This is the day for which we had all been waiting.  After all of the email communication without voices and faces, after all of the time and hard work spent researching, planning and fundraising, the day had finally come.
The bus picked us up from our hotel in Chichicastenango and we began the difficult trip up and down the sides of mountains to Canton Rio Camanibal.

When our bus arrived, the children from the school ran to meet us.  Everything that I had seen in the photos and videos Manuel (the school’s assistant principal and my primary contact) shared with me now appeared before me.  I was instantly happy and knew that the day was going to be special.

Across the top of the outdoor covered terrace was a United States flag hanging from the rafters.  There were also flowers, pottery, pine garland and other adornments forming the garland.
For the first part of the day, time was spent introducing the school to us and us to the school.  We toured the classrooms, saw the space they had converted for their new library and computer lab, and met the teachers.  They were all so happy to have us there.  Their excitement was obvious, and contagious!

The kids swarmed around Trent, fascinated with his tattoos.  They kept rubbing his arms, trying to verify that they would not come off!  Trent was loving it.  I guess he is used to the attention!

All of the kids wanted to play with us, and asked us questions about how the various members of our group were related.  I think they were very confused that I was Scott’s mother.  Seeing a young man that looked very much like one of them, but having him not speak Spanish (or K’iche’, the Mayan language spoken in the Chichi area) and having him be so tall (relative to them) was perplexing.  I got a few puzzled looks!  The kids loved having him there though.  I was asked by several groups if I would take a picture of them with Scott.  The boys viewed him as a big brother, and the girls giggled.  I think they were enamored!

Sarah was a big hit with both the girls and the boys.  She enjoyed playing basketball with the boys and the girls loved playing with her hair.

All the kids were fascinated with Barret’s blonde hair, and Cori’s demonstration of the SnapChat filter that swapped faces.

They loved playing games, asking questions, and thanking us for coming to their school.  They asked me several quetions about my name, how old I was (and how old my kids were), whether I liked to dance, and what my favorite fruit was.  By the end of the day, I’d know why!

There was a man with a video recorder present, capturing the events of the entire day.  Manuel had hired him so that we would have a recorded memory of the day’s events.  I look forward to watching the entire thing when we get home!  I tried to take as much video and as many photos as I could, but I couldn’t capture everything, especially those things that involved me!

He recorded while the group stocked the bookshelves.  It was so rewarding to see all of those books finally get to the shelves.  Thank you again to all that donated books!

Manuel had also hired a translator named Diego that knows K’iche’, Spanish and English so that everyone could communicate effectively.  Diego was warm-hearted and funny, and a great translator!  He joked with Scott that they were “brothers”.  I highly recommend him to other groups that travel in the future!  If there are others that travel to Guatemala and need a translator, let me know and I will pass along contact information.

Manuel had thought of everything!  He had even prepared a two-page document detailing the day’s activities.  They stuck pretty well to schedule but were very flexible when necessary.  A lot of thought and heart went into planning a perfect day.

The school had also hired a respected elder musician that specializes in the tecomate, a type of marimba that is played using the traditional gourds as resonators.  What a treat!

While most of the group played basketball or soccer with the kids, I played London Bridge and Simon Says with a bunch of young students.  There was one student named Melissa Mejia that enjoyed helping me hold up the “bridge”.  She was a cutie!

During those fun diversions, John spent time with the 2nd grade teacher, going over the setup and function of the tablets and RACHEL server.  It turns out that she had some previous training with technology and was VERY excited to have the opportunity to deploy the new technology lab.

There was a large stage set up, including a speaker system for the Master of Ceremonies and microphones for both the speaker and Diego, for translation.  Both the stage and the steps leading up to the stage were covered in pine needles.  I don’t know what the pine needles are for, but I had also seen some lining the road in Chichi and the only thing I could think of was that perhaps they were laid ahead of time anticipating the chance of rain — as the pine needles would minimize a slippery or muddy path.

Trent and I, along with both of our families and a friend, Cori Richardson, were seated in the front row, the guests of honor.  We were treated to a delicious lunch of carne asada and we had Rosa de Jamaica to drink, my favorite beverage from Guatemala!

I learned a new Mayan word, “utz ipetik”, which means “welcome”.   To the best of my ability… it is pronounced “oonce ee pay teek”.  The banner which provided the backdrop for the stage welcomed us in K’iche’, Spanish and English!

We were welcomed, and introduced, to the crowd twice… once in the morning for the staff, students and Parent Council…and a second time in the afternoon for the representatives from the Ministry of Education and the greater school community including other parents of students in attendance.

 

The festivities began with the presentation of the flags and singing of both the Guatemalan and the United States national anthems.  Scott got to be part of the Color Guard and  was asked whether he preferred to carry the Guatemalan flag or the US one.  He chose Guatemala.  Guatemala Feliz!  I was asked to help tie the Guatemalan flag to the pole prior to the procession, and during, John and I walked alongside him.  We couldn’t be more proud.

The Guatemalan national anthem, “Guatemala Feliz” is truly a beautiful song and the lyrics are honorable.  I had tried to memorize it to surprise our friends, but did not have enough time.

 

A summary of our donations to the school and prices paid for each step of the way were announced to the guests in attendance and then recorded in a folio or register of activity at the school.  To show their appreciation, the staff at the school presented each of us with a hoody and also gave each of the officers of the nonprofit (me, Trent, and Jen Scratch) a diploma framed in traditional fabric.  In addition, Scott got a larger version of the diploma, and his also included a copy of the boy scout oath and law.  They wanted to acknowledge Scott and his original interest in making a Little Free Library in Guatemala for an Eagle scout project. While that project didn’t ultimately get done, his inspiration for what we were able to accomplish means a lot.

I was asked to share with the crowd a few words about what motivated us to do this project.  Diego urged me to deliver the message in Spanish so that his translation could be in K’iche’.  I told the crowd I couldn’t speak Spanish well, but that I would try my best.  Then, I told them that the adoption of my children gave me the first exposure to the beautiful country and the needs of so many of those that inhabit it.  With each trip, I grew to love the people more and more.  I felt that because I was blessed by this country, I wanted to give blessings back.  I closed by relaying my sentiment that it was better to give than to receive and therefore our project was a great joy for us as well.  I then added that we all appreciated being welcomed with open arms and with much affection and consideration.  “Utz Ipetik, Bienvenidos, Welcome!”  (I got several smiles from the crowd when I used K’che’, and was later told through Diego that the people were very touched that I tried to use their language.  This is all the more reason for me to learn!)

We had a ribbon cutting for the new library and computer lab, and I was asked to cut the ribbon!  Wow, what an honor for me!  In hindsight, I should have asked Manuel or the principal of the school to do it with me, as a sign of our joint efforts, but I was so caught up in the moment that I was not thinking clearly.  I hope they forgive me!

We closed the program with a beautiful collection of folkoric traditional Mayan dances.  I particularly liked the ones about planting corn and going to the market, but they were all wonderful.  Each grade had the opportunity to perform, and a group of children from mixed grades joined together to create a collage of dances in honor of their new friends from the United States.  Among others, they danced to the Macarena and Despacito.

The teachers even danced, and they displayed traje from the various regions. It was all quite entertaining and informative!  What a joy to see the kids in their traditional costumes and performing with smiles on their faces!

The day was very powerful and moving for me as a person, and a fantastic inaugural project.  I’m proud of what we accomplished, and so much appreciate the financial, in-kind, and emotional support offered by all that supported us in our efforts.

Some of the statements made by the school staff hit me particularly emphatically.  In one, they said something like this:  “When I told the parents what you had promised, they did not believe me.  They had wanted technology for a very long time, and they could never have it because they could not afford it.  They thought ‘why would they want to help us?  We are so far away.  You cannot even find us on a map.’  When you Google Canton Rio Camanibal, we don’t appear.  With your help, you have put us on the map.  The kids will be better educated, and they will grow to be leaders in the community, and will go much further than they could have without your help.  Than you for trusting us.”

The other comment that strongly struck a chord with me was “We will probably never be able to repay you, but God will repay you with blessings.  And, even if you don’t realize them in your lifetime, your children will.”  Like I mentioned in my little speech, it was so rewarding for us to be able to do this project.  I feel like I have already been blessed, and I think I speak for others in my group as well.

As we drove away from the Canton Rio Camanibal escuelita, girls flocked to the van.  Some looked through the windows and waved.  Some ran around to the entry-side  to say “adios” and MANY called out their favorite…”Adios Sarah”  I think she made a lot of friends that day.  I know I did…