THE
QUICHE TIMES
May 2001 to December 2001
VOL. 1 No. 8
Greetings
The women, children and teenagers of CONAVIGUA, El Quiché Guatemala, the land of
eternal spring send their regards and best seasons greetings to you all and
wish you all every success in your daily lives.
Congratulations
I congratulate you all on the wonderful success
of the two projects this year. Without your help none of this would have been
possible.
What a year
We had a total of 29 in the two projects. Twelve
younger children in the Guarderia and 17 teenagers. All did extremely well in
school especially the teenagers who excelled - I believe because they could see
that they had a future and worked towards it.
I always knew that there was discrimination
against the indigenous people but this year I experienced first hand how these
people are kept from being educated.
After 3rd year in secondary school they must
leave and enter private colleges to continue. The costs are high but there are
so many hidden expenses which even if these families could afford the college
fees there is no way the could keep up with all the extras. They must
contribute to end of year parties for the staff, buy a certain graduation ring
etc. - if they don’t, they don’t graduate! We got one passed all this and has
graduated. We will have some more in two years time.
Where most of the children went this years was to
a catholic school run by the Dominican sisters, who helped us so much in every
aspect of the children’s education and welfare. When I needed to transfer a
child from one school to theirs they found a place for him. They encouraged me
in my mission and became friends and a support. They are truly wonderful people
and a joy to work with and I look forward to working with them this coming
year.
The Car
What a difference a car makes. I was able to take
the children to school every day and collect them. When some got sick in school
- which happens to everyone, I could take them home in relative comfort. During
the rainy season when the teenagers had to go to school in the afternoon I was
able to drop them off without them having to be drenched with the rain.
The women also benefited greatly. No more
carrying heavy bags for long distances for them. These women have a hard life
anyway apart from this so it is great that at least that they can be saved from
this.
We were able to go swimming a number of times on
the spur of the moment. The car gave us a wonderful freedom.
One of the main reasons for having transportation
was in case of emergencies but God was good to us this year in that we had no
emergencies, well not with any of the children at least.
The Farm
I mentioned in the last edition that I had bought
seven rabbits we also found one more. It has been a wonderful experience for
everyone. We started breading them which as you can imagine was quite
successful! It took a while to learn about them as literature on them was not
easy to find. So as you can imagine we had some losses - all new projects have
difficulties when starting out. But we learnt little by little.
When I left in November we had about thirty, so
God only knows how many we will have when I return! We will probably be eating
rabbit stew for the next year - please God!
Jaws of Death
The first couple of litters thought us a great
deal. One costly lesson was a day after the rabbit we found ( a beautiful black
rabbit ) had her litter the children
came running into me to say that the
dogs had got into the cages and, well you can guess the rest! I went
galloping out and grabbed one of the dogs, opened it’s mouth only to see at the
back of it’s throat a pair of little legs. I was so upset I plunged my hand
down the throat of the poor dog, who couldn’t figure out what was happening,
and rescued this poor little pink creature.
Just Call Me Florence
It was injured but I took it back to it’s mother
who surprisingly enough took care of it. I checked on a couple of times a day
and it seemed to be doing well. After a few weeks it was growing but not as
well as it’s siblings. It couldn’t run and would just stay in the same position
all day long. My heart went out to the poor little might and I went in to it
every couple of hours and would pick it up and pet it and talk to it. trying to
encourage it to eat more etc. I got attached to it and the children could see
this - they probably thought I had flipped! I am not sure they were wrong!!
This went on for a couple of weeks and one day I had just returned from a day
off when I was greeted at the door by all the children. I discovered later that
they had had a meeting and decided that Rigo should be the one to break the
news to me but only if the others were with him. So Rigo comes forward and hugs
me and said “David, I am so sorry, but your favourite little rabbit has died”.
Well with that they came running to me to hug me. Needless to say I got a
little lump in my throat but wasn’t sure if it was for the rabbit or for the
struggle the children had gone through wondering how would they break this
terrible news to me and if I would be all right. They were so upset for me. I
went to view the remains and then we all brought it out the back of the house
and dug a grave and buried it. The girls collected flowers and the boys made
across. It was really very touching but I couldn’t help wondering if we should
have skinned it before we buried it!!!!
Money Spinner
What we really want to do is to generate
resources to pay some of our bills. So what we will do is sell some of the
small rabbits. This will pay for the feed for the rest of the little bunnies.
These little bunnies we will fatten up and supplement our own diet and be in a
position to supply some shops with meat. This will give us a little revenue to
help us be in a very small way “independent.”
It will of course give the children and teenagers a very valuable lesson
in the care of animals, how to run a business and a wonderful sense of
responsibility, self worth, achievement and independence. To say nothing
of the teenagers improving their skills
in the making of the rabbit huts.
Dog gone
I really don’t know what we are doing wrong but
we just cannot seem to hold on to any of our dogs. The one we have gives birth
twice a year. The last time she gave birth was in May to four little black
puppies and all was going well until two of them, within a week of each other
stopped eating and were found dead. We couldn’t understand it. This left two.
One of these, and to me the nicer decided to go asleep under the wheels of the
jeep. Well I was running late and so jumped into the jeep and reversed and noticed
a little whimper. I had a very bad feeling and it was true. I had run over it
so I bundled it into the jeep and took it to the vet. Who told me that maybe it
would survive and sold me all sorts of medicines including pain killers.
Thinking to myself that this guy is only trying to make a sale but couldn’t
take the chance I paid the bill and took the poor creature home and started
administering the prescribed dosages.
The next morning at about 5 am I woke up and
heard a little whimper and then nothing. When I arose I found the poor puppy as
stiff as a board. We put it to rest in out pet cemetery at the back of the
house.
Do Dogs Suffer With This?
The other pup was left alone. This one was the
healthiest of them all. A few weeks later this little thing started to limp. I
thought nothing of it. Then it stopped walking. Its back legs stopped
functioning. It seemed to be in some pain and I took it to the vet, who said it
looked like Parkinsons - a dog with Parkinsons!!! I asked to have it put down
as it seemed to be in pain and there was no hope of recovery. I was told that
one can not just kill an animal just because it is in pain! (I needed more
cultural adaptation) We don’t think like that here, I was told. I was a little
shocked and returned home with dog in hand. I said to the women in the house
that I wanted to put it out of it’s misery to receive the same response from
them. You have to let nature take it course. I struggled with this but did it
or didn’t do as the case may be.
I though I would have to really look after it and
bought it good dog food etc. Well the little thing got very attached to me and
would follow me around everywhere dragging it’s back legs behind it. It always
seemed to be saying to me “just be my master” as its poor little sad and pitiful
eyes looked up at me. Being constantly on the go as I am, the little would pup
try to follow me everywhere. It wouldn’t take long for it to be totally
exhausted. My idea was to make this poor little creatures last days/weeks as
happy as could be - waiting for it to just not appear at my door. But every-day
was the same, there it was at the door waiting for me. It does not seem to be
in pain or at least copes with it and doesn’t whimper or cry. It has grown and
I am now thinking that what I thought was cruelty maybe was not, and that maybe
I don’t have all the right answers.
Up-date on Rigo
As stated in the last edition Rigo came to be
with us and it really is a great joy to have him. Everyone who knows me
personally or who has visited us will know that Rigo is very special to me and
there is nothing I would not do for his greater good.
Rigo did better than expected in school,
considering all that he, as an eleven year old, has to deal with. Family
members have him persecuted and taunted with their question as to where is he
going to live when his granny dies, because nobody wants him.
So often he would come into my room and sit
beside me or lie beside me on the bed and ask me what he is going to do when
his granny dies. It must have been playing a lot on his mind for him to come to
me. I always respond with the same thing - that as long as I am here he will
have somewhere to live and if anything should happen to me I have enough people
primed to step in and take care of him. I worry so much about him but I am
comforted to know that my friends and family will take care of him if need be.
In August when he went back to the granny he was told that if he continues with
his studies that she would kick him out of the house. Please do not try to
understand it, I have tried but cannot nor can some family members.
At the end of the year I had to bring him back to
his granny, about a six hour drive. It was breaking my heart as I drove along,
to know that he would not be cared for and there would not be a lot of food
(many time there is no food for days on end). He told me that when the granny
has a few beers she says terrible things to him which leaves him very sad. I,
of course, asked him what does she say? Well, he said, she say that she wishes
that I was never born.
I immediately responded with - Well Rigo I am
absolute delighted that you were born and that you are a joy to me - which he
is.
I was feeling bad enough leaving him without this
on top. All he wanted was to stay with
me and that was what I wanted too but he had to return to his granny. My heart
is broken I pray for him many times each day that God would look over him and
keep him safe until I return. Please pray with me.
Health
Well, thank God the children had a healthy year.
I sent all our teens to have their eyes tested and discovered that many needed
glasses so glasses had to be bought for them. These made a big difference to
them. Many had had headaches and eye strain but said nothing. Now they are able
to see much better pain free. Again thanks to you.
I became very sick in April. I developed a
serious infection in my face, of all places. I was unable to eat and in reality
I could not do anything. My face was so swollen and disfigured that I did not
recognise myself when I looked in the mirror. I took to the bed and stayed
there for the week. I saw the doctor and he gave me an antibiotic but it was
not strong enough and he ended up giving me an injection every day. This did
the trick but it took a long time to fully recover. I still have scares on my
face. The women were very worried about me and they brought me many home-made
remedies. They were so relieved when I started to recover.
Who will look after me?
I thought a great deal while I was sick and
realised that if anything happens to me there is nobody ready to step into my
shoes. I know that if I do not look after myself there is nobody else to do so.
So when I started to get some strength after a few weeks I decided to start to
relax some more. I decided that I need to take at least one day a week off. I
would take time off but sometimes I could go a couple of weeks without time
off. I planned to visit my friends Lynn and Bob who run a Spanish school in the
mountains. It also worked out well in that on the way to their school I passed
a natural hot springs, which I had been to before. I decided to visit it and
soak in the springs and relax before I headed to see Lynn and Bob. It was
great. It helped me relax and start my off-time on the right note.
During my sickness I lost some weight, which I
badly needed to do, and said to myself to try to keep it off. So I ate less and
worked on loosing a little more. I feel a lot better and so far I am keeping it
off.
The Simple Things in Life
While at these hot springs I would come away
clean. This for me was a treat, as the showers we used in the house, died and
we had to used cold water in a bucket to wash ourselves down. Not a pleasant
task but we all got used to it. I love to shower every day but now couldn’t. It
was another way in which I had to die to myself. But when I do get the chance
to shower it really is a luxury.
Our toilet facilities also take some getting used
to. So when I get the chance to use a regular one it is such a joy. Mind you
there are times when I have the opportunity to use one but my body is not ready
- it can be so frustrating!!! it is the simple in life that mean so much to me.
Dentist
I started taking the children and teens to the
dentist. Most needed work, which cost more than I expected but needed to be
done. Many just received a few fillings and some need to have their teeth
straightened but this will have to wait as the money is not there now. I was
quite happy that most of the poorer children needed very little work. I believe
it is because they were not exposed to sweet/candy. Rigo only needed two
extractions to allow his permanent teeth to grow down. Not one cavity did he
need and he was not the only one. We all know not to eat sweets/candy and here
is the proof, but we will still do it. What a hypocrite I am. I will be
bringing some back with me!!!!
Nutrition
Some of my friends helped me run some workshops
on nutrition for our teenagers. I also asked some of the women to attend so as
they too may be helped with their own nutrition and that of their families. We
mostly work with Soya. Although I could not attend I learnt a great deal from
our teens and they loved the food they produced. I hope that in the new year we
will be able to continue with this.
Extra Nutrition??
After we got the rabbit project going and having
explained to all the children why we had rabbits and what we were going to do
with them etc. They, of course had no problem with this at all. I decided to
invest in a number of pets. I bought some hamsters and a couple of turtles.
They were very cute but smelly! Anyway the children were full of questions
about the turtles and the hamsters mostly about how big they would grow. I was
thrilled by their enthusiasm in our new members until I discovered why they
were so interested. Patricio helped me understand one day when he asked how big
they would grow and I responded. He then looked at me very puzzled and said but
David there wont be enough meat on them to feed us all!
Special Visitors
Abraham, our special case, this year went to a
special school. It came as a surprise to me that such a school existed in
Guatemala let alone in El Quiché. Abraham has been helped so much in this
school so much so that they say that he can attend regular school for three
days a week and two days with them. Again another major success. His self
esteem has shot up since he started and it warms my heart to see him
progressing and loving it.
I invited the school ( about 25 students and four
teachers) to visit us so as they could see how Abraham lived. They came twice
and had an absolutely wonderful time. The rabbits gave them such joy as well as
the hamsters, turtles, cats and dogs. We gave them some bread and hot chocolate
and they loved it. I had taken a video of their mothers-day activity and showed
it to them and they were glued to the screen.
I thought to myself afterwards how lucky we are
to be able to share the little we have with these poor heavily challenged
children.
Fearful Times
In May of this year one of the sisters, Barbara
Forde, that worked near was assassinated. This as you can imagine left us all
very vulnerable. Looking over our shoulders and wondering who will be next? We
don’t really talk much about it - what can be said, we are all in the same boat
and so we just pray that we will be kept safe and allowed to continue in our
missions.
Pedro
Pedro, now 15 years of age, was one of the very
first children I got to know. He is one
of six siblings whose parents are very good friends and are very supportive of
me.
Pedro gets glowing reports from school, a very
popular lad. He asked me two years ago if he could make his first holy communion. I of course gave him
permission and he started his preparation. Every Saturday he went with his
friends to classes. He never asked anything of me, apart from driving him to
the classes when it was raining. For me he made a huge sacrifice in that
Saturday in our day to have activities i.e. swimming etc. Many times he said he
could not attend as he had classes and needed to finish his homework. He is
very committed to his studies and yet another joy to have in the project( I can
say that they all are a joy to have in the project because it is the truth).
On the 22nd Sept. this year he made his communion
with the rest of his friends. I brought his whole family out for a meal to a
restaurant, which for some was the first time in their lives, especially the
granny and mother. Pedro asked me what he could have. I told him that I was
going to have a steak and maybe he should have one also. He agreed and I
ordered it. He then turned to me and asked “David, what is a steak?” It was
such a joy and privilege to be part of this wonderful celebration
Where do we go from here?
I mentioned in the last couple of editions that
the way forward is to have a premises of our own. There is/was a piece of land
for sale into where we are and it looks good and at a good price.
This year we had 7 teens living in a two roomed
house each room about 15 feet by 15 feet. There was also a married couple
living there. As you can imagine it was quite overcrowded. Next year we will
have 12 teens living in the same space. Two of these teens will be girls. How
we are going to do it I really don’t know but we will have to do it. The girls
are children of the couple and sisters to two of the boys, Pedro being one of
the brother.
What will the House Offer?
1. Well,
more than anything else it will offer permanency to the project in the minds of
the teens.
2. Independence
is always something that we want the teens to learn. Many have this sense but
with a house we can develop this attitude.
3. Privacy
in a major luxury that we have in the first world but these lads and lassies do
not experience. This past year the lads would have to bath at the sink in the
patio in cold water. Although they wear their underwear I feel for them,
especially when people walk in on them. I know they accept it as a way of life
but these are young teenagers. We all know how sensitive they can be! Even in
their room not to be able to change their clothes in comfort. Need I say more?
4. Another
point is lack of space. There is a bit of a patio and they love to play but it
is too small. We also want to develop the animal projects to help pay some of
the bills.
5. It
is my intention to move into the house with them. The women in the organisation have said that they
will be running the house with the smaller children. I have offered to cover in
the administration until they can find a suitable replacement. This move will
allow me to develop the teenage project.
6. The
teenagers feel that we are allowed to stay where we are now at the tolerance of
the landlady, who has raised the rent on the house because she thought that I
was helping out. In the new year, for sure she will be putting up the rent
again. Our teens worry about this.
7. With
our own house we can start the animal project. Where we can learn to care for
animals and at the same time use it as a source of income.
8. It
is also intended, if we can build a big enough house to take in paying
students. This will help those in need and will subsidise the others.
What the House Initials
There is land for sale near to where we are now.
If we were to buy it and build a 9 roomed house with sheds for the animal
project. The installation of a water system and electricity and the purchase of
some furniture, including beds and wardrobes etc. The whole thing would cost
$/£ 26,000 ( I have no idea what that works out to be in Euros!!). I have
received almost $/£ 9,000 in donations, so that leaves us short about
$/£17,000.
Through the generosity of St Francis Parish in
Texas I have the running cost of the project for this year.
Help Needed!
Because of the type of project we run, it will
always need help in the form of donations. I have always be able to guarantee
that for every Pound or Dollar donated, every penny goes to the children
and I still guarantee that.
I have shared with some of you that I find it very stressful and humiliating to have to go out there and look for this type of help. I am a missionary and my life is full with the care of those in my charge. To have to seek funds on top of this is dragging me down. I am human and cannot do everything. I need help. Everyone has been very generous and we all appreciate it very much. If there is anyone out there who can find sponsors for us or has some ideas in raising money and prepared to help do so, their help would be greatly appreciated.
Some Ideas
Many of my friends save coins and donate that.
Some have standing orders with their banks and donate each month. Some family
members have said that they do not want Christmas presents nor are they giving
present but instead a generous donation to be made to the fund would be far
more beneficial to the lives of those we work with. They say that most people
give presents that are not needed nor wanted and it is a waste of time, money
and stress trying to think of things to give. There have to be many other ways
to help out.
Please let me do what I do best. To care and run
these projects. Others have gifts in fund raising. Please please please help.
As Always
I always love to hear from anybody even though I
may not have time to respond. Many just send me good wishes which really cheer
me up no end. Just a line to say that they prayed for me that day. You have no
idea how that helps and encourages me. Please keep it up.
So that you don’t forget. My Email address is
david_deegan@hotmail.com
A hand-written letter or card is also very
welcome. My slow mail address is
Apdo # 007
Santa Cruz Del Quiche
El Quiche
Guatemala C.A.
Donations
Many people ask what is the best way to make a
donation. We now have two ways. One is to send it to my sister in Ireland.
Please make checks payable to “Friends
of Conavigua” and send them to my sister at
Berni Garruccio
208 Larkhill Road
Whitehall
Dublin 9
Ireland
or
Direct debit to Irish Permanent Building Society
Account name
“Friends of Conavigua
Account Number 239
786 9511
Sorting Code 90 89 32
The other method way suit those in the USA etc.
Please make checks payable to “Incarnate
Word Guatemala Fund”
Incarnate Word Missionary Office
4503 Broadway
San Antonio
Texas 78902-6297
If it does not have a reference to me or
Guatemala it will not get to me.
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone for their support this year and to wish you all a very Happy and
Holy Christmas. God bless you all and I am looking forward to hearing from you
in the future.
A mass will be offered for your
intentions.
I arrived in Guatemala at the end of May last and
was struck by the poverty of the people. There was no running water for
showering, no flush toilets, and the hygiene dubious, food was basic, the roads
were bad and the drivers - crazy lunatics, but from the minute I arrived I
loved it. The kids at the Guarderia were excited to meet me and although
they talked incessantly in Spanish, but
I knew that they were happy I was there. They very quickly named me “Segundo David” (second David).
When I protested that I was “Primer John” they just laughed and carried on
calling me by my new name. (Thankfully, it was almost forgotten by the time I
left.) The younger girls surprised me by presenting me with gift-wrapped
presents – children’s’ story books and a pulsera.
The teenagers impressed me. They are living in a
nearby house and prove that they are more than capable of looking after
themselves. They take a great pride in their appearance and always look very
well. They wash their own clothes, cook their food, keep the house clean and
tidy, and organise their study time/school projects. (They were busily making
rabbit hutches while I was there.) Most
importantly, they look out for each other especially for the younger boys. One
thing I liked was when any of the teenagers called to the Guarderia or met us
outside they made a point of shaking our hands. I have often thought of this
really nice gesture. Some of the older boys are studying English and made
valiant attempts to speak to me in English and I made some very poor attempts
at Spanish (much to their amusement).
The soccer team (all the boys from 17 years down
to 8 or 9 years) play every Sunday morning in the local “league”. Nobody really
keeps a tally of the results, but that doesn’t matter. The highlight of the
match is the chewing gum that David gives the players before the kick-off and
during half time. Some of the opposition kids line up as well for their gum.
The lads look well in their football strip and they seem to enjoy the games.
The referee has endured a lot of verbal abuse but he doesn’t realise it, as he
doesn’t speak English.
The day begins early for the kids. They leave for
school at 6.30 am which means that we all get asleep early. I thought it funny
that here I was on holidays and asleep by 9.00 pm. But I soon got used to the
routine.
The children are very appreciative of what’s
given them. I used to give everyone a few sweets each day and was always
thanked profusely with a big smile. It takes very little to make the children
happy. The staff, Lidia and Tomas are
very dedicated to the project and care a great deal for the kids.
The children of the Guarderia and the teenagers
are very lucky to have a safe home, access to good education and people who
really care for them. In a country of such poverty the alternative for these
children is frightening. So many other indigenous children are forced by poverty
to work the land from a very early age and will always have to work the land
without any hope of improving their lot. The children and teenagers of the
project are given a chance to a better future and this is what makes the
project so important.
I often think back on the friendliness and
generosity of the people I met. For people with so little, they spent what
little they had on presents for me when I was leaving. I hadn’t expected
anything like it. Every little gift
means a lot to me.
When I left for home I promised them that I would
go back and visit the Guarderia and I am now making plans to return. I can’t wait to get back ….
(John Deegan)