In Guate (as the locals say), the school year begins in
January and runs through September. Today, team two traveled to the rural town
of San Rafael to distribute school supplies. As we arrived, a long line of
mothers and children had formed in anticipation of kicking off the school
year. (Think Cities Sampler Guate
style.) We handed out over 500 bags of
supplies to preschool through junior high students. One girl, perhaps 10 years old, came alone to
collect the supplies for all of her siblings – six in total. Each bag was quite heavy, let’s say heavier
than a milk jug. It took only a bit of
help, but she wrapped all six bags in a blanket and successfully walked out of
the school year carrying them on top of her head! Time and time again this week, we have been
reminded that if you empower the mothers and educate the children, life here changes
for the better.
Recess was so much fun!
I played tickle tag with the girls and did cartwheels with the
boys. And the kids would walk by and
just brush their fingertips across our low backs – as if to see if we were
real. Then my roommate, Julie, and I got
to meet Glenda. She is a six year old girl that Julie and I have decided to
sponsor through Common Hope. Glenda is a
sweet and soft spoken girl with the eyes of an ancient soul. She told us about
her siblings (two older and two younger), her pets (lots of chickens), and that
she likes school. She is just starting her preschool year. She gave me a high five and we took photos
that we promise to send to her! I hope
that, by sponsoring her education, Julie and I can have a positive influence on
this girl’s life. In particular, I hope
that we can watch her grow into a confident, educated woman who can do what her
heart desires.
Finally, we took a tour of San Rafael outside the school
yard. We walked around the back of the school along a ‘road’ that was deeply
rutted and speckled in animal feces. We walked alongside houses with walls of
corn stalk. We passed a woman aged by
the sun and grit, walking barefoot and carrying a bundle of firewood on top of
her head. I cried again. Sacred tears,
as we have started calling them. The ones that I can’t explain in words, but
that I feel deep in my heart. The ones that make me reach out to hold the hand
of whoever is closest. This week in
Guatemala has changed me. For the
better. And I am thankful.
With Hope,
Linsey
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