Today, Team 1 spent the day with the nonprofit, Common Hope.
The first half of the day, several hours were spent constructing the walls and
window frames of a new home for a Common Hope family. This project involved
many unfamiliar, and somewhat challenging, tasks for our crew. The team members
involved, along with the help from Common Hope staff, tackled this project head
on and thoroughly enjoyed learning many new skills along the way. We put our
hearts, sweat and determination into this project, and have much pride in our
work. The Allina Health team in Guatemala is enjoying every moment of our time
together and embracing all that we are learning about the Guatemalan culture. At
the end of the week, the new home we’re building will be handed over to a much-deserving
family of four. Several members of our team will also be fortunate to partake
in the blessing of the new home.
In the afternoon, our group was split into pairs. Several of
us went into the private homes of Antigua families and accompanied local
professionals on social work visits. For all of us involved, this was a very
challenging, emotional and eye-opening experience. The people of Guatemala,
once again, showed us what an impressive community of people exists and their
hospitality is beyond impressive and heartfelt. The purpose of the social work
visits is to ensure those families affiliated with the Common Hope program are making
progress toward desired goals of success in education and preparing for their
future. This afternoon was life changing. We walked down the block, dusty
streets, doors leading to mysterious and private places. It was hard to tell
where one house ended and the next began. At one door, a grandmother popped her
head out, standing in front of me with her withered skin that told the tale of
the hard work of all her days.
At one home, the father invited us in to a room, which turned
out to be the family bedroom. He generously brought me a chair to sit, which in
and of itself was a very intimate gesture. The social worker and my companion
sat on the bed across from the father. It was incredible to see this father so
engaged with the social worker. Keep in mind this entire visit was conducted in
Spanish and I could pick up on only key words. I gathered they were talking
about the children and I could see a sparkle in the father’s eye. When the social
worker started asking him about finances, amount of the bills to be paid, he
changed his posture, slouched in his chair and rubbed a pen back and forth
across his knee. This body language was
the tell all and I’m crying as I write this.
- LeeAnn Smith
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