GREETINGS

This edition brings greetings and blessings from El Quiché, Guatemala, the land of eternal spring and from all in the Association KANO´J. We wish you every success and happiness in your daily life.

Well I have a lot to share with you this time. I just hope I can fit it all in. In this edition I plan to share about the following:

ü Our new house and the house opening

ü Projects

ü Continuing saga with Rigoberto

ü A profile on one of the girls

ü Updates on different teenagers in the project

ü Accidents

ü Progress on studies

ü Graduations

ü Arrests

ü And much more

So try to stay awake during all this.

Don’t forget that if you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to contact me and let me know. My email address will appear further on in the newsletter.

*****

Please forgive all errors!

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Well our activities started on the 23^rd. I was invited to a mass in the old folks home. It was very nice. On the 24^th everyone in the house was busy making tamales which we ate that night. We invited some of the local teenagers from the area who are friends of some of our teens. All in all it was very different. At midnight lots of fireworks and firecrackers were let off, to welcome in the birth.

Christmas day lunch, not a tradition here, was celebrated with the family who stayed in the house to keep me company for the holidays. Another Irishman who is working with another organization also came and thoroughly enjoyed his banquet.

MAKING SURE ALL IS WELL

I was really caught on the hop many times during the holidays. I received many phone calls from the older teenagers who just wanted to see if I was ok. They knew it was my first Christmas in Guatemala and were worried about me.

THE CONFORMATION

Two weeks before Christmas I was sponsoring one of our teenagers in his conformation. I am so proud of him. He went religiously to his classes each week. It was something he wanted to do. The day itself went off well. The church was crowded and everyone was decked out in their finest including myself. I find the method used here to be far better, far more spiritual and far more focused on the sacrament. The girl or should I say young women, as you need to be eighteen to make your conformation, were dressed in their traditional dress with just a veil. The young men had to were navy blue trousers with a white shirt, some wore navy blue suits, and some had ties. All looked very well. Some of the wealthier non/indigenous (ladinos) tried to show-off but found it very difficult to do so. So often these events are nothing more than a parade of the latest fashions. Here

that is not the case. The mass, although long and drawn out was full of symbolism, with a lot of participation from the youth themselves. Those making their conformation had to practice, for the last time, at 8 am, we, the sponsors had to be there at 9 am and mass started at 10 o’clock and finished at around 12.30 pm. I must say that I found myself very confirmed in my own faith. Seeing so many young people eagerly seeking to be full members of the church.

After everybody congratulated everyone we went home and I prepared a nice meal and afterwards we had some cake I bought for the occasion. All in all it was a great day and I went off a very happy and proud sponsor of a new member.

GOOD NEWS OR NOT?

In resent months the United Nations declared that Indigenous children and teenagers are the most discriminated in the world today. Although at first, on hearing this realization on the part of the UN I was so excited that I shared with the teenagers this great news. They brought me back to reality with their questions. Q. So does this mean that we can receive a free and equal education? A. Well, no. Q. Does it mean that we will be receiving more help from outside? A. Well, no. Q. Well then can we apply for the same jobs as the non-indigenous community? A. Nooooo. Q. Will we see any changes in our lifetime then?

I know I have spent many years here but I am still from the first world. I have lost lots of the baggage that I brought with me but really how backwards we really are in the first world. These teenagers are streets ahead of us. What a fool I am to have thought that just because the UN says something that the whole world would change. I continue to live in hope!!

THE BIG DAY

Well as I said earlier we had our house opening in February. It was a truly wonderful time. I am still so excited that I really don’t know where to begin to tell all.

VISITORS

We had a number of very welcome visitors from all parts of the world.

A number of sisters from the Incarnate Word who have been journeying with me in this struggle for many years. A representation from St. Francis parish, Texas who also have given their enormous support over the past five years or there abouts. One of these has become a good friend over the years that I have been connected with St Francis. She comes from Guatemala and has not returned for about seven years and was just so trilled to be back. The plantains sellers loved to she her coming as she bought up their whole supply as she ate them for breakfast, dinner, and tea. The other couple came very well prepared and although I had only met them briefly before we formed a wonderful relationship and I look forward to many years of friendship with them.

The most exotic visitor we had came all the way from the emerald isle – that is if you can call Ireland, exotic! My brother John came to be with us. It was not the first time for him to visit us and I must say each of his visits has had something unique to offer him.

THE CEREMONIES

It was two days of hectic activities. On the Friday morning the visitors were welcomed to our new house by the families and those in the project. After lunch we started the main activity, which was a Mayan ceremony. We had seven Mayan priests who before the ceremony began they each gave a short talk to the teenagers regarding their spirituality. The floor was opened to the non indigenous to ask questions. After this started the ceremony, which although was a little long was really wonderful. Each room in the house was blessed including the corridor and our wells, which are extremely important. We had traditional music playing during the ceremony. In the evening we ate tamales and got to know each other. Saturday morning started the second day of blessings. At 9 am we had mass in the local church as a presentation to the local community (who mostly knew us). After which we has a Catholic blessing of the house and wells followed by lunch. In the afternoon we had many activities some of which included traditional dances, skits, and some dramatizations of the function of the project, among other things. It was a long day and the visitors had had enough by eight o’clock and had to be put to bed. On the other hand the teenagers had lots of energy still and they danced to the traditional marimba music until we had to put a stop to it at midnight. Where do they get their energy?

This finished the official opening. So on Sunday the visitors hit the market in Chichicastenango a famous tourist market near to us. The Board of Directors wanted some time with the visitors so we scheduled lunch with them. Although I sweated over the preparation of the food the visitors and board were so busy that it seemed to them to be just food but to the teenagers it was wonderful and they couldn’t have got enough, which was my reward!

Most of the visitors had to leave early on Monday so I had to bring them to the airport on Sunday afternoon, as it is dangerous to drive late in the day. So early on Sunday afternoon we hit the road for the capital thus finishing the house opening.

I cannot really express the full beauty of the ceremonies. You really need to talk to those present to see what their observations were. I loved dancing around the fire in the traditional way. I was also bowled over by the mass. The priest used an old paint tin for to bless us all with incense while the choir consisted of a few women in the corner, the leader of which was breast-feeding her child as she sang. During the homily the priest invited anyone from the congregation to share with the rest, the struggle that took place during the Violence. Reference was made to the bullet holes in the walls of the church. The rest I will leave to your imagination not that a great deal of imagination will be necessary.

So please talk to some of those who were present to explain what they experienced. Lots of photos were taken and are available to anyone who would wish to see them.

ACCIDENTS

In the lead up to the opening there was a great deal to be done. I got into a panic and it seemed I was working day and night not only maintaining the project but also trying to get the doors and windows finished before the big day. I am not really sure how things happened but on the 20^th January trying to get a little extra done before it was time to collect the children from school, I ran into a little problem. A lapse in concentration or just in a hurry. One of the machines turned on as I was holding the blade. Fortunately there were some of the teenagers in the house at the time and were able to help me. We dressed what was left of my finger and I drove to the hospital with the blood still running down my arm. The journey was a prayerful one and I resigned myself to the fact that I had lost my finger and how life would be without it. We arrived at the hospital about twenty minuets later.

THE TREATMENT

I think I could devote a whole edition to this experience. So let me try to convey some of these “happenings”. I was brought into the emergency room and was told to lie on one of the beds, which I did willingly. On my left hand I have a blood-socked bandage and my right hand was just covered in blood. The nurse comes in and looks at me, takes out a tray and proceeds to clean my right hand. I inform her that the injury is on the other hand. She says she knows and continues with the cleaning. At this stage a small pool of blood has gathered on the floor but I say nothing! After a couple of minutes the doctor arrives in and decides to have a look at the injury. The doctor is a heavy man who was very jovial, which put me totally at ease. After clamping an artery he sighs and says how difficult it will be, as he could not find much flesh to sew. In all he put three stitches in what he could find. He said that I needed to stay in the hospital for a few days. I pleaded with him to at least let me return to the house and show everyone that I am still alive and collect some belongings. He agreed. On arriving at the house all showed concern. One asked me on which machine I had injured myself. I pointed to the machine in questions but there was disbelief. Why then, I was asked, did we find part of your finger on that machine and on the ceiling? I was not in the mood to try to explain this and returned to the hospital.

A specialist was called to examine me finger. He said that it might need a lot of follow up work but that at least it would remain part of me! I was started on injections every couple of hours. All was well!

NOT FOR THE FEBLE HEARTED

In the morning I, with everyone else was sent to shower. Great I thought.

The others, of greater experience than I, got there first. So when my turn came, I was greeted in the shower by a number of blood stained dressings thrown on the floor. I avoided these and the stream of blood flowing from them and had my shower. I returned to my bed in my pyjamas that the hospital had given me and had seen better days. It was stained and just about fit me. The sheets on the bed were the same. They just about covered the mattress. It had blood stains not all was mine and was gray, I think it was suppose to be white but it had been washed or at least I want to believe it had!

Within the hour the doctor arrived examined my finger and said that it had started to heal very well and that I could go home that morning. It continued to heal and although I do not have full use of it and I cannot straighten it, it is still part of me.

I could not help notice the different treatment I received over everyone else in the ward. When the food cart came around and the ladies saw me there was a meeting among them and some of the nurses. Every couple of seconds they would all look my way, I found it funny at the time. When the food came it was on a different plate to everyone else and the portions were greater. Afterwards the ladies asked if everything was all right and if I would want more. They really did their best to make my stay comfortable. What a pity they do not do the same for everyone else there. I was very glad to leave and I am sure they were very glad to see the back of me as well!

I have taken photos of my injury if anyone would like to see them. Don’t ask why I took photos!!

AN UPDATE ON RIGO

For those of you who are following the saga on one of our teenagers, Rigo there is a latest installment. I spoke with someone over the Easter period that was able to give me a little more information.

It turns out that at the age of three or four years Rigo was abandoned. This I already know but I discovered that he was dumped on the rubbish pile some distance from his house. I believe it was later that same evening a neighbor found him and recognized him. She brought him to the house of his aunt. This aunt, a sister to Rigos mother cared for him but did not have much and was expecting her second child. If this neighbor had not found him we would be without Rigo today.

Rigo talks to me a bit about his mother of whom he has a limited contact. He still believes that she will ask him to live with her soon. He has other brothers and sisters that he has seen and spoken to but he does not know them. Rigo is now fourteen years old he does not do well in school. He gets lots of help from everyone in the house especially the older ones, with whom he has a very good relationship. During holiday periods he lives with his granny and an uncle. These mistreat him terribly. They send him to do a mans work in the fields and when he cannot complete it they beat him. He has told me of some of the things they have said to him that made me want to cry at the time. I know that there is not a great deal of food in their house and that he has gone days without eating. I have asked them to let Rigo stay with us the whole years round but they will not hear of it. After the Easter break I collected him from his granny, three others came with me to keep me company for the 5-hour journey. We stopped for lunch and I thought I would treat them and buy pizzas. I miscalculated the amounts and bought two gigantic pizzas. I was annoyed with myself for doing this but thank God I did. Rigo could not stop eating. There was one slice left at the end. The others only had three or four slices and each pizza came with sixteen slices. I could not ask him if he had been eating because I would find it very painful to hear the truth.

PROJECTS

We are always trying to come up with some ideas to help with the running costs of the project. We started a turkey project last year, which did not work out very well. Most of the turkeys died and for the few that did make it nobody wanted to buy them.

They said that they did not like the colour of them – they were white. Everyone was amazed at the size of them they were about 25 lbs each. The best here may be about 15 lbs. Those left over we ate at the house opening.

GOOD NEWS

I bought some wild turkeys last year. In January one laid eggs and the day after the house opening they hatched. We also put a few chicken eggs to see if they would hatch. They did. We started with thirteen, nine turkeys and four chickens. We lost a number of them and now have four turkeys and three chickens. All are very healthy and are growing fast. We have hope that these can reproduce and help us.

FUNGUS

We have investigated a little into the possibility of cultivating mushrooms.

We believe that if we can grow them, apart from consuming them ourselves we could sell them and pay a bill or two. It does involve a bit of work and we have to see who can give their time to it.

SOWING SEEDS

It has been agreed that everyone in the project will have a piece of land to grow some crops. We have been given some seeds, which will help big time. It will be difficult for some of the older as they really have very little time on their hands. We will see how they get on. Of course, the reality of this is, that when we harvest these crops it will cut on the running costs of the house and so your donation (which I pray will keep coming) will go that bit further. I will keep you posted.

It is planned to grow fruit trees. We just have to wait for the rains to come, as the ground now is very dry and hard.

WATER

We have dug a number of wells and they are giving us some water. We do need to dig a bit deeper but to find someone to do it is not easy. In this dry season we have only had to buy water in once and this will last us until the rains come. We are also in a local water project and we may have water on tap by the end of the year. This water we will not be able to wash clothes in. It is only for cooking and kitchen use. Right now to wash clothes we have to drive about 10 miles once a week to where there is a river. This works out fine really but we have to wait until the weekends to wash clothes. We use this trip as an activity. After washing the clothes we wash ourselves this also saves on the water in the house. Although it is not easy, it is very good practice for us all. I can see that the smaller ones are washing their clothes and it is habit forming. We have become use to it. It really makes one think of how much we waste in the first world and how much we take for granted.

When the rains come it will change everything. Let the heavens open!

THE KANO’JMOBILE

About four years ago, with the help of some people I bought a vehicle. It is prefect for our needs. It was one of the UN cars and although it was kept well by the UN the owner after it was not very careful with it.

It is now fourteen years old and even though the brakes failed twice, it sometimes runs well for its age. I now believe it has reached the stage where it needs a very loud radio. I believe it is the only thing left to do. Why a very loud radio you may ask. Well, when driving along with the volume high you do not hear the knocks and bangs etc! It often lets me down and apart from the cost of hiring another car to take the children to school etc parts can work out very expensive. Most parts cannot be found in Guatemala nor in the U.S. I really do not know what I will do when it will not run any longer. Please pray it lasts another fourteen years!

ONE OF OUR GIRLS

Petrona, our sixteen year old and the eldest girl of six children. She has two older brothers who are also in the project and doing extremely well. She graduated from 3^rd Basic, the equivalent to 9^th grade (USA) or 3^rd year Secondary (Eire).

When asked what she would like to study she answered without hesitation – a Home Economics teacher (domestic science). This upset many in the house as to study Home Economics means that she would have to board elsewhere. Although this course is very expensive she really wanted to do it. She in my opinion is very bright and capable with a lot of responsibility and she deserved the opportunity to have the career she really wants.

The first few months were very hard on her being away from family, strange place and very strict housing including bathing in cold water. She seems happy enough now and looks forward to a bright future thanks to you all. In her first exams of the years she did extremely well and found herself on the honor role. I will keep you posted on her progress

GRADUATIONS

This year we will have many graduations. From the house alone we have three. From those who live at home we have four. The idea of them graduating is wonderful and is what we are all about but the reality is that for me it leave me very sad. These young men and women have been with me for eight years and I really cannot just look upon them as members of the project but much much more than that. I have been there with them during those wonderful and terrible adolescents. They are family and now I will have to wave goodbye to them and for some I may never see again especially if they become involved with their communities.

An end of an era – what am I going to do??? With this group we will be adding to the workforce; a mechanic, a Physical Education teacher, a bilingual teacher, a kindergarten teacher, a computer programmer, an accountant and a nurse. Three of these are female. We are proud to be instrumental in writing Guatemala’s history.

It really is a wonderful thing but very painful.

WHO WOULD BELIEVE IT?

This story may seem a little strange but it is the truth. One of the mothers who is a very good friend is very active in her community. After the elections last year the people asked how come the mayor got elected again when nobody voted for him! So they blocked his office for over three months to prevent him from taking up his position and at the same time waiting for word from the capital.

On the Monday of Holy Week the “Mayor” decided to enter his office and so called on the riot police to open a pathway – there was no negotiations, the police just came and lashed out at the people leaving nearly twenty badly injured. The press came and started interviewing some of the people. All six who were interviewed were arrested; one of these is my good friend. There were two lawyers and the U.N. work to get them released. The lawyers naturally asked on what charges they were being held. The answer was that there were no charges! So release them then – said the lawyers. We will, said the police as soon as the paper work is done and the fine paid. Fine for what? – don’t ask!! It took until Wednesday at 6 pm to complete the paperwork and have them released and that was after a lot of pressure. If it had not been completed at that time they would have had to wait until the following Monday to be released because only the essential services work after Wednesday of Holy Week.

It turns out that charges were being brought against the Mayor, of fraud, misappropriation of funds etc. By taking up office his is protected from prosecution. The fine that my friend had to pay was Q1, 200 (€ 120/$150) this is six months salary of this woman. As I say she was released on Wednesday evening and was back outside the offices the next morning at 8 am with about two thousand others. It is not over yet! This is Guatemala.

LAST MINUTE NEWS

The rains have come but our water pump is in for repair… the crops are being sown… some fruit trees have been planted… the dry latrines are working well… everyone has exams, my computer keeps going down – if anyone knows where I can find inexpensive old laptops please contact me and… the turkey has laid more eggs.

December 2003 to May 2004

Vol. 1 Number 12