Stove Top Chimney

  Stove all done without the metal plate on top.

     I was told on my last visit to San Lucas Mission in Guatemala (2009), that a part of you will always stay in San Lucas~ that was especially true for me.  The people of San Lucas have never left my heart.  I prayed how God could use me to help their family.  I learned how on this last trip November 22-Dec 2 while traveling with 13 others.

 

     The more I've gotten to know Bonifacio Cuz Tzunun and his family the past 4 1/2 years through letter writing, the more connected I felt.  I wanted to share that connection with everyone else... especially with you my faith community.  Bonifacio was orphaned at 7 months old.  His mother was brought to the San Lucas clinic and died. Bonifacio was found, very sick in his mother's back-sling.  He was taken to Casa Feliz Orphanage and there he grew up with the other 175 orphans and became an adoptive son to Father Greg Schaffer, the founder of San Lucas Mission.

    As Bonifacio grew up, he married his beautiful bride, Anna.  They have been married over 18 years.  They have six children and learned in 2007 that their seven year old daughter, Ana (Anita) had leukemia.  Years of chemotherapy treatments, and numerous trips to Guatemala City each week, the family was sponsored by Father Greg financially, just to feed their family.

     I visited them on my last trip to San Lucas in 2009 with a group from Fulda, Mn.  I was fortunate enough to write Bonifacio and Anita's stories.

There was something about their family... they are so humble and meek.  They are quiet mannered and have a strong faith. 

    I learned that a hurricane ripped through Guatemala three years ago.

Bonifacio's humble home was built of pieces of wood, corrugated metal and plastic.  Their family lost everything in the torrential flood waters.

Luckily, there was no loss of life. They built up the land and started over.

 

    Also during that time, Father Greg's health began to deteriorate (he was diagnosed with melanoma) and he needed to move back to the U.S.  It was a very sad time, knowing that he wouldn't have Father Greg near his family.

Sadly, Father Greg died May, 2012.  He had touched so many people...over

25,000 people mourned his death. 

      One this trip, I spoke with Bonifacio and his wife Anna at length. I asked them of their hopes and dreams... and Bonifacio shared of someday having  a home of his own....a cement block home.  And I knew that was how I could help him... to help build his family a permanent home.  This

Christmas, I plan to donate towards building Bonifacio his "dream home".   I

have been very blessed in my life and want to give something that I know will make a difference. I want to keep my promise that I made to Father Greg, that I would not forget the people of San Lucas.

 If you feel called to help or donate, please contact Nichole Paladie,

507-932-3294 or email:  triparishff@hbcsc.net.

 

Bean growing up the corn.  When the corn gets so high, they break it off so it will know to stop growing!

The crops in Guatemala have been planted this way forever.  They grow corn all year round, planting the seeds at different intervals.  When it's about knee high, they plant a bean seed next to it, so it will weave around the corn!  Between the corn rows, squash is planted!  Nothing is wasted here in planting.

In coffee fruit to shelling process, even the outer shell is used as compost afterwards.  The Mayan people are so reverent to the earth and see their great responsibility to care for it.

Poinsettias are giant here in Guatemala.  They were growing in the ditches even… 

Sherry posing next to a poinsettia tree on our walk.

  Father Kurt and Silviano with one of the families who will

            receive a new tile stove.

  Jaclyn and Katherine playing soccer with two boys

                  in their small yard on a hill.

Current stove… without proper pipes to ventilate the smoke outside.    A very grateful family while we worked on their stove.

Making the mortar by hand for the first tile stove

The girls enjoyed when Father Kurt played Chinese jump rope with them!

  One  meal at the San Lucas Mission... for breakfast: oatmeal, homemade bread, eggs, black beans.... yummm!!!

  John Farrell posing next to a lemon tree.... yep those lemons are GIANT in San Lucas... even made great lemonade!

  Tour of the Clinic / Dentist office for San Lucas Toliman. 
   Wonderful Dentistry Tech posed for a picture.

  Tim Stellpflug, Jaclyn Storey and Katherine Smith getting to know the Cretin Durham Hall kids after dinner in the Biblioteca.

 Down time with Sylviano and Rosie playing at our Hotel...

  Watching the kids play in San Antonio....

Our first tour day on Sunday, to the small town of  San Antonio... seeing the weavings the women from San Lucas Women's Center made.  All proceeds go to the Women's Center and their fair trade activities.

 

Another tour through pottery artisan's shop, Ken Edwards .

 Sylviano Mayorga interpreted for  the painting apprentice.

The first night at San Lucas Mission... dishwashing duty.  LouAnn Ellringer, Sherry Slavin, and Father Kurt had to rinse, wash and bleach/sanitize the dishes....

 The group just arrived at the Guatemala City airport...  yay!  We made it!

Puppets that were handmade for the Orphanage Alleyua.    They were very

grateful for the contributions of: baby blankets, toys, clothing for

infants, clothing for girls,   sporting equipment.

Friday, Nov. 29^th

It has been a productive last day for all of us at San Lucas.

Our day started for some with mass with Father Kurt followed with breakfast.  Jaclyn, Katherine, Tim, Karen, Sillviano & Sherry hiked the mountain across from Lake Alitlan .  The hike took two hours and from the top there was a beautiful of San Lucas. Coming down was very interesting. J

Today we finished the stove we had started earlier in the week. Some of us also went to the medicinal herb garden and the Women’s Center. In the herb garden the herb’s that we shucked turned our hands bright orange! They will probably still be orange when we get back.

This is the last day we will spend with the wonderful people of San Lucas but it was also the beginning for two Guatamalens. Nichole Paladie was on a mission here four years ago and she made a promise to two San Lucas residents. Today that promise was fulfilled. Nichole, with the group, delivered two pet carts and now these two people have means to get around without the use of their legs. God bless you Nichole. You gave two people hope and so much love, the love radiated from their faces and their families.

We have all had some awesome experiences throughout the week. It has been a blessing for all of us.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

               Happy Thanksgiving! J

               We started this special day traveling to a nearby town called Santiago, where an American, missionary priest, named Father Stan Rother, served. He was assassinated during the civil war. He is considered a hero and martyr by all. He followed Christ’s example, “A shepherd does not abandon his sheep.” Father Stan laid down his life for his people.

               Jesus asks us all to take care of poor. Sometimes we are afraid to truly give up ourselves to others. As Americans, we do this to make ourselves feel safe and comfortable. The people of Guatemala do not think of themselves as poor, even though they do not have many material goods. Most are grateful for a simple meal and roof over their head. We are learning to appreciate the simple things in life and to let go of our tangible desires.

               The youth took part in an avid soccer tournament and had a great time! They played with the other group of kids as well as a few locals. Compared to locals, the Americans were not very good. It was a great way to experience their culture and develop relationships.  

               This Thanksgiving was not the typical day for us. Americans from neighboring towns all came to the mission to celebrate. The Americans who live here currently were very excited to celebrate our tradition together. One family came from an hour away!

               This Thanksgiving we are truly thankful and it is a day we will never forget.

November 27

 

We started the day celebrating mass with Fr. Kurt. Our work day started at

9:00 with a group going back to finish up the stoves and the rest worked in the medicinal herb gardens and coffee bean sorting. The herbs turned everyone's hands bright orange and the cement from the stoves just made everyone dirty. It was completely worth it. Jaclyn and Katherine made sure that a soccer ball was taken to the children they had met the day before when making stoves. The kids had a lot of fun playing with their new ball.

Karen met a new family of children and was very tired from running around playing freeze tag with them. All of the children here are so happy and can entertain themselves by doing the simplest things.

Victor from the medicinal garden has written a book on natural remedies. We will be purchasing the book but unfortunately it is in spanish. Most of us will need it translated even though our spanish is improving.

We spent the afternoon sorting coffee and also deciding how much coffee we all wanted to buy. so look forward to having a nice cup of Guatemalan coffee.