Trip Day 2 - Oct 23, 2010

Hi all,
It is incredible to see all that has happened since June.  I can't say enough about Ismael and Orphe - Really! They are so humble.... I honestly feel embarrassed when they introduce me as the "director" when they are the ones doing endless hours of work.
They brought Puja and I to many homes of the poorest people I had yet to meet in Guatemala. They basically just went up to these homes (because I think these people are too poor and disheartened to even come to our clinic) and asked the people if they'd like to receive the food and vitamins.  Not only have the people received them, but coming to know Orphe and talk with her and feel some hope, many of them now have put in HUGE vegetable gardens with as many as 20 different kinds of vegetables.
When we decided to send the KAH food, we said that we hoped it would just be a springboard to get the people to start growing their own food. It surely has been! Ismael and Orphe said that the food improved their strength so they could work better and also made them feel valued and that they had received a true blessing from God. There are now 58 of these gardens in Mango and 30 in Pueblo Nuevo. None of the families had ever done this before - they didn't believe the land would support it.
Now, they not only have enough for their families but many are selling them in the markets.  They're interested in learning how to "can" some of the vegetables/salsa/etc in the future. They are all so grateful for the vitamins - somehow these small things have had even greater results than we could have hoped for.
Also, they now have put in a cemetery - long story but again took countless hours on the parts of Ismael and Orphe to work with the govt and to get everything arranged. Last Sunday, they got there at 5AM and worked with 25 of the men all day to put a big fence around the property.  Sounds morbid but this was something that was really important to the community.
Everywhere we go, we're treated with so much respect. Tonight we met with the community leaders in Pueblo - a VERY productive evening. They have such a different attitude now - animated, hopeful, really willing to work with us and not just receive. Ismael and Orphe have so many wonderful stories of women who had no confidence before and now come to her meetings and are starting to feel hope for their futures.
Tomorrow we've got a long list of women coming from surrounding villages to receive their gyn care. Flori's story has gotten all around and the women are anxious to be seen.  Puja and I have a headache from struggling with Spanish all day - off to bed! Thanks to you all for so many things - we feel the hand of God in all of this.
AnneHi all,
It is incredible to see all that has happened since June.  I can't say enough about Ismael and Orphe - Really! They are so humble.... I honestly feel embarrassed when they introduce me as the "director" when they are the ones doing endless hours of work.
They brought Puja and I to many homes of the poorest people I had yet to meet in Guatemala. They basically just went up to these homes (because I think these people are too poor and disheartened to even come to our clinic) and asked the people if they'd like to receive the food and vitamins.  Not only have the people received them, but coming to know Orphe and talk with her and feel some hope, many of them now have put in HUGE vegetable gardens with as many as 20 different kinds of vegetables.
When we decided to send the KAH food, we said that we hoped it would just be a springboard to get the people to start growing their own food. It surely has been! Ismael and Orphe said that the food improved their strength so they could work better and also made them feel valued and that they had received a true blessing from God. There are now 58 of these gardens in Mango and 30 in Pueblo Nuevo. None of the families had ever done this before - they didn't believe the land would support it.
Now, they not only have enough for their families but many are selling them in the markets.  They're interested in learning how to "can" some of the vegetables/salsa/etc in the future. They are all so grateful for the vitamins - somehow these small things have had even greater results than we could have hoped for.
Also, they now have put in a cemetery - long story but again took countless hours on the parts of Ismael and Orphe to work with the govt and to get everything arranged. Last Sunday, they got there at 5AM and worked with 25 of the men all day to put a big fence around the property.  Sounds morbid but this was something that was really important to the community.
Everywhere we go, we're treated with so much respect. Tonight we met with the community leaders in Pueblo - a VERY productive evening. They have such a different attitude now - animated, hopeful, really willing to work with us and not just receive. Ismael and Orphe have so many wonderful stories of women who had no confidence before and now come to her meetings and are starting to feel hope for their futures.
Tomorrow we've got a long list of women coming from surrounding villages to receive their gyn care. Flori's story has gotten all around and the women are anxious to be seen.  Puja and I have a headache from struggling with Spanish all day - off to bed! Thanks to you all for so many things - we feel the hand of God in all of this.
Anne