Our airport experience was made much longer due to many mission teams joining us on our flight. Unfortunately, the eye doctors claimed their luggage before ours rolled out and we were forced to wait for a very long time in the scanner line as customs checked each and every piece of their medical equipment. Why they wouldn't instead make a FAST PASS lane for those bringing much needed supplies to the neediest of the needy in this nation is beyond me, and I think those waiting behind me in line would agree.
We stopped at the former Marriott to freshen up and have lunch before our 2.5 hour ride to Pana, and the level of emotion that I felt when I walked through the door caught me by surprise. I sat on the couch where I first met and held Will as a four month old, and I got a little teary. I remember exactly where his Foster Parents sat, and I recalled Bayardo tossing him into the air and Will giggling with delight. How blessed Will was to have felt such love at every stage of his young life. It warms my heart enormously, yet it also reminds me that we missed eight months with him. I hope that he can, someday, come to terms with his unique journey into our family.
In my short time here, I am surrounded by Will look-a-likes. It's hard to describe, but - in the States - people are "mixes" of so many different nationalities, and so they are easier to differentiate. Here in GUA, a very large percentage of the population is 100% Indigenous Mayan Indian, just like Will. And so, I swear I've seen him - or bigger or smaller versions of him - at least 100 times.
I'm coping right now with what Will's life would have been like had he been raised by his Birth mom in Guatemala. I say coping, because it's hard to describe the feeling. I live with significant guilt for taking him from his homeland, and I feel grief for the loss of his Birth mother in his life. At the same time, I can't imagine not being Will's Mother. He is every bit "my own." I love him so deeply and know in my soul that his life as a McFadyen will provide him with more love, and more security, and more opportunity than he would have known otherwise. But, I think it's my profound love for Will that makes me feel the deep ache of the losses in his life... perhaps before even he feels them. The roller-coaster ride begins...
In the morning, we're off to Chichicastanango to experience the Sunday marketplace. It's an hour drive from here, but it will be worth the trip. And then, we're back to Mayan Families for a mission highlight (for me).... the distribution of chickens!!! If we can figure out the photo upload, I'll post pictures tomorrow. For now, I'm off to bed, having not slept since Thursday night.
P.S. Don't tell David, but I'm loving having him here with me, and the bozo is already proving more valuable than me. It's like high school all over again. :)
Buenas Tardes Mis Amigos!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Day 2
Today was our first full day in Guatemala, and it was incredible. How is it possible that I already feel at home here? The people we've met have become fast friends, and it's no wonder. We are like-minded souls who feel a true calling to the work that we do. Now this is what I call a team sport.
If I do say so myself, I'm communicating quite well "en espanol." From the archives of my High School Spanish class memory, I'm retrieving nowns and verbs that I thought I'd never recall. And, better yet, I'm practically speaking in complete sentences... with properly conjugated verbs, nonetheless. When I get home, be sure to ask me how to say "How much do four of these cost?"
Today, we visited the Sunday marketplace in Chichi and it was an experience I'll never forget. David stuck out like a sore thumb as a tall gringo amidst the shorter statured Maya, and that made him quite the magnet for salespeople. I'm guessing the youngest seller was about 5 years old with the average age probably ranging from 8-10. It was hard to not buy something from everyone. That said, I think David did actually do so. If you are in the market for chicken potholders, he's your man.
After Chichi, we returned to Pana and visited the Mayan Families headquarters for the very first time. I finally was able to see the place where our boxes are delivered. I can only imagine how I'll feel the next time a Medrano Express truck pulls away from Captain Circle, because I now have the full picture of their ultimate destination. And today, not only did I see it, but I was blessed with the experience of distributing some of those donations. The level of gratitude expressed by the warm people I met today is as genuine and true as it ever gets. I felt it... inside and out.
And how can you top a day like today? It's hard to do, but I'll tell you how in just one word.... chickens!!! I can't quite explain why passing out live chicks makes me jump for joy, but it does... it really, really does. I've been excited about it for the past two weeks, when I learned it was on the MF agenda during our visit, and it lived up to my expectations, and more. We provided 20 families with 10 chicks each and a bag of chicken food to keep them healthy. The women brought baskets and boxes and bags with which to carry their chicks home, and it was a sight to behold. Many women walked away with their containers of chicks balancing on their heads. Still haven't quite figured out how they do that, but I'm compiling a list of things I've seen on heads and chicks and bundles of firewood are in the running for most challenging and interesting.
We ended our time at Mayan Families today meeting with Sharon, one of the co-founders. She, my friends, is remarkable. She is everything that a good non-profit needs, and more. I loved watching her with the children, ensuring that everyone got what they needed and that the big brother of a newborn baby had a few things to bring home to his new sister. I loved watching her bathe a week old kitten with a cloth and warm water as we were discussing our plans for the week... and how she checked the temperature of the kitten formula with her pinky finger to make sure that it was just right. It is that same level of love and warmth and kindness and respect for all things that makes Mayan Families so special to this community and to so many of us who support it from across the miles. I am simply in awe.
Tomorrow, we hope to visit Tierra Linda, and it is quite possible that I will be able to meet Florinda Ben Ben, the 10 year old girl sponsored by our church. We spent some time this evening sorting donations and preparing to deliver them tomorrow. Lots of wonderful things to share, thanks to the generosity of our family and friends.
Hasta manana,
Solamente Beth
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Day 3
If yesterday was all about chickens, then today was all about avocados. Let me tell you why....
We were very fortunate to visit Tierra Linda today, and I absolutely fell in love with this community. It sits on the mountainside, above Panajachel, and most families climb the dirt pathway to travel to and from. We drove with Sharon and Dwight in their pick-up truck up lots of windy paved roads and then over bumpy dirt ones. It was well worth the trip!
As we walked down the dirt road to visit the new school built by the supporters of Mayan Families, Sharon pointed out a beautiful tree... an avocado tree. Honestly, in all of my years of eating copious amounts of avocados, I hadn't really considered how they were grown. I guess I thought they were a vine fruit, because - when I saw an actual tree, dripping with ripening avocados - I experienced both shock and awe. First thought that came to mind was how I might be able to bring that tree home to Captain Circle. But I digress...
The Tierra Linda school is fabulous. The children are incredibly excited to attend school, and the teachers we met were dedicated and caring. If only they had all the tools that they needed. This community is so friendly and the children exude so much joy... it really is a pleasure to be an observer here. I couldn't help but think about episodes of Little House on the Prairie as we walked the street from the school to the community center. Tierra Linda, to me, felt quite a lot like Walnut Grove. I loved watching the children walk home from school and stop along the way to giggle with friends or catch a ride on the back of a passing truck. It seems so primitive to this mom, who drives her kids to and from the bus stop each day, to consider the freedoms that the children here experience, yet it all feels so safe and comfortable. Just like Walnut Grove...
The Tierra Linda Community Center is yet another building made possible by supporters of Mayan Families. The group Conexiones, from Canada, was working with the pre-school children in this great building, while an irrigation expert consulted with the local farmers on a new contraption, essentially consisting of a bagged water supply and tubing, which could be used to ensure maximum harvest. It's yet another example of what I love about Mayan Families; they are teaching people how to help themselves and how to earn a living wage.
In our short time here, we've met so many people who have fallen in love with the Maya and have made significant commitments to giving back to this community. Stan and Dave and their group support Tierra Linda, and Louise is working in Chuk Muk, and Connie is raising funds AND recruiting volunteers. In my few spare moments, I've already begun to think about what my contribution might be. It's an entirely spontaneous reaction, and I doubt that anyone who has visited hasn't felt the same way.
So, let me tell you about the highlight of my day...
As we entered the grounds of the Community Center, I spotted Florinda Ben Ben. Our church has sponsored Florinda for the past three years, and I had hoped to meet her while in Pana. Yet another wish come true for me. Not only did I meet Florinda, but I was able to visit her house and meet her family.
Susie and Julio accompanied me on the walk up and down a narrow mountain path to reach their home, and they reminded me how much more difficult the walk would be in the rainy season. As we approached the house, Florinda's mama, Juana, approached with a beaming smile. She is a warm and lovely woman and she was anxious to show me how much they loved the gifts that the church had purchased for them over the years: an Onil stove, a bed, and a wardrobe. The children kindly allowed us to take pictures, and I tried my best to photo document as much as I could so that I could share my journey with the kids back home in our Sunday School program. The visit was incredibly special, and - as we were about to leave - a beautiful thing happened....
Juana presented me with a gift of thanks for all that TCC has done for her family. And what might that gift have been, you ask? Well, it just happened to be my most favorite thing... a great big bag of avocados! I was so touched and so honored and so thankful that I began to cry, and Juana and I embraced yet again. It was one of those moments when you realize that God put you together for a reason. In our family, that happens quite a lot. And so, yesterday was chickens and today was avocados and I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow will bring.
I am blessed beyond words to be having this experience, and I am treasuring every moment.
Buenas Noches,
Solamente Beth
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Day 4
As each day passes, I feel more and more at home here in Guatemala. In fact, today, I ventured out on my own for a bit and was hardly approached by the street vendors. I must have lost that "deer in the headlights" look that they immediately noticed when I arrived.
And yet it was still a day filled with "firsts." This morning, we traveled by tuk tuk to Mayan Families, and it was a very exciting ride. The tuk tuk system is best described as a taxi service in a three wheeled vehicle with the driver in the front and room for three passengers in the back. There is no room for cargo, but these little vehicles can surely get you where you need to go in a hurry. As I rode today, I was reminded of my experience sitting in the back seat on the Antique Car ride at Canobie Lake Park, with Juliana as my driver. There is lots of starting and stopping, and the engines literally sounds the same. If you were to close your eyes, you surely couldn't tell the difference... other than the fact that the ones in Guatemala go really, really fast.
Another first was a visit to the lakefront. What a beautiful sight to behold... blue skies on top, blue water below, and towering volcanoes as the backdrop. It's incredibly soothing to stare across Atitlan and breathe in every ounce of its serenity.
Much of my time at Mayan Families today was spent sorting and distributing donations. I found treasures for Griselda, and Jesus, and Elvis, and lots of other visitors who had some urgent needs and came to the right place. I will never underestimate the value of our shipments of donations. They are life sustaining... there's no doubt about that.
This afternoon, I gladly accepted an invitation to follow along on the delivery route for the elderly feeding program. This is a new MF program that sustains some of the oldest and most dear in the community. Those who know me well know that I totally dig old people... always have and always will. (Have you met any other college student who chose to spend her class-free Fridays volunteering in an adult day care program?) I am truly touched by the labor intensive work performed by MF staffers on a weekly basis to ensure that these nutritionally fortified meals are prepared and hand delivered to so many lovely souls.
It should come as no surprise that, on the way back from a feeding program visit, we rescued a dog. Imagine a place where - when you find someone (or some animal) in need - you help. No excuses and no exceptions. Panajachel is teaming with stray dogs and many of the injured ones find their way to Mayan Families. A staff member (or visiting volunteer) notices one, a call is made to Sharon, and she lovingly instructs the caller to bring it home to get care. The sweet puppy we rescued today was laying two feet away from the edge of a bridge enbankment , and he had what appeared to be a broken or sprained right paw. One phone call to Sharon and a quick trip up the road by Don Bartolo resulted in this sweet pup visiting the vet's office and getting immediate medical attention. The ease with which this all happened was inspiring. I truly believe that if more people understood how easy it can be to help others (human or canine or otherwise), they would challenge themselves to do it more often.
It wasn't long after the puppy rescue that I met my sponsored student, Daniel Pablo, for the very first time. He arrived with his brother Antonio (sponsored by my parents), his sister Maria, and his mother, Alejandra. Honestly, I felt as though I knew them long before I even shook their hands. They are a wonderful family. With some tears in my eyes and a bit of a shaky voice, I explained to them that my Mom was especially honored to sponsor Antonio and to help their family because she too was the child of a single parent family after her own Dad passed away when she was just 5 years old... the same age at which Antonio's father passed away. Like my Nana Sughrue, Alejandra is a strong woman, and she is protective of her brood. She spoke with such sincerity - in her native Mayan dialect which was then translated into Spanish - when she explained how hard her life had become after her husband's passing and that the gifts from Jay and I and from my parents had helped to ease the burden. Can you even imagine what it must feel like to know that there are people in another part of the world... a world you hardly know because you cannot read or speak the common language and because you have never traveled away from your village... who are willing to lend a helping hand? Perhaps that is why this culture calls its sponsors "Padrinos" or "Madrinos" which literally translates to Godparents. There's no doubt that God has played a role in creating this very special relationship. My time with this family ended with the sharing of some gifts that I had brought from home (including Boston Red Sox t-shirts for the boys) and arranging for the purchase and delivery of a new bed and new armoire for their home, thanks to Los Padrinos Patterson. That Mom and Dad of mine will surely never step on Guatemalan soil, but I am overwhelmed by the generosity that they have shown to Alejandra's family and to the people of their Grandson's homeland. They taught me well.
The grand finale of our day was grand indeed. The children of a community called El Baranco traveled to Panajachel to perform a Mayan dance ritual. It included traditional clothing, ancient hunter/gatherer dances, and even a monkey dance in which they were covered with soot and wore masks to resemble the hairy primates. It was clear that, not only had they practiced, but that these dances sprung from their little bodies as only something that is part of your being can do. I am reminded how diluted my ancestry is and how I don't hold tight to the traditions of those who came before me. That is certainly not the case with these children from El Baranco. They are pure Maya and they wear it with pride and dignity. There are too few places in the world like this... where tradition is not on the endangered list. Keeping it alive is truly a gift that all the world should see.
Who knows what is in store for tomorrow, but it is sure to be another dia magnifico!
Abrazos Grandes,
Solamente Beth
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Re-Entry
My new friends in Guatemala prepared me. They said that “re-entry” would be difficult. They said that it would hit me at unusual times. They said that it would bring me to tears. They were right.
Within five minutes of returning home, at 1:30am on Palm Sunday, I was standing in the dark in my bedroom, weeping. It had been a long day of traveling, and I had every intention of quickly transitioning from doorway to pajamas to bed, and then, mid-step, I froze. As I stood still in the quiet of the night, with spring peepers offering a faint chirp in the background, I absorbed all of the comforts of my home. I felt the sturdy wood floor beneath my feet and remembered all of the people I had met who slept, every night, on a dirt floor. I felt the expanse of my bedroom, with vaulted ceilings and many windows, and I remembered the mud brick homes that I had entered, which – as beautiful and traditional as they were – reminded me of small caves. And I actually felt the conveniences in my life… a bathroom only steps away, a thermostat on the wall to control the heat, a stocked refrigerator downstairs, and light bulbs… lots and lots of lamps and recessed lights and nightlights which simply required the flip of a switch to illuminate an entire room. It was in that darkness, as I thought about Florinda and Daniel Pablo and Cayetana and Erwin and so many others, that I began to unravel. Yes… it happened that quickly.
So what is re-entry? Ever since I was 10 years old, in Ms. Weems’ 5th grade class, I have understood the concept of re-entry. I don’t remember much from that year (other than being the girl winner of the multiplication contest and earning dinner at China Blossom with the teacher and boy winner, David Natoli), but I do remember this. Ms. Weems told a story about a friend of hers who had traveled to a poor area of Mexico to do volunteer work. She explained that, when the friend returned home for the holidays, she burst into tears as family members tore through wrapping paper to open Christmas gifts. Her friend was not just sad to think that the people she had met in Mexico would not have gifts to open, but she was overcome by the symbolism of the wrapping paper, knowing full well that such beautiful paper would be valued and treasured by the poor people she served. The image stuck in my head for, well… more than 30 years. I have often envisioned a small brown child, much like my own Will, slowly and meticulously unwrapping a small gift so that the paper could be saved for another special occasion. That’s re-entry. It’s the realization that what you left behind is not at all like what you experience at home… and it is the sadness, the guilt, the anger, the hope, and all of the other emotions that fill your soul and cause you to stop in your tracks and just let it wash over you… like being overcome by a great big wave on an otherwise calm seas day.
I think I may have been wrong in an earlier post. I wrote that, because of the kinds of work that I do, this trip was not as much life-changing as it was life-affirming. As I now have had some time to reflect, I realize that, indeed, it did change me. I am feeling a bit Zen… whatever that means. I am hugging and praising and valuing my kids more. I am treasuring my time – and my life - with Jay. I am thinking more deeply and acting less quickly. I am praying more than I have in a long time. I am feeling more comfortable, and perhaps even content, in my skin. I am feeling valued and validated. I am feeling blessed and grateful to a higher degree. Good changes… every one of them.
And so, when can I expect this re-entry phase to come to a close? Time will only tell, but – for lots of reasons – I would like it to stick with me for a while. I hope that certain sights and sounds and smells bring me back, if only for a moment, to the land that I have come to love… a land of extreme poverty and intense pride… a land of culture and tradition… a land whose people exude warmth and gratitude and honor.
With my “orientation” now complete, I can hardly wait to return and be put to work by my new Mayan Families friends. Oh how I’d love to make this an annual trip. And I’d love to bring Jay and the kids. And I’d love to stay for a month and do a Spanish immersion program. And I’d love to build an Onil stove. And I’d love to bring a supply of basketball uniforms for the free sports program. And I’d love to pick avocados with Juana in Tierra Linda. And I’d love to create a garden in Chuk Muk with Louise. And I’d love to secure space for a community garden in Pana with Sue. And I’d love to build a community center in El Barranco. And I’d love to create a transitional living program for the kids in the San Andres orphanage who will be put out on the street at age 15. It’s such a blessing to have so many opportunities to make a difference.
Like I have carried the Ms. Weems story with me for all of these years, I hope that you will carry my story. When you have that quiet moment, perhaps also in the darkness of the night, I pray that you will think about the bounty of your life and tip your hat in gratitude. And, if you feel so inspired, consider your next opportunity to serve and be ready to pay the toll.
Feeling abundantly blessed,
Beth
Posted by Beth McFadyen at 10:16 PM 4 comments
Labels: Guatemala Mission Trip 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Day 6
I love "full circle" moments, and - as you can see from the photo - I had one of those today. Last fall, a dear pal of mine called to ask if I could help with a project. She and some of her fellow soccer moms wondered what they could do with their children's blue soccer uniforms after the league switched to Tewksbury red. Knowing that I can often find homes for "used but usable" items, she asked if I would find someone who could use uniforms if we were to do a collection. I jumped at the opportunity to send them to Guatemala.
Needless to say, the Tewksubry Blues collection was a great success. And, not only did our generous families offer their uniforms, but many donated gently used cleats and shin guards as well. I shipped the uniforms to Mayan Families as part of the Christmas shipment last October and, today, before my very eyes, I watched Tewksbury South play ball. And what a treat it was.
The uniforms were donated to a free sports program which is run by a retired American gentleman, named Willie, who has lived in Guatemala for the past seven years. Seeing the need for organized sports, Willie created a program that runs much like ours in the US. Children register to participate and must have parental consent and show a birth certificate. Of course, this program is free, since many of the families cannot even afford to register their children for school, never mind sports. Willie manages the program with a host of volunteers who coach soccer, basketball, and swimming. (He was able to convince a local hotel to offer their pool for one hour each day, five days each week.) The program continues to grow, but it stands at nearly 500 children today.
Because the program is free, there is no budget for uniforms or sporting equipment. Willie was overjoyed when he learned that a little town in Massachusetts was coming to the rescue. He is such a dear man, and it is clear that he cares so deeply for the children. He introduced many of them to me by name and shared stories of each. One of his favorite children is a young boy who appears to be eight or nine years old. Because of his family's extreme poverty, the boy works at a local restaurant rather than attending school. This sports program is an escape from the life he normally leads.
It is wonderful to know that the uniforms are being used several times each week by hundreds of players. Rather than distribute them (and fear that they not be returned), Willie's coaches bring them to each game, distribute them according to size, and wash them after each use. By doing this, the uniforms will be available for many years to come.
As you can imagine, watching the children play in their Tewksbury Blues was magical. I remember counting and rolling and banding each and every one, and I now realize that I have touched each child that wears one in a very real way. What a perfect example of one community reaching out to help another.
P.S. to the soccer story... Scroll up to see the dilapidated ladder in the photo. I had to climb down that ladder backwards in order to reach the soccer field. Adventure!!!!
The other highlight of the day was assembling and distributing Semana Santa baskets. These baskets feed a 10 person family and consist of a chicken, carrots, green beans, sugar, mosh, incaparina, a pineapple, sweet breads, and chocolate. It's all the makings of a traditional Easter meal. Supporters of Mayan Families purchase these baskets for their sponsored children or for general distribution at a cost of $35 each, and families in need line up outside the door to request one... as if they are waiting to purchase front row tickets to the best concert of the year.
Back at Mayan Families...
Today, I helped to create more than 450 baskets, but it was passing them out that was the most fun. Many of the women brought pieces of traditional Mayan fabric to wrap their basket and carry it on their heads. Each of them expressed genuine thanks, and many stopped to offer a hug and a squeeze too. This week, I have been among a great people... warm and loving and thoughtful and proud.
I feel so entirely grateful to all of my pals who participated in my jewelry fundraiser and also those who generously offered funding for this project. Together, we raised over $800 which purchased 24 baskets for general distribution and which fed around 240 people. Now that's something to feel good about!
And so, this was our final full day in Pana, and we'll be traveling back to Guatemala City tomorrow. What a great finale to an absolutely awesome experience.
Thanks for sharing my day.
Your friend in service,
Beth
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Re-Entry
My new friends in Guatemala prepared me. They said that “re-entry” would be difficult. They said that it would hit me at unusual times. They said that it would bring me to tears. They were right.
Within five minutes of returning home, at 1:30am on Palm Sunday, I was standing in the dark in my bedroom, weeping. It had been a long day of traveling, and I had every intention of quickly transitioning from doorway to pajamas to bed, and then, mid-step, I froze. As I stood still in the quiet of the night, with spring peepers offering a faint chirp in the background, I absorbed all of the comforts of my home. I felt the sturdy wood floor beneath my feet and remembered all of the people I had met who slept, every night, on a dirt floor. I felt the expanse of my bedroom, with vaulted ceilings and many windows, and I remembered the mud brick homes that I had entered, which – as beautiful and traditional as they were – reminded me of small caves. And I actually felt the conveniences in my life… a bathroom only steps away, a thermostat on the wall to control the heat, a stocked refrigerator downstairs, and light bulbs… lots and lots of lamps and recessed lights and nightlights which simply required the flip of a switch to illuminate an entire room. It was in that darkness, as I thought about Florinda and Daniel Pablo and Cayetana and Erwin and so many others, that I began to unravel. Yes… it happened that quickly.
So what is re-entry? Ever since I was 10 years old, in Ms. Weems’ 5th grade class, I have understood the concept of re-entry. I don’t remember much from that year (other than being the girl winner of the multiplication contest and earning dinner at China Blossom with the teacher and boy winner, David Natoli), but I do remember this. Ms. Weems told a story about a friend of hers who had traveled to a poor area of Mexico to do volunteer work. She explained that, when the friend returned home for the holidays, she burst into tears as family members tore through wrapping paper to open Christmas gifts. Her friend was not just sad to think that the people she had met in Mexico would not have gifts to open, but she was overcome by the symbolism of the wrapping paper, knowing full well that such beautiful paper would be valued and treasured by the poor people she served. The image stuck in my head for, well… more than 30 years. I have often envisioned a small brown child, much like my own Will, slowly and meticulously unwrapping a small gift so that the paper could be saved for another special occasion. That’s re-entry. It’s the realization that what you left behind is not at all like what you experience at home… and it is the sadness, the guilt, the anger, the hope, and all of the other emotions that fill your soul and cause you to stop in your tracks and just let it wash over you… like being overcome by a great big wave on an otherwise calm seas day.
I think I may have been wrong in an earlier post. I wrote that, because of the kinds of work that I do, this trip was not as much life-changing as it was life-affirming. As I now have had some time to reflect, I realize that, indeed, it did change me. I am feeling a bit Zen… whatever that means. I am hugging and praising and valuing my kids more. I am treasuring my time – and my life - with Jay. I am thinking more deeply and acting less quickly. I am praying more than I have in a long time. I am feeling more comfortable, and perhaps even content, in my skin. I am feeling valued and validated. I am feeling blessed and grateful to a higher degree. Good changes… every one of them.
And so, when can I expect this re-entry phase to come to a close? Time will only tell, but – for lots of reasons – I would like it to stick with me for a while. I hope that certain sights and sounds and smells bring me back, if only for a moment, to the land that I have come to love… a land of extreme poverty and intense pride… a land of culture and tradition… a land whose people exude warmth and gratitude and honor.
With my “orientation” now complete, I can hardly wait to return and be put to work by my new Mayan Families friends. Oh how I’d love to make this an annual trip. And I’d love to bring Jay and the kids. And I’d love to stay for a month and do a Spanish immersion program. And I’d love to build an Onil stove. And I’d love to bring a supply of basketball uniforms for the free sports program. And I’d love to pick avocados with Juana in Tierra Linda. And I’d love to create a garden in Chuk Muk with Louise. And I’d love to secure space for a community garden in Pana with Sue. And I’d love to build a community center in El Barranco. And I’d love to create a transitional living program for the kids in the San Andres orphanage who will be put out on the street at age 15. It’s such a blessing to have so many opportunities to make a difference.
Like I have carried the Ms. Weems story with me for all of these years, I hope that you will carry my story. When you have that quiet moment, perhaps also in the darkness of the night, I pray that you will think about the bounty of your life and tip your hat in gratitude. And, if you feel so inspired, consider your next opportunity to serve and be ready to pay the toll.
Feeling abundantly blessed,
Beth
Posts
Thanks for sharing my journal, Sharon. I hope it inspires others to take this journey.
ReplyDeleteI think a couple of days of posts might be missing, so I'm happy to provide the direct link to the blog. http://just--beth.blogspot.com/
Missing you bunches!
Beth- You are truly a beautiful person Inside and Out!!!
ReplyDelete