12 de Julio, 2002
Viernes

This week I have been busy setting up scholarships for some of the brighter kids in town. There is a public school in Lemoa where children can go through grade 6. If they want to continue their studies they have to attend private school in Santa Cruz del Quiché. This costs about $200 per year, which is well beyond the means of most families here. In contrast, the children here at the orphanage go to the best private schools from grade 1 up, and are all sponsored by folks in the US. Little Maria is even going to the new kindergarten in Quiché!

Local school children
Dora & Dina

 
Lilli, Sebastian, and Elena

Elena, one of the two Maryknoll Sisters living nearby, has been in Lemoa since 1986. She has seen a lot happen here and knows practically everyone in town. She introduced me to the local teachers and principal and has been instrumental in helping me set up the scholarships. The sisters have given many scholarships for local children in the past. One of the students went on to study engineering in the States, and is currently making straight A's! The sisters really love this community, and are a shining presence here in Lemoa.

They even invited me over for dinner Monday night. It was wonderful; they made lasagna, and we had fresh salad and french rolls with real butter. There was not a black bean in sight. We had dessert, too: apple crisp and ice cream, washed down with hot cinnamon tea! I have never enjoyed a meal more.

I had my first hot shower ever at the Hogar this week. It's all in the timing; you need to wait for a day when Maria is making tortillas and the stove is really fired up. After a few hours there is a plentiful supply of hot water, provided that the kids are in school.
Making fried plantains and tortillas

On Wednesday we had some great meals at the Hogar. For lunch it was their famous chicken soup with fresh avocados and warm tortillas on the side. For dinner we had refried black beans and fried plantains, a very Guatemalan meal. The beans are a lot of work, and generally only happen when I politely request them. They are correspondingly incredible. I have tried to recreate them at home, but without much success.
 
It's been a month already! I leave for the States on Tuesday. We just got word that Chuck and Irene will be delayed in arriving back in Lemoa -- Chuck is in the hospital. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

 
Adios!
 
De Los Niños

Tengo 14 años, y estoy in primero basico. Soy de Quiché. Estuve aqui para siete anos. Me gusta jugar futbol y dibujar caricaturas. En los fin de semanas ayudo mis papas con limpiando la casa. Quiero ser professor cuando sea grande.

I am 14 years old and am in 7th grade. I am from Santa Cruz del Quiché. I have lived in the Hogar for seven years. I like to play soccer and draw cartoons. On the weekends I help my parents clean the house. I want to be a teacher when I grow up.
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