After leaving Las Conchas we took advantage of our proximity to the beautiful Lake Lachua, which is now protected with National Park status. A lovely set of trails takes you through rainforest (think lush foliage, beautiful bromeliads, irridescent bugs, termite condominiums the size of a couch, hooting howler monkeys, and exotic bird songs) to the lake where we dipped our feet and took a break from the bumpy ride. I´m sorry Larry missed this.
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February 2007
February 08, 2007
The Libraray-to-be in Las Conchas
Boxes of used books shipped from Spain that need to be sorted through for usefulness and then cataloged.
Developing Marketable Skills in Las Conchas
Notice the foot pedals...these are not electric sewing machines. Though I did see two machines that look pretty similar to these that do run on electricity.
Rafael and Las Conchas
About 8 years ago Rafael Luna came from Spain with 2 other missionaries to work in Guatemala. He intended to become a Father but wound up falling in love with a local woman and is now a father! He is warm, enthusiastic, collaborative, generous and smart. He dove into this local community, which already had a primary school, and worked to help them build a middle school powered by solar energy and including classes in sewing, typing, and farming that will allow the kids to find work. He is also working on starting a library (the reason for our visit) and opening a hospital. About 20 of the boys board at the school. And boards are what they sleep on! Some of the kids come from as far away as 4 hours walking. And walk they do (though those from that far away are obviously boarding).
The bunk beds...
A New School in Sayaxut
On Tuesday I had the great fortune of traveling with a consultant to the municipality of Coban. In a city with a population of 170,000 the majority of the population live outside the city center and in very remote and isolated areas. We drove 275 Km over dirt roads and visited several projects with potential for collaboration. Our first stop was in a little village called Sayaxut (Sigh-ya-shoot). There were three classrooms: kindergarten, 1-3 and 4-6 in the new school of 7 months. The old school built in 1999 was nothing but a shack. And before 1999 there was no school at all. The city is looking to add a library to this school.
The new school...
Colorful Classroom at the Dump
In the midst of the dirt and rubbish is this colorful classroom that Padre Sergio has worked to build. He is pictured here with one of the boys who will soon be learning in this classroom.
