It's that time again!

It is that time again--time to finish preparations for this year's trip! We are actually taking 2 groups this time (July 12-20 and August 2-10), and the extra surprise is that I'm taking my 3-month old along for the trip as well! Though I'm a bit nervous to see how I'll be able to carry the extra bags and the baby, I'm excited for my Guatemalan friends to meet Hakim.

This year's groups are made up of 5 family pairs each trip, and each trip has 2 boys and 3 girls going. I'm especially excited because I've had all of these students in my homeroom, social studies, or math classes, so I know them well!

I hope to post some more before we head out this year, and will be sure to keep you posted on the adventures with Hakim in tow.

¡Hasta pronto!

Chris

Callista's Blog

Guatemala was so interesting and fun. the people are so nice. i had alot of fun teaching and it was hard work! but i still had fun anyway. im so happy that i got to sponser a child, even if im saving 

it up myself. she is really nice and funny and her family gave me a necklace that rosalia (my sponsered child's name) made and it is really cool. i also will miss  alot too. she is really fun seidi to be with and really good at singing. she always has a smile. :) i will also miss the first grade class that i taught. they gave me alot of hugs and notes and were so nice. some would say "seno te quiero mucho" or others would just be a drawing of

me and the student and someone named Melany gave me some seeds or coffe beans or something. im not sure but all of them were really nice. and when i was going to sit down they all wanted me to sit by them.

im also a little bit sad that im going to miss the chocolate museum because i really like chocolate and it seems really fun and cool. but im not that sad because its not like im going back to Minnesota. im just going some other place in Guatemala. and at least its not a pie museum. but im more sad just to leave my friends even tho i will see them when i get home....... im out of things to say so bye! have a safe trip!

                               BYE!

Mantha day 7

Hey I am blogging today because I wanted too and because I just met the girl we are sponsoring so I'm really happy. And I'm excited because my mom is going to email me what color I am for CMS so I'm really excited for that.

KIersten and Nancy's social work visit

Kiersten and I went on our social work visit today.  Even after having spent the last three days working on my Spanish skills, I will have to admit that I listened without much understanding.  I was proud of Kiersten though.  Even though she understood most of what was transpiring, she managed to keep her face from showing that she was shocked, confused, or whatever she was feeling at the time.   The two families we saw were probably in a fairly good position compared with others we could have visited;  they each had their challenges though.
In the first family, the mom had recently lost her job, the oldest child was using drugs and had entered a drug rehabilitation facility of some sort, and another child was struggling in school.  The mom seemed to have an amazing attitude though.  She didn't have money to pay her rent, but she found that since she wasn't working she could take her child to the homework help sessions now that she was home in the afternoon.
The second family had three children.  Two were in school and doing quite well.  It was easy to see how proud the mom was of her kids.  She had her daughter bring her report card out to show the social worker and pretty much beamed at her as they showed it off.  The youngest child, probably about 2 years old, was struggling with allergies.  He was allergic to pretty much every animal (and the neighbors had multiple dogs and chickens so he couldn't go outside to play), shampoo, and dairy.  He also seemed to be having a reaction to something else that she needed to take him in to the clinic to get checked out....maybe another allergy. 

For these families, and many like them here in Guatemala, this is just life.  So very different from what we see in our day to day life in Minnesota.  And yet it so many ways the people here are very much like us.  We've seen the hard work they put in every day, the dedication to their work, and the pride they take in their work and families.  It's been a lot to take in....

Abby and Margie's Sponsor Visit

After months of anticipation for this afternoon’s sponsor child visit, we were thrilled for such a successful experience!  Upon our decision to travel to Antigua, Guatemala with Common Hope in January, Abby wanted to sponsor a child through the organization.  Common Hope partners with impoverished families in the area, providing opportunities for better lives.  Abby chose Katerin, a 12 year old in 6^th grade with 5 other siblings and a mother and father.  The father lost his job earlier this year so things have been difficult, and the possibility that Katerin would be pulled out of school is present mostly for economic reasons.  Abby chose gifts wisely for Katerin knowing she loved the color purple and drawing (art kit, drawing paper, hair accessories, and school supplies were some highlights) with a chance to share with Katerin and her family the importance of staying in school.  If the family decides to pull Katerin out (drop out rates increase dramatically after 6^th grade as Guatemalan students are only required to attend to this point) we will lose sponsorship of Katerin.  Only 32% of students in Guatemala finish ninth grade.

Her younger brother Jarol, turned 10 today, so we bought a birthday cake on the way to our visit.  Our visit began with hugs and a big surprise seeing Abby’s pictures and letters on the wall in the kitchen.  The family warmly welcomed us and we found out Katerin not only loves school but is very smart with Math being her favorite subject.  She has never failed a grade or test.  We brought the card game Uno and taught the kids how to play.  Their social worker Jorge also joined in with lots of laughter and fun all around.   After our birthday “fiesta”, we brought out a bag of staple food items (rice, corn, beans, noodles, salt, oil, laundry detergent, soap) that we purchased through Common Hope for the family.  The mother was so touched by this simple gesture on our part.  This food bag should support staples for at least a month.

Jorge, the social worker, visits the home at least once a quarter to follow up on how things are going.  Katerin comes to the Common Hope a couple times monthly to have access to support resources (psychologist, computer, library, youth groups, medical clinic).  Abby will continue to write letters and send pictures from today’s visit to Katerin with the hopes of a continued relationship.  After our visit, Jorge seemed encouraged that the family will decide to let her stay in school.  We pray that her father will soon find work and that the family economic situation will soon improve.  Her father seemed very loving and supportive in the lives of his wife and children.

Mantha Day 6

Today we went to the Bakery because we sis a thing called day in the life when you do what they do. Some of them were Jewelry, Snow Cones, Bakery and corn tortillas. it was pretty fun because we got to eat the donuts we made. I also really liked the house because they had two chickens(Pedro y Pablo), two ducks(Juan y Jose) and a dog(Manchas) and a grumpy cat(grumpy) and her kittens(Miguel,Mario y Maria) we have a lot of pictures of the kittens and they were really adorable and to make them even more adorable they were only 8 days old. We came back then me and Abby played with some little kids and we played tag and the kids had a lot of energy and were really fast, so Abby and me only lasted about 10 minutes. Then some kids when on the social worker visit and some are doing a baking class and then some are seeing their sponsor children and me and my dad are staying and relaxing, so you might hear a lot of of blogging from me. Im pretty sure that im going to make a blog when everyone is gone because i have so much time and im probably going to read a lot. The book that im reading is called A Dogs Purpose and im only on like page 5 but its really good so far. M dad just challenged me and said he could probably type as fast as i talk but we ALL know thats not true.

From Srta. Fimmen (Sarah)

Wow this has been quite the week so far! The kids have done such an amazing job teaching in the schools and representing Minnesota here in Guatemala. Everyone has been thoroughly impressed with their Spanish! It is so cool to see these kids in a leadership role outside of their comfort zones. After the first day I was walking back to our home base with Nick and he couldn't stop smiling. He said something like, 'This day was so cool, all of the boys loved that I played soccer and they wouldn't stop talking about it. I loved today!" I love seeing these kids get along with their Guatemalan peers. This is one of my favorite parts of the experience.

The parents are doing great with their Spanish and are using it every chance they get. I have been on call to interpret for ordering food and buying things, but have not been needed much. Sam discussed and ordered coffee with Don Felix all by himself. I know it is difficult for some/most of them, but like I said, they are doing amazing. Way to go guys!!

Today I got the opportunity to interpret for a group at a day in the life of a jewelry maker. Braden, Kim, Kiersten, Nancy, Farida, Callista and I were welcomed into the home of Dona Concepcion. She is a mother of 9 children from ages 23 to 3, and she makes beautiful artisan products that range from jewelry to clay carved boxes. Her husband recently lost his job and the family's sole income now depends on the sale of her products. Her older son, Jose, makes and sells beautiful jewelry with jade, obsidian and other precious stones. We had a great visit and bought lots of stuff! While there, Callista decided she would like to sponsor the 9-year-old girl of the family. She, Concepcion, Jose and his son will be coming here at 2:30 to meet her! Callista said, "if I babysit my little brother 2 times each month, i'll have enough money to sponsor Rosalia and save a little bit too". Way to go girl! 

It's so cool to watch these kids as their eyes are opened to a bigger world out there. I remember my first trip out of the country to Lima, Peru when I was 16. My life was forever changed (hence the fact that I'm here at the moment). So excited to be a part of this trip. What an amazing opportunity for these kids and their awesome parents. Thanks parents for traveling here with them and encouraging a life changing experience!