I´m sure you all know this by now. I´ve gone through a rollarcoaster in the past few months, trying to keep my head up. Right now, I´m feeling great, so I figure it´s a good time to write a blog post/update.
This week I have been accompanied. Juliana came from Nicaragua to visit me again. She's a great guest--she accompanies me and helps me with everything I do, and then I have someone to talk to about everything that happens. The week was busy. We team taught the English classes at the school on Monday morning. Juliana is a very experienced English teacher; she taught English in Thailand before she even really knew Thai. So, she has been giving me ideas about interactive and fun English classes. We will do one more set of classes together before she leaves, and then I'm on my own again!
On Tuesday, the priest from the county came to give mass, reconciliation, baptize, and give first communion for the one time he does it all year. So, of course, I had to go. The man seemed to be out of a movie talking about how horrible the Catholic Church is. He spent his one chance to minister to the people of my community lecturing them about how they need to stop living in sin and return to God. He reviled the people for the way they marry--union libre--instead of marriage in the church (it would be difficult and costly to pay for the classes in Meambar). He reprimanded people for going to the evangelical culto (which I do every week). The gospel, to me, is about love, hope and acceptance. I wish that churches wouldn't forget that in their petty rivalries.
On Tuesday, the priest from the county came to give mass, reconciliation, baptize, and give first communion for the one time he does it all year. So, of course, I had to go. The man seemed to be out of a movie talking about how horrible the Catholic Church is. He spent his one chance to minister to the people of my community lecturing them about how they need to stop living in sin and return to God. He reviled the people for the way they marry--union libre--instead of marriage in the church (it would be difficult and costly to pay for the classes in Meambar). He reprimanded people for going to the evangelical culto (which I do every week). The gospel, to me, is about love, hope and acceptance. I wish that churches wouldn't forget that in their petty rivalries.
We have spent the rest of the week taking walks, talking a lot, making tortillas with my friend Alayda, and working on a sign for the library. Since it has been a while, I thought I would give you all a written update on my projects.
- Latrines in Cienegal: All month I waited for a response from Aldea Global, the NGO that we turned in a grant proposal to at the end of February. I called the coordinator every week and just twiddled my thumbs, hoping for the money...(but 48 latrines cost a lot of money). Finally, last week, the director called me and told me that he wanted to visit Cienegal for a community meeting about the project. Aldea Global has almost all the funds necessary to fund the project, but there are a few hitches the coordinator wanted to talk about. The NGO has only 25 toiled bowls, but they had some money set aside to improve the road to the community. So the deal we talked about at the community meeting was that the people of Cienegal could work for two days on the road and then use the money to buy the remaining toilet bowls. The mayor of the county is going to donate the money for the cement, and Aldea Global wants to start the project in April. It seemed to be a successful meeting. It was great to start seriously talking about the work--the coordinator of the NGO brought some materials to let people know that he was serious. He also complimented us on the work we did to make the budget and proposal for the project; he could tell we were serious and well organized. The people were a little disappointed about the extra work (because the road work will be with pickaxes--it will be very heavy work), but they seem ready to take it on. I made a small speech and got a big applause (they really appreciate that I have been advocating for them). So, Easter week the people will be out with their pickaxes in the road, and hopefully at the begining of April we can bring in the rest of the supplies and get moving before the rains come.
- The Library Project: oh, do I EVER have great stories about this project...it has been really instructive to have frequent meetings with members of my community. I'm learning to let go of what I think a library should be and work to expand my committee members' ideas. But, just for an example, the most important first step to building a library, my committee concluded, was to buy a customized stamp. And now that we have the stamp, we stamp everything; our minutes, our raffle tickets, our requests for books and supplies. Now, our next goal is to make a sign for the library that has the names of the founders on it. Nevermind that we don't have an actual library yet, or even book shelves (we are working on that). Sometime, though, if you want a good story, ask me about the agenda for a meeting.
- Classes: Now, once a week, I am giving English classes at the primary school. I have 45 minutes with the fifth and sixth graders, and then 45 minutes with the third and fourth grade. I don't have enough time, nor are they really at an age, to learn a complete English. But I am trying to use my time to expand their horizons, have fun, and teach them a little bit of English. We will use activities and games. Juliana has given me many ideas.
- Gardens: I have been working on vegetable gardens for a few months, but the project is not organized (i.e. it doesn't involve meetings). But I think, because of my advice, two members of my community have started compost piles and at least 20 people have planted tomatoes, radishes, or peppers.
There are always options for a few other projects--a trash clean up project, a live barrier project--but things move and evolve slowly.
I am excited to see mom and dad soon!
April and May will pass quickly. I hope you all are well, and I love you.
April and May will pass quickly. I hope you all are well, and I love you.
Jennifer
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