Retalhuleu Guatemala - Terminado

[gracegiver]

Received an email last night from our Team Leader regarding our work with Habitat for Humanity last year. The two houses I worked on in Guatemala are completed and the families have moved in.

Generally, this is how we left the place minus the rebar and poured concrete which was completed on our last days. I was unable to find that photo.

Comments

[i]

Thank you for doing this. I had to go to Google Maps to see where you were. Not too far from Lago Atitlan, where I did my project last year. Will you go back?

[gracegiver]

Habitat has quite a crew in Retalhuleu and have built more than a couple dozen homes.

Will I go back? Probably not. The experience did quite a number on this old body. I worked hard. REALLY hard and I didn't listen to my body well enough, didn't want to appear weak. Also, there was SO much religion at every turn, I was uncomfortable. Habitat is christian-based so I think it best for me to stay away from that organization.

You did a Habitat build?

[i]

No, I did a documentary project. I interviewed and videotaped 58 Mayan elders and made a book with their photos and stories in three languages, Spanish, English, and Tzutujil, which is their local Mayan dialect. I gave them the books to sell to pay for grants for kids to go to school. They are ridiculously religious, seeing as they were compelled to convert at the point of a sword by the Conquistadores. That is one of the main reasons I decided not to move there permanently.

[gracegiver]

BTW- It's nice to see you back on LJ.

[egg_shell]

A lovely feel-good story! You (and others) made a difference!

[pinkroo]

this is so beautiful.