Chicabal

Hola a todos,

Just wanted to give an update on the week. I am making progress everyday in my Spanish class. This week I spent some time at the daycare, which they are changing the name to El Centro de Apoyo Familiar (Family Support Center) because it is a lot more than a daycare and the kids’ ages range from 1 to 16. On Friday, the director, Carmen, organized a meeting with the mothers of the children that go to El Centro. She had a social worker come and talk to the women about self-esteem. We did some fun activities together and had a discussion afterwards. The children of these women receive scholarships from Pop-wuj to go to school and then they come to El Centro for the rest of the afternoon. Most of the women are widowed or abandoned by their husbands with hopes for a better life in the US. Alcoholism and domestic violence are major issues for the families still intact. These women work during the day to make ends meet at the market or as maids. If they didn’t receive scholarship money to cover school costs, the kids would most likely be working as well. It was cool to see these women, who have been through so much, come together and know that they have Pop-wuj and each other for support.

This Saturday a group of us from Pop-wuj went on a hike to a volcano called Chicabal. There are several volcanoes around Xela, but this one hasn’t been active in 3,000 years. The top is now a lake that Mayans consider to be sacred. Many come to the lake and have ceremonies praying for rain, work, food, good fortune, etc. While our guide, Alberto, didn’t seem to have any trouble at all, it was quite a trek for us gringos who weren’t used to such heights. The fog gave the lake a sacred and mysterious feel but it also kept us from really seeing anything when we finally got there.

I’ve been battling a cold this week (sure beats a lot of other illnesses I could have gotten!) that has kept me from stove building. Hopefully next week I can let my construction worker side come out. Hope you are doing well! Enjoy some photos.

-Carrie

                                                   shepherd in training

                                                      the start of our hike

                                                 600 steps to the laguna

We made it!

                                                          

                                                              The laguna

                                                          "Sacred Waters"

Somone's offering to the lake

 

Felix my new pet.