Walking With the Poor - Notes From the Field

MISSION AWARENESS TRIP TO GUATEMALA

May 27 - June 3, 2006

“The children touched my soul”

Children, parents and staff from the Atitlan project received us and walked with us the final kilometer to the CFCA center. The first afternoon, the group was able to visit three families with sponsored children in the Finca Pampolija area just down the road from San Lucas Toliman. The families on this farm were hit hard by Hurricane Stan last October and are in the process of moving to a more secure area on land provided by the parish of San Lucas Toliman. The group was able to visit this area on Monday. They were very fortunate to have the talk by Msgr. Greg Schaffer, the pastor, and an on-site orientation by Andres Chajil. Andres speaks from the heart with passion and love. Andres also accompanied us to the coffee project, reforestation area, parish clinic and women’s center. Folks were very impressed. “The children touched my soul,” said sponsor Jim.

Two new calves

Even the cows cooperated with this mission awareness trip. A new baby calf was born on Monday afternoon and another on Friday morning. On the farm, we rejoice in the fact that both are female. Looking at their parents, I say that the babies will grow to be great milk cows.

Sponsored aging spend the day

We had a great day of sharing with the sponsored children and their families. It is our tradition to invite a group of 30 or so sponsored aging from down the road in Quixaya to share this day with us. The men play soccer with the sponsored children. The ladies visit among themselves. After finishing their meal, these dear elderly friends personally thank everyone around them. The sponsored elderly usually bring fruits and vegetables they have produced in fertile Quixaya. All of this has special meaning to us. Many years ago, our brother and co-founder of CFCA, Jim Hentzen, helped Msgr. Greg purchase the land where these elderly now live.

Doña Candelaria and her five children

Just when we thought this very full day was winding down, in walked Doña Candelaria and her five children, ages 2 to 15. In past reports, I have written about Doña Candelaria, her extreme poverty, her urgent need for shelter and for someone to listen with compassion. This is the family for whom a new home is being built, thanks to the love and concern of the CFCA family. The home will be finished in about three weeks. In the meantime, they have been staying with relatives, but things became intolerably crowded and potentially violent. Once the precarious situation of this family became clear to our Hermano Pedro team, the decision was made to house the family at CFCA until their home is completed. They have next to nothing, so the move took only about 10 minutes. They had not eaten all day so a good hot meal was the first order of this rainy night. One sponsor who is a doctor checked on the fever of the youngest boy. The next morning, the school-aged children were up early, looking much better after eating breakast and scrubbed up to begin classes in the parish school. I thank God that our CFCA community at Hermano Pedro is disposed to respond to an expressed, felt need such as this. I thank God that our CFCA centers are much more than offices. They are welcoming communities.

Landslide area of Panabaj

We are having a very fine day on Lake Atitlan and in Santiago. After seeing the video about the martyrdom of Father Stan Rother, we were able to visit the huge church which dates back to the late 1500s. Father Stan’s heart is buried near the entrance. We had the privilege of praying in the chapel where Father Stan gave his life for the people he loved. It has been a while since Hurricane Stan (October 2005), but the landslide area of Panabaj is still torn up and very vulnerable to this year’s hurricane season. During the dry season, the government and local authorities foolishly began constructing homes in the same landslide area. Many times politics and personal interest play into these decisions. Now, with the first good rains of 2006, the authorities have abandoned the costly construction, saying that the area is at risk. Many families are camped out in the town square. Encouraging are the new homes put up by CFCA in a safe area for humble and grateful sponsored families.

A change of pace

On Thursday of the trip, we enjoyed a change of pace. Sponsors were offered a good number of options, such as working at service projects at the CFCA center (translating and sorting letters, cleaning, playing with our refugee family), helping out in school or at the parish clinic, reforestation or just kicking back and enjoying some quiet time. After our evening meal, we were treated to a musical tour of Guatemala by our staff at Hermano Pedro. As a special treat, a van-load of our sponsored children arrived from Livingston to delight us with their dancing, and drums and Garifuna melodies.

Arroz con pollo under the willow tree

Friday morning we said farewell to San Lucas Toliman and headed up through the mountains to Tecpan and the ancient Mayan ruins of Iximche. In our outdoor theater under the tall pine trees, four subprojects offered quality cultural numbers. Blessed with a sunny morning, we were able to visit the ruins and to witness a Mayan prayer ceremony. Staff and mothers had prepared a nice hot lunch (arroz con pollo) under the willow tree. Sponsors continued on to Antigua and then Guatemala City in order to head home on Saturday morning. I thank God for such a wonderful group of sponsors and for a deeply meaningful and safe trip. I thank each of you for traveling with us in solidarity and prayer.

God's blessings,

Bob Hentzen
Guatemala

June 3, 2006