Volcano Sunrises and Star-kissed Skies (Team Delaney & Katie)

Hello family and friends,

              

Today, we went on a morning hike, and after climbing to the top in the dark, we were met with a breathtaking sunrise. The sunrise was beautiful making the hike all worth it in the end. In the morning our group was split in half with some of us going to a wood house and the rest to the school. At the wood house we built the walls of the house using hammers and wood. At the school we moved rocks and dirt to clear the way for a new building. It was fun seeing everyone enjoying their time at each work site and working alongside the locals. In the afternoon we went to the women’s center and learned about the locals’ everyday lifestyle. We saw how they made their food before having stoves, using an open fire. We learned how they wash their clothes in a pila and tried it for ourselves. We also got to try how the women balanced the basket on their head and how men carry a stack of wood on their backs. This whole experience was great and rewarding seeing their life through their eyes. Also, appreciating all the things they do daily for their families and to just get by every day. We ended our day by reflecting on how solidarity has been an important part of our trip. We discussed how we have experienced solidarity with the people of Guatemala, and how we can continue what we have learned when we return home.
- Angelika 

Morning hike, we left at 4:30am

  

Working at the wood house

Working at the school 

Guacamole Heaven (Team Delaney & Katie)

Yesterday we had a day filled with dirt, cement, and laughter.  We went to a cement house that the mission was building for a family.  Here we moved dirt to cover the base of the house and we sifted cement to be mixed and laid later in the process.  As we worked we bonded over of family, friends, and past experiences.  It was a great day to not only build a house, but build stronger relationships with our group members.  We dug a massive hole while trying to get dirt for the base of the house, which we deemed one of our biggest accomplishments (hahaha!). After the work sight we got cleaned up and headed over to the coffee program house.  Here we got to watch how the coffee is “made” start-to-finish.  It starts as a fruit that needs picked, the staff at the plantation showed us all the steps to get the coffee to a drinkable state.  It was an awesome experience, especially for our coffee lovers.  After a sampling of the coffee we got to sort the coffee beans.  While sorting the beans we bonded again as a whole Gannon Group over “The Office” and how we didn’t actually mind sorting coffee beans.  It was a relaxing afternoon but much needed.  Then after sorting the beans we headed back to the mission for dinner.  Dinner was one of the best! Guacamole and fresh salsa!  Everyone was hyped and super happy for such a yummy dinner.  Later we had a fun reflection on the day by drawing our favorite or most meaningful part!  Everyone shared some great times and soon to be memories! 

                -Forever and Always I’ll be  

                Delaney

Surviving and Thriving In Uncertain Times - Day 5 (Team Maggie and Caitlin)

Hi friends and family!

Team Maggie and Caitlin checking in here! We are all doing well despite the recent “amoeba bug” that got a majority of our team – the good news is that we are all feeling better and looking forward to participating in service tomorrow.

Yesterday our group members who were feeling well went out during the morning for a tour of the San Lucas hospital, women’s center, Café Juanana coffee making place, and school. 

In the afternoon, we set out for our first service project, working on building a wooden home for one of the families in San Lucas.

Today more healthy group members joined us for a service opportunity in the morning which consisted of doing some “spring” cleaning for the mission center. In the afternoon, all of our group members were in attendance for a coffee making demonstration and sampling at the Café Juanana coffee laboratory. We also helped in the coffee making process by sorting coffee beans.

Although many of us might not be feeling our best, we are on the up rise of recovery and looking forward to the rest of our service time in San Lucas. Thank you all for your prayers and please continue to keep us in your thoughts during the rest of our stay in Guatemala!

-Olivia B.

G Champs (Team Katie & Delaney)

This morning we went on a tour of the mission where we got to visit the Women’s Center, Hospital, Juan Ana Café, and the School. The ladies at the woman’s center showed us the process they go through when weaving fabric. It was amazing to see all the work that can go into something as simple as a scarf. The traditional pattern for San Lucas is passed down from memory and is something very important to their heritage. At the Hospital, they showed us their equipment, and explained the different procedures they are able to complete. At the coffee place we learned about the process they go through from picking the coffee, removing the flesh of the berry, deshelling and roasting. Finally, we went to the school and learned about the educational system of the San Lucas Mission. After lunch, our group split up and when to two different work sites. We really enjoyed getting dirty and working hard. Everyone really pulled together as a team. We surprised each other with our perseverance as everyone used their muscles to get the job done.

- Katie

Woman's Center 

Traditional weaving of San Lucas

Hospital operating room 

Coffee drying in the sun 

Clearing out a trench for the foundation of a new building 

Putting up the walls of a house

Life on Lake Atitlan (Team Katie & Delaney)

Hola!
Today we really got to be immersed in the culture as we explored the villages of San Antonio and Panajachel while on a boat tour of Lake Atitlan. While we were there we explored the streets and vendors and bought small souvenirs. In San Antonio, a local woman even gave us a lesson on the traditional methods of dying threads used in traditional textiles! When we returned to San Lucas, some of our group members decided to shop around the mission and wondered into a shop owned by a local named Maria who decided to give them authentic makeovers (check the pics below). Tonight’s reflection focused on learning more about each group member and their personality traits where we continued growing as individuals during this shared experience. We’ll keep ya up to date as we begin this week of service tomorrow! Chao!
- Erin

Lake Atitlan 

Each group member's favorite souvenir 

Learning about dying methods for threads 

Hailey, Gabriela and Olivia in Traditional Mayan Dress

Day Three / "Tourist" Day (Team Maggie and Caitlin)

Hola la familia y amigos!

Today concluded our second day in San Lucas. We started the day with breakfast at the mission and team Maggie and Caitlin worked through dish duty with great teamwork skills and positive energy.

After breakfast, we took to Lake Atitlan for our “tourist” day, taking in the beautiful scenery via tour boats on our way to some villages across the lake.

We spent the late morning and afternoon enjoying the shops, food and people of Panajachel and San Antonio. Their friendly faces and genuine joy made lasting impressions on each member of our group.

In San Antonio, Paulina gave us a demonstration on how the women make the beautiful blankets, scarves, and other woven accessories that they sell in their joint shop.

After our eventful day, we returned to San Lucas for a late afternoon siesta followed by dinner at the mission and a trip to the local ice cream shop for an after dinner sweet treat.

After returning to our hotel, we gathered together to journal and reflect on our busy day. Today was a great day full of group bonding that will follow through in our days of volunteering to come. We look forward to an eventful upcoming week full of friendship, service and spirit in the beautiful San Lucas, Guatemala.

-       Olivia B.