital, but the four that morning brought the total to 30 for this year.  There was concern not only for the safety of volunteers and Camino children and families, but also concern that the bus drivers might go on strike as a way of demanding that the government do something.

The reason for the shootings?  Extortion by the gangs of Guatemala City.  The gangs in the capital are large and very organized and they charge business and individuals to pay them "impuestos", taxes, to keep form being killed. When people refuse to pay, the "mareros" kill them.  Because the buses are so heavily travelled, they carry a large amount of money from the cash fares people pay when they board.  As a result, imposing impuestos on the buses can be very profitable for the mareros.  Their approach is to board the bus and demand an impuesto; if the driver and/or passengers refuse, they are killed on the spot.  In the case of Tuesday morning , four buses in different parts of the city were boarded between 6 am and 9:30 am.  As a result everyone was sent home early on Tuesday, and we were told that we would not come in Wednesday and again for Thursday.  

People are worried because this year's killings are more than last year, and the violence seems to be increasing.  Last week a Korean couple was found murdered in their home and there was at least one other murder.  Even the churches are not immune.  Last week, one of the churches was approached and told to pay an impuesto.  The pastor has refused, and now folks are waiting to see what might happen.  Please keep that church and their pastor in your prayers that God would protect and deliver them who would attempt to hold control over one of God's churches.

Most people believe that the government is ineffectual in dealing with the gangs and that the gangs out-number and are better armed than the police.  There is also the widespread belief that because of corruption in the government, there is little motivation to address the issue.

And so the people carry on, riding the buses, trying to make a living and hoping that all will be well.  Just as so many people depend on the buses for getting to work (many coming from outside the capital), the capital's economy and functioning are just as dependent on the folks being able to get to work.  If the bus drivers were to refuse to drive, and workers were not able to get into the city or travel around the city, there would be a great deal of chaos.  If you live in a large metropolitan center such as Boston, try to imagine all the public transportation shutting down for a day or two.

Going back to the church that was threatened, I heard from someone in the city that some of the churches had started to think about how to respond.  It looks like they might try to plan some type of prayer service  at the church.  They do not want to do anything that might bring more attention to the gangs, since that is what they love.  For the sake of the church that was threatened, and for the sake of the unity of the body of Christ, I pray that they do respond in some way. My feeling is that there needs to be some type of visible witness that they church only bows down to God and no other, and that the people of God are a united force against evil.

For the time being, Camino volunteers have been advised not to use buses.  The only other option is to use taxis--which sometimes have their own way of extorting money out of foreigners.

Please pray for the peace of the city, not only Guatemala City, but other cities where evil seeks to gain a foothold.

Hasta Luego.

Pictures

I have added a Facebook Badge to my homepage.  If you click on it, (in the menu bar on the left) you will be brought directly to my Facebook page and will be able to view my Camino and Guatemala photos.

Hasta Luego.

End of the Second Week

This has been a very interesting week.  I spent most mornings helping with the mothers and  the afternoons helping in a third grade class.  I do a lot of one-on-one work with a  woman named "Betty."  Betty is 51 years old and is just learning to read and write;  she is probably at about a second grade level.  Betty is amazing to watch:  She puts so much effort into writing her practice exercises and really wants them to be correct.  During English class this week, she copied down everything that the teacher wrote on the board, even though she could not understand most of it. 

Betty is a small Guatamalteca, who wears traditional clothing and who stands a bit under 5 feet tall.  She has an infectious smile and always has something humorous to share.  When she is having difficulty doing her exercises, she blames it on not having had her coffee that morning.  Betty is also a woman of faith and so for some of her writing exercises I give her simple Bible verses to copy.  If I can find some simply written Bible texts, I will bring those for her to practice her reading.  Like many of the other people of faith that I have met here, there confidence in God is the source of their strength and encouragement.

"Murray" is a young man about 17 years old.  He is in the senior high class that I have sometimes be in.  Murray often brings Christian CD's to play while the students are doing their homework, and carries his Bible in his backpack.  Murray was visibly upset the other day, when one of the other boys was playing a secular rap CD and later a popular secular radio station.  He is actively involved in his church and sings in the choir.  He can often be heard singing in the classroom or as he walks by outside.  Please keep Murray and two of his friends in your prayers.  Murray said that they are all going through some difficulties and has asked for prayers for family and the families of his friends.  I asked him if it would be OK if I shared the request with my friends, and he greatly appreciated that others would be invited to pray for them.  So please keep "Murray," "James," and "George" and their families in prayer that God would grant them deliverance from their current struggles. 

I also ask for prayers for the many people who are on the streets of Antigua begging for food and money.  It is so difficult to walk by them everyday-sometimes more than once a day, knowing that I don't have the resources with me to be able to give something to each one.  It is an overwhelming sight, especially the mothers who are there with their very young children.  Children who are able to walk and talk, are also at work along side their parents asking for food and money.  Regrettably, one becomes somewhat accustomed to the fact that every day at the same spot will be the same blind fellow with no legs holding out his hand for some type of offering;  or that the elderly woman with tattered clothing will always be in front of the ruins of one of the churches hoping that someone will respond to her pleas for assistance.  I guess, I could use another street--most of the people are on 4a. Calle-one of the streets for tourists who want to shop.  However, habit and a fear of getting loss keep me on 4a. Calle; but also to take another street would be to deny the reality that there are many in this tourist-ladened town who have no visible means of self-sufficiency.  

And where is the church in the midst of the hunger, the spousal abuse, the poverty?  Well, according to some of the Guatamaltecos with whom I've spoken, the church, in general, is not being very helpful.  Many have of negative view for two reasons:  1.  Some feel that the Roman Catholic Church is not doing enough to help the people, and in some cases, i.e. spousal abuse, the church through its rigid teachings often leaves people in dangerous situations.  2.  In terms of the Protestant Church-the majority being evangelical churches, some people believe that in those churches the primary concern of he pastors is gaining more money and material possessions for themselves.  Like the government and most other structures in Guatemala, some people eye the church with suspicion and see just as much corruption there that they see in other aspects of the society.

Here in Antigua, I have been hard pressed to find a Protestant church to attend.  There is a large one in Guate, but it would require taking a bus and a cab to get there; and I have been advises over and over again not to travel alone into Guate (unfortunately, there is a serious problem with gangs, and just the other day a cab driver along with a police officer swindled approximately 280Q (about $35) out of some volunteers from the project.).  A friend of my homestay attends an evangelical church, and if I can find out more about it, I will ask about attending with her.  I have also received information about the Primitive Methodist Church here in Guatemala, and will be in touch with the contact to see if there is a church near to Antigua.  

But all in all, the Church needs a more visible and more gospel-oriented presence here.  By that I mean that people need to see the churches out and addressing the most pressing needs of the people.  Here in Antigua there is one church that runs a medical facility and works with those with physical and mental disabilities.  It also happens to be the church that provides space to the St. Mark's Ecumenical Fellowship.  That is the worhip service that I attended last week.  It consisted of 11 people and caters to english-speaking tourists.  It is lead by a former RC nun-Elizabeth, using the Book of Common Prayer.  There is no communion because there is no ordained person.  I told Elizabeth that I am ordained in the UMC and would be willing to assist and also consecrate the sacraments if she would like.  And rather than a sermon, it is a time of each sharing his/her reflection on the scriptures that have been read.

I think that is all for now.

Tonight, it's off to see "The Dark Knight."  There is a place here that offers free movies with dinner.  Last week I saw "Mama Mia," and had a great dinner for 42Q, a little over $5.  If one does not have anything to eat or drink, the movie costs 15Q, a little less than $2.00.  Can't beat that! (The exchange rate is $1=8Q.)

Hasta Luego

Reflection

Jesus Says...

Jesus says, "let the children come to me..."

The 10-year old boy whose clothes are dirty and smell of garbage;

the 9-year old girl who can barely reach the sink as she scrubs and washes clothes to make them clean.

Jesus says, "let the children come to me..."

The 11-year old girl who must now care for a child of her own;

the girl who studiously copies from others the answers for her homework.

Jesus says, "let the children come to me..."

The 10-year old boy who hungrily and hastily eats the food discarded by others;

the baby who lies limply in his mother's arms as she begs for money for food.

Jesus says, "let the children come to me..."

Those with flees, those with lice; those covered with unexplained bruises and those covered with bites from rats within their home; those who shriek regularly for no apparent reason.  Those who make their home in the city dump and whom others view only as garbage.

Jesus loves all the little children: All the children of the world.

"People will know you are my followers by your love."

Photos

Finally, as promised, here are the urls to my photo albums on Facebook.

Guatemala:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2006358&id=1398931251&l=f73db83aa7

Santiago:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001509&id=1398931251&l=aa6efbf0fd

The links are not active, so you will need to copy the information into your browser and click "enter." 

Hasta Luego

First Week

This has been my first week volunteering at the project and it has been very interesting.  The first day I spent the entire day in one of the classrooms.  The first half of the day the teacher had high school students; the second half of the day she had third graders.  At the end of the day, I was a bit disappointed, because of what seemed to me a lack of teaching or instruction with the students.  The next day at a volunteer meeting we were reminded that the program is not a school, but a "reinforcement center."  The explanation served to slightly abate my sense of disappointment.  However, I still believe that the students would receive more teaching because of the disadvantages they face in school compared to children whose circumstances are different.

The second day, I spent the morning in the Women's Literacy Program and I loved it there.  The center helps the mothers of children in the program to learn to read and write, as well as teaching them basic math skills.  Many of the women have also learned how to make jewelry from materials they collect at the dump.  They create beautiful pieces made of recycled materials and have been able to sell those pieces, making more more with a few sales than they can make after days of working in the dump.  Subsequently, the women are in the process of creating their own cooperative for selling their jewelry.  It is very exciting being with them, and today watching how they carry out their "business."  My assignment from this time forward with be with the women, first working with them only in the mornings, and within the next week of so, working with them for the entire day.

Tomorrow, there are no classes because of staff and volunteer training.  One of the speakers we are expecting is Patch Adams, (no, not Robin Williams!).  On Saturday, I begin my weekly Spanish classes for 3 hours each Saturday.

The week at the project has been very interesting.  While there is hope that the children are receiving an opportunity for changing their life circumstances, there is still an underlying sadness for me.  As I watch them voraciously eat their meals, knowing that the meal they receive at the project may be the best or only meal they receive that day.  As I watch the children eating their lunch, often if a child does not want the rest of her meal, she will give it to another who will eagerly eat it along with what she already has (the servings are large servings, even for an adult.)  Today I watched one little girl receiving meat from other students and placing it in plastic bag she had in her "mochila," backpack.  Meat is something that most kids do not receive on any kind of regular basis at home, even those who are not poor.

The other and probably greatest sadness for me is that there is no Christian education.  It is a secular program, and there really is no teaching for the children on their value as creations of God, or on the fact that God loves them.  Instead, Hanley Denning, the founder has an almost venerated status.  Her picture hangs in every classroom, and in the corridors there are either large paintings or photographs of her.  

Today, it also occurred to me what a challenge it is for me to be in a completely non-Christian environment with little contact with other Christians.  There really are no apparent values that bind the volunteers together in terms of why they are here and what motivates them to offer help to the children.  The conversations are also a bit limited and usually center around parties and drinking, and going out drinking.  I realize a part of it has to do with my "advanced" age compared to the majority of them, but part of it, I believe, has to do with the fact the the motivating factor for their being here is that it gives them something to do while they try to figure out what to do with the life.  Or maybe,  I'm just out of touch with the life of 20-somethings.

This week contained a lot of images and impressions, so I share in the next post a reflection with you as a summary of my week.

Hasta Luego

Volcan Pacayo

Why did Marcelle climb Volcan Pacayo?  Because it was there.  

Yesterday there was a group trip to visit and climb Volcan Pacayo, the smallest of the active volcanoes in Guatemala.  Antigua is bordered by Volcan del Fuego to the west, and one of the largest,Volcan de Agua to the south.  It is quite a beautiful and magnificent site.

For our school trip we made the hour-drive to Volcan Pacayo and were led by our guide up the side of the volcano.  It took about 90 minutes to climb.  The guide was only allowed to take us up to a certain point because of the risk of going further.  There had been an eruption 8 says ago and there was a lot of soft and loose dried lava.  However, if there were those who wanted to continue higher, they could do so, but without the guide.  So, a large group of us headed up to a level just a few hundred meters below the crater at the top.  it was basically on top of a mound of dried lava from a few days ago.  It was quite amazing to climb as well as difficult.  It was like trying to walk in very deep snow, as my feet sunk with each step.  Where there was not the "sand"  there were the lava stones and rocks which were not very secure.  (the reason that the guides were not allowed to bring us any higher was because there had been an avalanche of loose stones a couple of weeks ago and 12 people were hurt.)  It was probably not the wisest thing I have ever done, but once we reached the landing, it was well worth the risk and the climb.  It was quite hot and there was a fissure that we could look into and see the red and glowing flames beneath the surface.  Some people place their walking sticks above the fissure and they ignited within seconds!  It was worth the climb and the risk.  Coming down was also a bit dicey, but we basically made it in one piece.  We then hiked down the volcano in the dark, which in itself was also quite an adventure.  And yes, I did take pictures.

Hasta Luego,

Marcelle

Life in Guatemala

I decided it would probable be a good idea to tell you a little about life here in Guatemala.  First of all, it is a very beautiful country.  I am living in Antigua, a town full of ruins from the colonial days of Guatemala.  The streets are cobblestone, making for very bumpy rides.  People who do not have cars travel by chicken buses (literally) or by the very abundant elaborately decorated school buses.  These are usually packed beyond capacity.  All along hte streets of Antigua are many vendors, selling everything from traditional Guatemalan clothing to candy, papaya, and all kinds of other "stuff!"  

I live on 7ma. Calle Oriente, No. 29, and it is just a two minute walk to the school where I have Spanish classes, La Union.  There are a quite a few people in my language school,  but it is just many of many throughout the town.  Antigua is a very popular spot for tourists, some here for a while, others just passing through as they tour around Latin America.   Subsequently, many of these tourists are taking language classes so that they can better communicate with the locals.  The schools also provide opportunities for building community among the students.  la Union sponsors various "actividades" so that we have opportunities to improve our language abilities as well as learn more about the culture.  

As one walks along hte streets, it is amazing the number of tourist who are here from all over the world.  Things are especially busy now because people are here in anticipation of "Semana Santa"-Holy Week.  Easter is a big deal here in Antigua and thousands will flock to the city for the Semana Santa celebrations, in particular the processions.  Every Sunday there are now processions during "Cuaresma," Lent.  These offer a prelude to what will happen during Semana Santa.  A major part of the processions -and one of the reasons so many people come to Antigua during this time, are the "alfombras."  These are made with colored sand and sawdust arranged into beautiful designs and them sprayed with water to keep them from blowing away in the wind.  Each home or business on the streets through which the processions pass, will create an alfombra in the road in front of their home for the procession to pass over.  The designs are very elaborate and can be quite big, sometimes taking up the road for an entire block.  I am told that on Holy Thursday my language school will be creating an alfombra and all the students are invited to participate in its creation.  If I don't have to be at the project working, I hope to take part.

Because of the influx of people during this time, and especially Semana Santa, many local leave town.  The police have also set up check points at all entrances to the town and they charge a tax to enter to all who are not residents of Antigua.  This has proved to be a big money maker for the town.  However, many residents have mixed feeling about it:  It ties up traffic, but also, they are not so sure where the money is going.   

Just being here a week, I have heard a lot about corruption in the government and other policies and practices that seem unfair or unjust.  For example, there are many poor people living at the Guatemala City dump (where I will do my volunteer work).  The people there earn what little money they can by collecting those items that can be recycled (milk jugs, cardboard, tin) and selling them to companies.  Not only do they not make much money for their work (less than $1 dollar for two days of work to fill one large bag) they must pay the municipal workers in order to "work" in the "basureo," dump.  The municipality has set a clinic and day care for the people, but again, they are charged for the services.  As a result many of hte people go without medical treatment, and children who are able to walk are also workers along side their parents.  

Another point of irritation is the new power plant at the foot of the Pacayo Volcano.  Electricity is generated using the underground heat of the Volcano.  The plant was built with donations from Israel, and the energy is used to power Mexico and El Salvador, not Guatemala.

The other interesting thing about Antigua (I do not know yet if the same holds true for Guatemala City) is the number of United States expatriates living here.  It is quite astonishing. Many came for vacation or as part of trying to figure out what to do with their life and ended up remaining.  Some are here until their money runs out, others have made a life here, have married and are raising (bilingual) children.  In fact, the majority of the people in my language school are people in their twenties who are searching for something in life.  At this point, all of the people whom I have met who are also here to volunteer with Camino Seguro are teenagers and people in their twenties.  I am the "old lady" of the volunteers, and even the paid staff. Most of the volunteer staff and paid staff are "estadounidodenos" (US citizens) in their twenties.

These are just some of the tidbits that I have learned in my first week.  As the weeks pass, and I learn more about "Life in Guatemala," I will share my findings with you.

Continuing The Way

Well, I actually did return to the States,from Spain, although I neglected to mention that. Having lived so simply for my time on the Camino, upon returning there was a bit of culture shock. As I unpacked some belonging to use in my new residence I was shocked by the number of hangers I owned. Why does any one individual need so many hangers for so many clothes?!? Within two weeks of returning, I headed to Rwanda for a second time to visit my sponsored child Emmanuel, and then headed back again in February. I am currently in Guatemala, having arrived yesterday after a snow delay in Boston. I will be here for the next three months doing volunteer work for Camino Seguro (Safe Passage) which works with children whose family live in the city dump of Guatemala City. My expectation is that the experience will teach me more about the lives and circumstances of persons who because of lack of options find themselves in a life of poverty. My prayer is that my own understanding, and resposne to the issue of poverty will be vastly different, including my own lifestyle of privilege. Today, my first full day in Guatemala, I registered at La Union Langauge School and had my first session with my teacher. We will meet for 5 hours/day for 5 days. The model at the school is one of one-on-one instruction. For 5 hours it is just me and my maestra. It is 5 hours of converstation which involvers her correcting my mistakes. For tomorrow she wants us to spend time on vocabulary and grammar review. There are lots of folks from all over the world at the school. Some are here while visting Guatemala or Central America. Others like me are here to learn the language in preparation for volunteer work. As part of our learning, the school schedules a variety of activities that will not only help us to learn the language but also expose us to various aspects of the culture. Our activity today was to visit an artisan cooperative of 5 Mayan families who work to teach and preserve the Mayan culture. They demosntrated a Mayan wedding, including dressing some of the student in traditonal Mayan wedding garb. We were then treated to the traditonal dish that is served at weddings and is a tradional food in Guatemala. It is a mildly spicy dish called pipián. It is made with chili and contains beans and was served with boiled chicken. We also were able to shop among the many crafted items that they had made. For my three months here, I am living at the home of Julita Lima along with two other women from the States and 2 young Guatemalan girls. Next week when I begin my volunteer work, it will be in Guatemala City, about 45 minutes away. There is a bus provided by the program that brings us into the city each day and then returns us to La Antigua at the end of the day. Even after only one day, I already love it here and look forward to the next three months. As I contemplate the fact that I am actually here in Guatemala and will be here for three months, I just feel amazed and astounded that God would allow me to have such an experience!!! Marcelle Dotson is actually in Guatemala!!! In fact, if I had not gone to France and then to Spain to follow the Camino, I probably owuld not have had the faith nor courage to take this step. Thanks be to God who always provides opportunities for us to stretch and grow beyond the limits of our imagination! Hasta Luego, Marcelle