I can't believe I'm about to use this phrase....but...there's so much to blog about!
I have been trying to get over my cold, and spent a lot of time watching various medical-based TV dramas yesterday, but finally got out of the house so that Peter wouldn't go insane. It's hard to make plans with fellow travellers around here, because usually we make plans over Facebook, and checking back every hour costs Q3.00 -- so, plans change a lot. After trying the whole day over the web to find Frank and Luisa, Peter and I happened upon them right as we walked out of our house. They were headed to the local homeless shelter to help out, so we went along.
It really was a great experience. We were going to meet someone by the outdoor market so they could show us to the shelter, but the volunteer organizing isn't very well structured, so we ended up just asking around for directions as nobody showed. It's amazing how much the atmosphere can change just in one block -- from Gringo hotels to people living under tin roofs within the distance of a 1/2 mile.
We showed up at the homeless shelter, and immediately a group of kids came up and hugged us. The head woman was at a sort of island in the middle of the home, and she welcomed us and explained what we needed to do. The Island was there for volunteers and workers to be able to watch over the entire center, and see if anyone needed help during the night. The center is open every hour of every day, including holidays. That means volunteers work constantly, rotating shifts so that everyone gets a chance to rest.
The center is divided into two parts: The left side is for men with alcohol and drug problems; the right side is for men, women, children, and families who don't have addiction problems - they simply can't afford a home. There are bathrooms and showers on both sides. They keep them separated in this way so that the men with addiction issues have access to bathrooms in case they need to vomit, etc. and the women and families will not be disturbed during the night.
Most of the people staying there try and give back as well -- Guatemala has a bottle bill (I wish WA would follow!!), meaning a lot of the people that stay there bring in used cans, bottles, etc. for the center to collect and later return for money.
So, Frank, Luisa, Peter, and I ladeled soup and rice milk and handed it out to all the residents for about an hour. You could really tell how thankful they all were for the help -- we even saw one man give a few Quetzales to the head woman, Thelma. The center provides mats and blankets to sleep on, and everyone helped out: cleaning, setting out mats, collecting blankets, etc.
After washing dishes and saying goodbye, a man named Louis led us back to the main street, as he said the area that the shelter is in isn't very safe after dark. Louis is a recovered alcoholic, and after 15 sober years, has helped hundreds of homeless people with alcoholism. He says he was in the same situation, and just loves giving back.
Our little group decided to go back tomorrow morning (Tuesday) and bring about 80 apples from the market so that the people at the shelter could get some fruit with dinner. We wish we could stay and help with another dinner, but tonight we are heading to Casa Jackson to help with the evening feed of malnourished babies.
Casa Jackson, the homeless shelter, and another school for underprivelged and abused children are all part of an organization called Nuestros Ahijados.
Frank and Luisa met us this morning and took us to the above mentioned school for a tour. The school is called the Dreamer Center and it is.....incredible. It is in another poor section of town, but once you go through the gates, there are waterfalls, gardens, play toys (including a mini-castle made out of stone!), different learning buildings, an outdoor stage....All through donations! It was so beautiful! They even had a stone church that has no religious affiliation, and they often hold services from many different religions at different times in the week so all the children have a chance to worship.
They said part of their mission is to create a beautiful place for the children to go during the day, because where they stay at night isn't very safe, and they often get abused, or don't get to eat. So, during the day, they get to come to school (for free!), see the beautiful gardens and ponds, play outside, get two meals, get artistic opportunities...the list goes on.
The organization is also working to start a program for the mothers of the children that go to the school. They have set up a room full of sewing supplies and machines so that 600 (!) women can start making a living while their children are at school. The sewing room is right next to the outdoor stage. They just need $1500 to get the whole project up and running (with electricity, etc...) So, we are seeing what we can do when we get back to the states.....
ALSO, Frank and Luisa went shopping for the kids in Momos today, and got SO much stuff!! We will put up pictures tonight or tomorrow.
Tonight is our last night here, and actually I have to run to meet Luisa and Frank, but we wil be at Casa Jackson for a few hours, then we have to eat our last meal with our friends :( Tomorrow is Rhet's birthday, so perhaps a piñata is in order...?
