» The need is endless - Jan Janzen Daily

Some of the kids in Senor Pablo´s house ready to get their school supplies.

It has been a full week with Brenda arriving on Monday morning, starting to show her around and this morning having a very full experience in San Pablo. Brenda and I arrived by tuk-tuk in San Pablo at about 10:00. Senora Luisa, Senor Pablo´s wife was waiting for us. She was looking so much better having been on Greg´s super algae for just 5 days. What a difference! For only 56 years of age, she looks about 75. The price of poverty, sad to say.

Senor Pablo was so excited to meet Brenda and off we went to the school to meet the kids. However, when we got there the school was empty. A 32-year-old teacher had died that morning from cancer and school was cancelled. So we made arrangements to return on Monday. We walked back through the town giving both Brenda and I an idea of how these people live. Everyone was very friendly and there were lots of greetings of hola!

We got back to Senor Pablo´s house and the little house was full of children, all seated and waiting for us. Senor Pablo spoke for about 15 minutes, explaining the importance of their education, how they must care for the materials and not lose them. Then they clapped in appreciation for Brenda and I and started lining up. So well behaved and patient -it was remarkable. No pushing, shoving or whining.

Brenda, being the ultimate organizer got everybody organized despite not speaking fluent Spanish. There were 3 notebooks for each child, one blank one for drawing, one with lines for writing and one with squares for math. Then there was a pencil and Brenda had brought colored pencils so every child also got 2 colored pencils and an eraser at the end of the pencil.

They were so polite, saying thank you and some very shy, just took their supplies. There were lots of photos taken inside and outside the house. Then the daughter and son of Senor Pablo (the ones we had paid for their registration and supplies) were given their full box of what they needed to continue their education.

This had taken nearly 2 hours and it was pretty intense. The darkness in the home, the number of people, the abject poverty and huge need was almost overwhelming. The gratitude was also beautiful to see.

We left with a list of people who want to be able to finish their education and continue on to University and how much it will all cost. I haven´t even had the energy yet to go look at what the needs are and to figure out what the dollar amount is.

This afternoon, Brenda and I are headed to the massage therapist and bodyworker and then out for dinner to end a very eventful and meaningful day.

I will get some of the pictures posted as soon as possible on Facebook so you can see, although I have to tell you, pictures cannot even begin to capture this morning´s events but it will give you a very good idea. As Brenda has said several times over the last few days, “this is not a resort vacation, is it?” No, this is real life and although we are able to experience so much that is for the tourists, in Guatemala, it is very easy to be right here in the real life of the local people. It´s what I have loved so much.

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