A Light Bulb Makes a Man Rich

A light bulb makes a man rich, a concrete floor makes him king.
(Developing World Proverb)

Let me offer you my bipolar view of our world this evening - One fun and one that moved the day.

First, a real, up close reflection about today's trip. We headed to San Pedro which is on the eastern shore of Lago de Atitlan. It is much larger than Cerro de Oro from yesterday. And, it has more wealth. Several of the streets are paved in a way that would look familiar to any American suburban neighborhood and the Policia were present. It definitely had that tourist feel. The facade was thin though as we soon discovered.

I won't repeat the setting in detail as it mirrored the sadness and concern we saw yesterday. We do want to share a short clip of Jorge's translation of the instruction being given by a local public school teacher to a local Mayan family. Please note the environs and furnishing. This is their home. This type of family space is not uncommon. And, this is not a twilight recollection of a passing dream. This is their world that we are able to see, touch and smell.

The video is a little long (about three minutes), but well worth the time. Don't forget to turn your sound up all the way. [PLEASE NOTE: We worked on uploading this video for several hours Friday evening and the local technology just won't cooperate. We'll ask HHI to post it on their website in the future. Our apologies. The following photo is of Wilma and Andrea with a local family and their new healthy water future. The smiles tell the story in every case. Again, our apologies.)



In 2007, the World Health Organization reported that families who live in structures with concrete floors experience a significant decrease in infant mortality and infection. As you can imagine, crystal water is the next blessing for any kingdom. That is our dream.

The second video is a quick view of a few of the families that met us today. They are not only eager, but understanding of our strange gringo ways. We met at their public school that HHI is promoting as the command center of learning and health. A local teach assumes a leadership role under Jorge's tutilege.




A LIGHTER MOMENT IF YOU PLEASE

We all wear red to be the traveling billboards of the community's efforts. This includes these two cohorts, our modern day Abbot and Costello. These are our high energy amigos - Anthony (white hat) and Scott (red).



I'll let you guess which one is which, but as a hint, Anthony has a boat named "Talk Time," and Scott is keen to twist a verbal clip.

SANTIAGO'S ONE GREAT IDEA

Well, before I close, let me offer this thought. The team is running full throttle and sharing mixed emotions about what we are learning here. There is much to consider so I asked one of our young (volunteer) local guides, "If you were El Presidente of Guatemala and could do one thing, what would it be?" He had never really pondered that opportunity and decided to think about it for awhile. Several hours and many families later he offered a well considered dream. His vision focused on a way to increase food production to maybe two harvests a year. The first to feed the family and second to sell at market. (Do I dare say that this would seem to be a Monsanto moment if America led the way.)

He argued that this would not only offer work for the men allowing them to stay with their families, but it would provide money to spend on the children at school. With just a little more than subsistence earnings (about $600 a year per family now) Santiago reasoned and a little basic education (currently most children end their public education after 6th grade), family health could be improved and fear of the future could be re-cast into hopes and dreams.

Thoughts from a wise 24 year old don't you think?

Paz

It's Not Ground Hogs Day, but

It's quickly becoming obvious that our moments in Guatemala will soon seem very familar. Do you remember the scene in Ground Hog's Day where Phil gets up every morning to a cold shower?

He tells the landlady on the first morning that there's no hot water and she giggles and responds with an "Of course not" or something just as poignant. Anyway, that's our world - almost.

Our hotel is equipped with eco-showers which are very common in Europe. The head has an electric element that heats only the water that moves through it. Not a bad system, but our power is, well let's just say, not very powerful.

By the second day, we've most all learned that the element heats up then cools every couple of minutes. It's best to take a shower in stages. No long massages, if you know what I mean.

Adjustments aren't recommended either. The head is electric and the exposed wires are taped into place. I don't know the BOCA codes that well, but I doubt it would be Hoyle in the States.

Well, it's almost breakfast time and we have another full day ahead of us. More later.

Paz

Day Two - Some of the Rest of the Story

We have three videos from today and a few pictures out of the hundreds that were taken. The first two pictures are of Jorge and Aura Ramos Yach who you haven't met yet.




It this picture, Jorge is offering the team a step-by-step lesson in how to construct and explain the operation, care and use of the water care system. For the record, Jorge is absolutely the guy you want for a sojourn like this. He's from Guatemala and he knows the people and the ways of this world. He is charming, quick, well organized and just an all around good guy. HHI has a champion here who really helps us pampered Americans feel good about what we're doing and how we're doing it.

The real "rock star" is Aura. She is fluent in Spanish and the local native dialect. She has won the hearts of a people who are close knit but suspicious of outsiders who promise gold but deliver ... (Well, you can fill in the blank.)

She is new to HHI but provides that kind of link that build social capital between peoples who live worlds apart.

The next two images are of Jim and Andrea. Both of these good people are fluent in Spanish along with Wilma and Judi. Jim was in the Peace Corp and learned on the ground. Andrea's family in from Costa Rica and is quite at home here. They're great to have around when all you have is restaurant Spanish like me.






Andrea also shot this first video. It gives you a sense of the setting as we meet with the families in Cerro de Oro who were to receive the water filtration equipment this visit. We felt a little conspicuous in our red Rotary shirts, but that was the plan. As we traveled the region, HHI (and Jorge) want people to see us and ask questions. The best first move into the future is one that comes from them, not the Gringos from America.



The second video is of Ted carrying 10 water filtration system to the boat launch. It was about a 30 minute ride across the lake and this one load will serve 10 families (about 40 people) for up to two years. Think about it. Clear, safe water for two years. Ted the miracle worker.



The last video is of Jon. I've gotten to know him much better over the last few days. A father of four and a god-father to thousands. When the good Lord thought of compassion, he gave Jon a double share.



I'll close this evening with a little deeper appreciation with what we in America have and the good that can be done. And, yes, clean, safe water is a privilege, but it should be a right. It is within our ability and our resources to offer the world this one simple dream. Thank goodness Rotary helps us see the world a little more clearly on days like today.

Paz

Day Two - The Other Guatemala

Is clean water a privilege or a right? Today we visited some 20 families in Cerro de Oro across the lake. We were installing water filtration systems and checking on the status of others delivered about four months ago.

The range of wealth in this village of about 2000 families was wide by local standards. I'll try to offer the perspective of their world.

The first lady my team visited (Jon and Jorge) lived in a 12 by 8 foot freestanding room with her three children. Her husband was, well, not around.

Her home had a dirt floor and a corrugated roof. The walls were bamboo sticks and wire. Half of her home consisted of her bed that she shared with her children and chickens. She kept the hatch lings in an old, blue plastic laundry basket turned upside down to keep them save and from underfoot.

Before we arrived, her water source was from a community well about 20 muddy feet away. Guatemala is a beautiful country, but it is wet and the animals run free and share their space with every barefoot child and lost soul in the village.

Life is hard when your every effort is consumed by finding food and firewood everyday. The worries about health are always another moment away. But when you have a family as beautiful these young ladies would suggest, it would seem hard being a parent when you don't know where your next drink of clean, safe water is coming from.

The team is going to dinner now and debriefing on our efforts. I'll post a few more pictures and a video or two later this evening if all goes well.

Paz

Day Wonderful

If you have never thought about paradise, let me tell you about Guatemala. It is a soft land of green. The air is of the mountains, cool and moist. Covered by ancient forests, a kind people and calm water. Like Mtn. San Pedro, it is of an unspoiled beauty that holds the imagination.

My fellow Rotary travelers and I are tired but pleased with the surroundings. Guatemala City airport is new and modern. We headed west on the Pan-American highway and for the most part, the road was wide and modern. Driving the mountains in Guatemala is much like the states. Local travelers know the turns and the sites so their minds are on the destination. The visitor thinks mostly of the vista and air. Our elevation ranged from 3000 to 9000 feet. For Kansas lungs, the breath is short. Our New Jersey members seem to be fairing better.

Some have wondered what our accommodations would be like and we were all pleasantly surprised. The hotel in Panajachel City is no less modern than most any family run hotel in rural America: No frills, no chills, no hot tubs or chocolets on the pillow, but everything you really need is near by. And yes, the water is funny, but that's why we're here. It's a wonderful world, but one that needs the safety of that most precious resource. A chore fit for Rotarians, I would say.

Enjoy the video of our first team meeting and lunch. The pictures are of Dan and Jill. You've got to love a man in a hat! I bring you more as the trip continues.

Paz

And We're Off ... Almost

So what were you doing at 430 this morning? Having fun? Sweet dreams? Enjoying the morning air?

Well, the HHI/Rotary Team was waiting to board our flight to Houston. The lines were short and the check in pleasant as those things go. Jon dropped us off so we were done before we knew it. So like the Army, it's hurry up and wait.

We'll be meeting Judy Johnson in Houston and flying on later today. Her flight from Jacksonville, OR was delayed by fog or some such thing. So we'll meet her there as our party grows: kind of a seven Samurai thing. The initial weather reports are for rain and thunderstorms. Jon has promised clear skies and we're going to hold him to that.

As we were waiting Dan Cool (His name really is "Cool".) an engineer with Garmin joined us to scope out a site for a new clinic near Lago de Atitlan. (I'll get more pictures later.)

Wilma has proven to be the wise one so far. She brought herself a cheese sandwich.

Paz from MCI (KCMO)

Last Day of Prep

Over the weekend, I saw Olathe Rotary Club President Bob Wilhelm at Walmart and he wished me well on our trip. He said a visit to a land like Guatemala can change your life. He wished me well then turned around to buy some English wine so something for the Queen. (Nice picture Bob.)

Yesterday, I saw former Olathe Club President David White at the gym and he told me the same thing as Bob except he shared one little story. "Maybe I shouldn't tell you this, but last year two Canadian Rotarians were kidnapped on their mission in Africa. Not to worry, they were release after two days." That made me feel much better. Thanks Dave!?

Anyway, final packing today. My wonderful wife Jane splurged and bought me a small, cheap digital camera for the trip. Jon North said there will be once in a life time pictures. IF the technology works, I'll share pix with the text, or maybe, I'll just send just send pix.

We're meeting at the HHI parking lot tomorrow morning at 415 AM, if you want meet us their for the send off, we'd love to see you. If you want to sleep in and enjoy the rest of the day like normal people, then we'll be thinking of you tomorrow morning.

Cheers!