Thursday, April 29, 2010

Guatemala 04/2010

Guatemala will always hold a special place in my heart.  I met Food For The Poor in Guatemala 4 years ago when I was working there as a volunteer and I continue to be amazed and impressed by our work there.  I feel proud to be a part of this organization and proud to know that I play a role in making it all happen. 

Angels of Hope currently works with four children's homes in Guatemala.  In late 2009 two of the homes received a donation of a full Marching Band of instruments.  The 40 piece donation includes all the needed accessories, reeds, and oils, etc.  The bands were donated to all the homes program-wide who had more than 40 children and an exisiting music program. 


When I visited each of the homes, those who had received the bands were proudly showing off their new instruments and playing a "welcome" march as I arrived.  It is so nice to see the children have these additional opportunities that allow them to continue to grow and develop all the hidden talents that each one posseses.  I always try to make eye contact with each one and send them my biggest smile.  I also like to address individual children and ask them questions about their instrument; how long have they been playing? their favorite song? can they play a little as a solo?  is it heavy? etc.  I wish I could spend more time with each one of them.  I try to as much as possible but the heavy work load and distances traveled do not allow enough time for "hanging out".


One of the other tasks I was trying to accomplish on this trip was to take full picture retakes of all the children.  Every other year we send out Updates to the sponsors that include an updated photo of the child and a letter from the orphanage's director.  So a focus of this trip was to retake each child's individual photograph.  As you can imagine.. this takes time, lots of time.  Here is a sample of Estuardo Cruz from Hogar San Jeronimo Emiliani.  You can really see how much these kids grow and develop in only two years!



Guatemala will soon head into their rainy season.  Even so, being the end of the dry season, it is such a lush and green country.  As you drive through the countryside you can look at the rolling hills and mountains and see that "patchwork" that is sketched in children's books.  Each crop or field has a different color and texture and the pattern covers the sides of each slope.  I am always amazed that on pieces of the most trecherous terrain you will still find corn and coffee being planted and harvested.  I am sure I drove by the plantations that grow that yummy coffee we all buy at Starbucks.  :)

I would be so happy the day that this t-shirt comes to be true.  Isn't he adorable!