Day 4

Today we reflected on our time here and we discussed how population growth, the demographic trap, geography, and climate are all causes of poverty.  We learned that countries within a certain distance of the equator have higher rates of poverty due to the type of weather they receive and the increase in natural disasters.  After lunch we visited  a program called "Bienestar" (Wellbeing), a government funded youth program where we heard presentations from Guatemalan youth volunteers who work in their neighborhoods teaching kids how to avoid violence, gangs, and drugs, as well as workshops on healthy family relationships and postponing sexual activity.

Later that afternoon we drove to La Brigada, a "colonia" (neighborhood) on the edge of the city to have supper with the family of one of the language teachers here at the seminary.  Dr. Hart and her husband had lived here for two months when they did their two-month language study at the beginning of her sabbatical in 2001.  We went up on the roof with Manuel who gave us a little history of the neighborhood.

Before eating we visited a childcare program housed in a cement block church that serves almost three hundred kids a week with Monday/Wednesdays or Tuesday/Thursdays with activities, healthcare, and lunches.  Here we are with the lady who runs that program.

 We also had a chance to stop at a  local tortilla shop where the owner let us try our skills at hand-patting tortillas.  It was a lot harder than the Guatemalan ladies make it look.

Day 5

Today we explored how the culture of sexism and corruption are causes of poverty.  After our classroom session, we headed to the Mennonite Central Committee Complex where they discussed the various non-profit groups they assist to decrease poverty in Guatemala and El Salvador.  They also discussed their work with the Kekchi Mayans and the problems they face with land ownership and agricultural challenges.

We had "pollo frito" and "papas fritas" (fried chicken and fried potatoes) for lunch. Then we loaded into the van to see the Miraflores Mayan Museum where we learned about the ancient culture and saw amazing textiles and ceramics they made.  Our guide discussed the artifacts and the fact that the Mayan people probably had a population 10 times larger than original estimates. 

We finished the day with some free time where some of us walked to the local favorite ice cream shop Sarita’s.  Later we had a dinner of "paches", a Guatemalan tamale made from potatoes, and prepared to head into the mountains and our village stays tomorrow.