Greenbank-Seagrave Mission Team

Friday April 11, 2019

We were up with the birds again today.  It was hot and humid off the start.  Carmen had breakfast ready for us at 7:30.  The house has a dinner bell, so the team has been taking turns ringing the bell letting each other know it is chow time! She served us beans, fried eggs and fried plantain with fresh papaya and watermelon.

Today was set to be a busy and full day…more so than all the others.  We have much to complete on our last day of work here.  

The Science Fair finished up today with a workshop on Structures for the Grade 2 class and the Grade 3's studied rocks and minerals. Cathy and Judy  were able to keep the students engaged while learning about foundations, framework and a how to support a roof. This session culminated  with a very creative Lego Build! Since Guatemala is in Volcanic area, the rocks and minerals program was a hit. The students learned about the rocks found in their area along with
pumice.....which really floats in water!!. Did you know the mineral graphite was found in your pencil?...the students were fascinated by this. They expressed excitement with discovering the shiny crystals in the granite and diorite. Several of the students seemed to love the feel of the smooth stones against their cheek. All in all a great morning at the Science Fair. The science seed has been planted. All of the teachers and the principal were thrilled to have these experiments presented and left for future work.

Stan, Rod, Stephanie, Krista and Brian finished the final touch ups of painting the “build a home” using teal paint. With Stan’s height we were able to finish under the roof. It was quite a task as the painters had to suck in their guts to squeeze behind home to finish the painting. By the end of the task the team were speckled in teal paint, which they proudly wore as their badge of honour. 

Kelly, Doug, Juli and Dianne started the morning assembling the food hampers for distribution to the families later in the day. They contained rice, sugar, 2 pasta, protein powder, chicken stock, oil and Raman noodles.  We assembled 63 bags. Once the bags were completed the team  wrapped school books in the assigned colour code for the class lessons. It was a very productive morning at the School of Hope. 

Our team along with Jhoseline and Linda Coughlin (the Founder of Loving Arms) gathered at the Build-A-Home site to dedicate and bless the new home at 11:30.  Stephanie and Judy showed Mom how to make the bed with sheets, pillow cases and quilts, as this is an entirely new experience for them. They were also presented clothing, shoes and toiletries for everyone in the family. Linda thanked our team for our dedication and hard work to making the house build a success and also expressed gratitude to the Ron and Nancy Compton Family Foundation for their generous financial support that made this project possible. Juli set an intention of use for the home and offered a prayer to bless the home to be happy, healthy and safe for all those who dwell there.  The team acknowledged that all of our work was made possible through God and how blessed we have been to have support from our friends in Canada. It was an emotional exchange, especially Mom and Grandma spoke to the group and offered thanks and blessings to the team.  They explained that they work hard as a close knit family to help and support each other, but the men don’t make enough money to build homes like the one they received this week.  The Grandma was so full of gratitude for the gift for her daughter.  We were chatting about how their words were so kind, but their body language and their faces spoke more than their words.  There was a vulnerability, humbleness and timidness in their eyes and expressions that really spoke to our hearts.

Back at the School of Hope, the team met for a presentation from the chiildren.  Each grade of students from the School of Hope prepared a presentation to us.  They included traditional dance, stories and short plays. The team and the teachers performed a song with the bells for all of the children – and we all had fun doing it.  Afterwards, each of the teachers had the opportunity to speak to us.  The expressed how grateful they were to our team for bringing new lessons, teaching techniques and supplies to the school.  They were especially grateful for Brian's English lessons and Cathy's Science instruction.

We were treated to a traditional Guatemalan lunch on the second story balcony. Both Linda and Alicia joined us for our last lunch at the school. Lunch consisted of a broth soup to which we added big chunks of chicken including the bones, potatoes, carrots, chayote (which is a delicious vegetable similar to potatoes) squash and rice. We enjoyed cake for dessert.  Alicia entertained us with several of her parenting anecdotes.

The ladies and some men came to the School of Hope with their children for a Woman’s Workshop. The interpreter was Alejandra. Stephanie introduced the team members that were present, lead the call to worship and Dianne lead in prayer.  The message focused on how Jesus reveals the love of God for all people and how we are all created in the image of God/image of love. This was centered on the story of the anointing of Jesus by the woman. Stephanie gave her message in a monologue. We sang Santo Santo Santo in Spanish which many sang along with.  After the message Cathy demonstrated the bracelet craft which tied the circle of the bracelet to the circle of love.  The guests that gathered all enjoyed creating the bracelet and proudly worn them home. 

Food Hamper Distribution to the sponsored families took place after Stephanie’s Women Workshop message.  Each family was called forward to receive their monthly bag of food. Those of us handing out the food hampers to the families held back tears as some men and women signed their name with a thumb print, unable to read or write.  Each sponsored family also received a hygiene kit from the team. 

 

Doug, Cathy and Rod set up tables outside at the front of the school for clothes distribution. They unpacked 2 hockey bags and a large tote of donated shoes, socks, hats, belts, dresses, shirts and sweaters. The shoes and socks were paired up. The hats were stacked and the rest of the clothes were folded. Everything was placed on the table so that the families could "shop" for 2 items to take home. By the end of the day the table was bare and all left with some well needed items.

During the Women’s Workshop, Stan and Kelly entertained all the kids at the playground and playing with some of the sports equipment that we will leave behind for the school.  The kids always enjoy Stan’s antics!

At the end of the day, we said our goodbyes to Jhoseline and Alejandra with a few tears and expressions of thanks.  We piled in the van to head back to Antigua.  Once home, we quickly went for a walk to the Iglesia de La Merced…where a festival and Lent Procession have the roads closed here.  The church was decorated spectacularly with vegetables, fruits and flowers.  It was quite a sight, and it appears that there are 10s of thousands of people who have come to partake in the festivities.  We enjoyed a brisk walk through the markets and streets, arriving home to Carmen’s fine cooking for 6:20 – she served ham, (Guatemalan) small squash and rice with a beautiful sauce.

 We have spent the evening debriefing an emotional day.  It takes time to process the things we see and experience, so we are sensitive to each other’s needs as we find a place to put our feelings.  It is amazing how closely connected we can become to those we work with in such a short time.  We truly become family, not only with each other but also with the families and children that we are working with.  Many are journaling, chatting and going through pictures tonight reminiscing over the week.  We are so blessed to be here and have this experience.  

Tomorrow is a free day for us.  So we will be adventure seeking.  Stay tuned for our wind up!

Love to all back home, 

 GS Mission Team