How You Can Help - Letter From Mexico

Update from Mexico

October 2003

Hi Everybody!

I can´t believe it has been a month! I have been busy from day 1 and so the time flew by. I am nicely settled into the little town of Chacsinkin. It has a population of about 2,000 the majority of which live in poverty. In town you will find a lot of people live in cement block houses with electricity but few have running water or bathroom facilities. Outside of town many of the homes are built with bajaraques (long sticks and clay) with uano roofs (stalks of leaves from a type of palm tree) and typically have cement or dirt floors. Everyone sleeps in hammocks, but after three restless nights and pulled muscles in my neck and back, I have opted for a bed!

Chacsinkin is in a pretty isolated location and I was told that as of about 20 some years ago, it was not even found on a map. Now with new some new roads, it is 1h 45min from Merida by car, 2h 30min by large bus and 4h 30min by van! (The vans stop in every town along the way) Mayan is mainly spoken but Spanish is taught in the schools so many people know both languages. When I go to visit homes, I often need someone to come with me to translate the Mayan into Spanish.

My main job currently is translating letters, written by the children or aging adults, into English for their sponsors to read. I also have been traveling around to many homes in the area to complete information packets and taking photos of the children or aging adults that is necessary for CFCA. Three days a week I assist an English teacher at the local secondary school. Once a week I assist Esther, my project coordinator, in a second year Catechism class. The children are 8-9 years old and since some don't speak Spanish, the class is mainly in Mayan. I am learning some Mayan along the way and it amuses everyone when I use it. I am quite certain my accent plays a part in that!

The next month should be very busy as we have Christmas cards and a visit from a group of sponsors. October may seem early for Christmas cards, but remember we have over one hundred to make and then I need to translate them. Not to mention the mail system is pretty slow and will require about a month to reach the USA! I will also be traveling with the sponsors and help in translating Spanish for them. So October should be a pretty exciting month!

Although limited, I do have internet access in Chacsinkin. I will do my best to respond to emails and answer any questions you may have. I appreciate all the emails that have been sent and all the encouragement I have been given. If anyone is interested in more information on CFCA, you can check out their web site at www.cfcausa.org. Thank you so much for all your support. Please keep me in your prayers. God Bless.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Evans
Merida, Mexico