Guatemala 2016 Update – Dedicated
(Saturday, July 16, 2016)
We finished Dolores’ house today, and we held a dedication ceremony at noon today here in Xenacoj.
I’m so happy with the finished product of this house. It came out much better than the last two we built two years ago. The cinder blocks went up two more layers, and we used wood for the walls that was more finished that last time. We also put wood strips on the inside of the house to close up the gaps in the wall. The house is clean and tight. It should provide protection and warmth for Dolores and her family for many years to come.
Before we arrived at the house for the dedication, our family stopped by the local grocery store and market to pick up 5 pounds of beef, soap, peach roses, brown rice, black beans, white sugar, watermelon, squash, and pineapple. We also brought a lemon cake (thanks to Hillary) and a brand new Spanish Bible. We moved seven beds into the house, and the family was glowing as we moved these items into their brand new house.
At the dedication ceremony, Hannah read some words our family put together, and we prayed for the house and for Dolores. Then it was time to celebrate. We took pictures of the children as they climbed into their new beds. And we gave hugs to Dolores and her family. It felt a little like the scene from It’s A Wonderful Life when George Bailey hands over the keys to the Italian family as they purchase their first house.
Just as I finished praying, one of the family members set off a bunch of firecrackers in the street outside our house. There was certainly reason to celebrate. You could see tears flowing down Dolores’ cheeks and down the cheeks of her daughter.
I love having the opportunity to give away a house to people in need. And I love the community it takes to pull something like this off.
Next week, we’ll do it again, and even though I’m exhausted now, I cannot wait.
Tonight, the big annual festival in Xenacoj begins. Assuming the weather cooperates, we will celebrate by walking over to Central Park to be there for the big night.
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I enjoyed a nice siesta (nap) this afternoon. I don’t think I slept long, but I slept deeply.
When I woke up, our family took a walk over the Angela’s house. We built a house for Angela two years ago when we were in Xenacoj. I asked German about the house when we first arrived in Xenacoj earlier this week, and he mentioned something about the back wall being torn apart. Apparently, the back wall of the house was built too close or even over the property boundary line.
As we were looking for her house, we struggled to find it at first. There were many new buildings along the road, and at first it seemed like we weren’t on the right road. As we were backtracking, I looked over the wall of one of the properties and saw the edge of her house. A two story bar had been built right in front of her house.
We were waved into the property by a familiar face. It wasn’t Angela, but I’m pretty sure it was one of her relatives. Angela was out at a reunion of some sort, but we were welcomed in and permitted to take pictures. We looked into the back of Angela’s house, and I could see how the back wall had been compromised. Honestly, I wanted to cry. Then I snuck around back where some stray dogs were living. They weren’t crazy about me trespassing in their “territory,” but I had to see the back of the house for myself. Sure enough, the cinder blocks along the back of the house had been removed, and the wooden boards that made out the back of the house had been redistributed in an effort to cover the back of the house. Now there were huge gaps in between the wooden planks, and the top part of the back wall had to be covered with some sort of tarp.
Angela was still living there, but the house was not the same.
We will stop back over there later this week with Dave Sgro and German Espana to look at the house together. I’m hoping we can come up with some kind of plan for suring up the back wall of Angela’s house.
I am frustrated that Angela’s house was damaged in this fashion. I’m frustrated that her house was built so close to the property line. I’m frustrated that there was no one to advocate for her, and I’m frustrated that she doesn’t have anyone to help her keep up with things.
Out of frustration can often come new perspectives and fresh ideas for making things better.
I still want to build 100 houses for widows in Guatemala, but I also want to find a way to help these widows maintain their properties. Some widows (like Betty) have family support around them, but many widows do not have this kind of support, and they need people who will lend them a helping hand.
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After our visit to Angela’s house, we walked over to Central Park. We enjoyed an ice cream treat while sitting on one of the benches. After a quick look in the market, we sat down again and listened to live music being performed at the opening of the festival. We were greeted by the mayor, Mario. We didn’t have the opportunity to talk at this time, but I’m hoping we might get a chance to talk over the next week. I’d like hear his thoughts on building more homes in Xenacoj and on providing additional support to the widows.
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Tomorrow, our nursing team heads home, and the next week will be different as it will just be our family. We will miss our friends, but I’m excited to have more time with our immediate family. Tomorrow will be a day for rest around town. Hannah needs to get a run in tomorrow, and I will most likely enjoy time on the roof before everyone else gets up. I have really enjoyed this time to wake up, reflect, read, and pray. At home, we rush around so much. The pace of life in Guatemala has reminded me of the importance of taking time to slow down.