has been wonderful. In many ways it is much like RJC. In the dorms we
have clean beds, four sturdy walls around us, and friends to hang out
with. We also have enough room on campus to have some alone time and a
space to decompress and unwind after a long day of work. The food has
been delicious. The daily portions of fresh tropical fruits at every
meal have been a highlight. A quote from Adam while eating cantaloupe
with gusto: "I don´t even like cantaloupe!" We have been comuting to
the work site at Carranza in ´Bertha´, a 15 passenger 1980 dodge van
not unlike the RJC vans. In many ways at Semilla we have been feeling
quite at home, but the moment Bertha ventures outside the Semilla
compound (complete with an electirified barbed wire fence) we know we
are in a different land.
In Guatemala signs of poverty and violence abound. Guatemala is not a
´pretty´city. It is very dirty and the smell of smog permeates the
air. The Lonely Planet travellers guide for Guatemala ranks the top
five things to do in each city in Guatemala, and in Guatemala City (2.5
mllion people) they rank ´leave the city for somewhere else´as number
five. Hardly a ringing endorsement.
Carranza is located on the outskirts of this metropolis. It is a very
poor community. They struggle with gangs and crime. Garbage is
everywhere, in places covering the roadside like snow. I have never
seen such a poor church as the Anabaptist Churhch of Carranza. The
toilet that we use (in someones house) operates on gravity plumbing.
Once your business is finished you pour a bucket of water into the
toilet and (if you move fast enough) you can run outside and watch the
waste come out a pipe and fall into the two hundred foot ravine which
is meters from the church and houses. The sheer dropoff of the ravine
is also a safey concern for both adults and children alike, and with
erosion the ravinve is growing closer to the church. Safe drinking
water is a major problem and it is expensive to purchase. Yesterday
the wate truck came by and the truck was armed with two men with
shotguns. In Canada, we take our water for granted.
In spite of all its challenges, Guatemala City has a gritty charm. If
one can look a bit beyond the poverty, pollution, corruption, crime and
violence you will meet many vibrant and beautiful pepole, including
many youth who hold the future of Guatemala in their hands. The church
members at Carranza have been extremely hospitable and kind. Their
smiles are infectious. Working with them has been inspriational. We
learned a lot from the Guatemala contractors. One thing that impressed
me was how little they waste when they build. I started mixing cement
by ripping the bags open, they quicly stopped me and showed me how they
cut the tops of the bags and dump our the cement so the bags are still
useable, and every little piece of rebar is reused in some fashion.
Guatemala City faces many challenges, but it is very dynamic, full of
energy and exciting. We have had an excellent time at Carranza. The
buttery golden glow of the sun rise filling the room as I type reminds
me of the hope for a better future that exists in this place. I think
the Lonely Planet Guide got it wrong. I´m glad we didn´t take their
advice.
Ryan
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