The real story though is what the Guatemalan people experience everyday. Let me start with a common question we hear. "Lago de Atitlan is a huge fresh water lake. How could these people possibly need water when this resource sits before them?"
Lago de Atitlan is approximately 20 by 25 Kilometers according to Aura. And, it is very deep. That depth is caused by the lakes altitude coupled with the retention of the volcanic rim. The water drains straight down and feeds underground rivers and steams closer to the coast. While large, it is not to the scale of the Great Lakes and there is no surface current that mixes the floating muck except maybe the occasional breeze.
THE FRIEND TO BE FEARED
The first picture we want to share with you is of how this muck accumulates. In this case near the San Pedro (Eastern) side of the lake. Anthony then reports from the dock to give you a taste of what we see every day and the locals live with year round.
The visual impact is great, but try to imagine the ambiance based on the source of nutrients that feed this rich green algae and plant matter that now covers about a third of the lake. (My estimate.) All of the runoff from the mountains comes into the lake. The earth is rich but the soil is not deep. Septic tanks are limited to the few wealthy households in the region, so the (human) waste is great.
(As a side note, we haven't seen much livestock except for the chickens that each family raise. We have seen people fishing from the shore and the occasional fisherman in a boat setting jugs and hooks out near the edge of the muck ring.)
A huge part of our efforts focus on helping the local families develop a sense of what they can do and to foster a sense of trust with the weird gringos in the red shirts and the white buckets they bring. Jorge and Jon have pretty much established the program regionally, but indigenous people here do not have a high degree of trust in things that smack of "government". I'll just suggest you go to Wikipedia and research their history in the later half of the 20th century.
For us to build trust, we attempt to be as open and honest with people as possible. Jorge and Aura are perfect ambassadors, but they are of this land. When you look like me or Jon or Scott or Jim and tower three or four heads about the tallest man, you look strange indeed. Some of the children are quizzical, but many seem to hold a bit of fearful amazement. In this next video, Theresa and Jon engage several children in this one hamlet and allow them to build the "magic" water bottle. They are captivating and captivated by the moment, don't you think?
Of course the filters are very effective, but they have their limits. I wanted to show you the following photo of Theresa working with a family on the best use of the filter. She shows Mom and her inspectors how to filter out the larger particulate matter even before the water hits the pre-filtration holding basin.
This simple step can improve the effectiveness of the filters tremendously allowing them to maintain a better flow for longer. It's funny how teaching the kids in any culture helps the parents remember the best practice for any family chore.
Please also notice the jug they are using to pour the water. It is a beautiful blue and white ceramic. These jugs are common but also an indication of wealth and reverence for "el aqua." Many of these families have little - a roof and a bed if they're lucky. But they need water to survive and clean water to thrive.
Our final report is from Jim. You may have to adjust your monitor to see the water because of the glare, but it gives you a sense of our travel each day. It is an open air boat and with that comes the spray. It is a cool mist, but one we readily try to avoid in our comings and goings about the lake.
Jim talks about the 104 filter we set up yesterday. I don't have a good count, but let me suggest that these filters serve many people. When we think of families in the States, that usually includes, Mom, Dad, two kids and a dog. In this locale, most families live in mini-compounds with separate hobbles for Mom and Dad and kids, and brother and wife and kids, and sister and husband and kids and so forth. I suspect, I hope, they offer the capacity to as many as possible. Aura says they do, but it varies from enclave to enclave.
A ROTARY MOMENT
Before we close this entry, I wanted to share a picture of Wilma with one of the Rotary Clubs in the region. It is customary of clubs around the world to share pendents and Wilma is sharing hers with a few representatives from a club that asked for an impromptu visit yesterday. (As least I hope I get this story right.)
According to Jon, these guests had heard of HHI's water filter distribution efforts in the Lago de Atitlan area and the came down from a town about 20 miles north of here. No small trip on roads made of dirt, stone and grit. They wanted to make introductions and express their interest in having the program expanded to their community. Jon was thrilled.
Our visitors were hopeful and gracious (and wanting). In many ways, this is a testament to HHI's efforts to build social trust. The word is out! HHI and Rotary are to be trusted. They (we) are here to give to, not take away from, their future.
Paz
(PS My apologies if my verbiage is a bit off the mark today. My compatriots are out doing more good work and spell check only assists a confused mind, not a dull one like mine.)
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