Thursday

Once again we had a really great day serving the Guatemalans. Juan Carlos once again delivered us to the schools safe and sound, navigating the streets with great finesse. At the Coll school service continued as usual, with the normal amount of joy and laughter. The day at the pre-school was rather more bittersweet - it was the last day. Everyone continued to work with their groups, forming increasingly close relationships with kids. In a touching ceremony, each group presented their volunteer with a card (except for Dylan's group which gave him thirteen!). We then gave the group the donations, incuding an entire suitcase of stuffed animals, which they loved. They were very sorry to see us go, and we were sad to have to leave. But were also very greatful for the the time we were able to spend and the friendships we made. After leaving the preschool, the entire Guatemala team played football against the Coll school's fifth grade. Despite Conner nearly crushing a kid with a glorious Superman save, Brother L. trying to give every player a red card, and their awesome foot skills, it was a close game with a last second goal to tie, 5-5. We worked at the work site again, mixing concrete, but the highligh was when Peter presented the foreman with a suitcase of assorted tools. He was very touched and you could almost see the tears in his eyes. Now we are back at the retreat house ready for another night of awesome discussions. We all look forward to our last day of service, and returning home to our families. Go Team Guatemala! (Written by Harry and Dylan)

Wednesday

         The day started with the normal morning routine consisting of a prayer, followed by a wholesome breakfast prepared by the retreat house cooks. Due to Juan Carlos' skirtability, along with his prowess and knowledge of the Guatemalan streets, we were able to weave through traffic, arriving at school 45 minutes early. We made sure to thank him with a "Juan Carlos" chant. As usual the kids put a smile on our faces as soon as we entered the school. Our spanish has improved quite dramatically over the last few days, though we still find it difficult to communicate efficiently to the kids. Despite this, we have found that the most effective way of communicating is through actions/hand gestures. Like every middle school in America, recess is the most anticipated part of the day to the kids. There, we find it much easier to interact through games of tag, soccer, and playing with what seems to be the most popular Guatemalan toy, the top (a top attached to a string and thrown/released into the ground). At Educacion Fisica, the students particapate in quick exercises followed by a game of soccer. Overall, playing with the kids at the school is fun and self-fulfilling. We went to work on the extra wing with el jefe (our boss) calling the shots. Little by little we are seeing improvement in the new wing. We then went to the highschool to learn more about kids our age surrounding the dump.         We were presented with insightful slides concerning the statistics that face the average Guatemalan and how, through this school, they are able to overcome these obstacles. After the presentation, we were able to talk to the kids and ask questions to eachother. We heard a touching story from one of the highschool girls that really made the situation real to us. Each of us were given a handmade necklace by the students. Then, the highschoolers challenged us to a game of soccer. Guatemala vs USA. USA came up with a stunning upset 5-3, however, the Guatemalan's nifty footskills often times made us look silly. We headed back to the retreat house ready to pack our donations. We were happy with everyone's generous donations. Many thanks to the parents and other people who helped prepare the donation bags. We had a discussion/ reflection and then went to bed excited for yet another day of service in Guatemala. (written by Jeff Anderson and Michael Eddingfield or Eddingfinger as Mrs. Jindal would say!)       

The First Full Day

FIRST FULL DAY OF SERVICE!!! We have finally started what we came here to do. After a delicious breakfast by the retreat house cooks and picking up the police protection, we spent our first day with the kids in their classes and then we worked on the new addition to the school. At the beginning of this trip I was looking forward to working on the new addition and I was not sure if I wanted to work with the kids, but after my experience today with the 6th graders I realized being with the kids has been the most rewarding part of my day. Half of the team went to the nursery to be with the babies and toddlers and the other half went to the elementary school to be with the older kids. When my group got to the elementary school, we were split up into the grades by pairs or by ourselves. I was happy to be with the kids, but I really was looking forward to the work after school. I was placed in the 6th grade by myself. Walking into a room full of 12 year old, wide eyed kids brought me back to my elementary days when I had to give presentations in front of the class. Sweaty and nervous, I waved and said "hola" and was greeted by every kid in the room smiling, most likely because of my terrible accent and pronunctiation, and saying "hola" back to me. Almost as soon as I got into the classroom it was already "receso" where I was told by multiple and increasingly frantic hand gestures to run. I did and was soon captured by the opposing team, which I had no idea exsisted, and brought back to their jail. I was then, again by numerous hand signals, told to run after the other team. We played this form of tag for about a half hour. Luckily after running for a half hour with VERY energetic 6th grades, we played soccor. When asked by one of the girls who spoke a little English if I played soccer, I answered yes. I meant that I had seen the game and played once on my fourth grade team but they took it as "yes, I am good at soccer." So they took it upon themselves to humiliate me with every soccer move they could for the next hour. Battered and bruised, but still smiling,we went back to the school for math. They were learning division. I helped several kids with their exercises. During the class I was asked by several of the girls if I was single. To their dismay I am not and I showed them a picture of my girlfriend that I printed out before the trip and kept in my wallet. As all the kids were leaving we said good bye and did the hand shake that I made up with the other boys. What really moved me was almost the entire class asked if I was going to be with them tomorrow and after saying yes all of their faces lit up with a smile. After that, construction was boring. We leveled out ground for a walkway, moved sand and stone, and put in metal supports for the ceiling. It was boring because I always found myself thinking about my day with the kids and being excited to see them tomorrow. (written by Peter Krull) I was also happy to finally work with the children. I, unlike my friend, was assigned to the Nursery. Since I did not speak Spanish, I hoped to help the younger children who could not speak too much Spanish. I asked to work with the Kindergarteners. I went into the room rather shy and apprehensive, because to my surprise, everyone spoke Spanish. The children soon realized that I knew little Spanish after asking me simple questions that I later found out were, "What is your name?" or "Where are you from?". They then tried to communicate to me that they wanted help with their addition problems. Since I knew how to count to 10 in Spanish, I tried to help. We did problems such as 2+3 and 6+4 and used bottle caps to figure out the math problems physically. Many of the students were able to do the problems correctly and after a few minutes the students and I had developed a handshake to congratlate them when they got the right answer: We fist-bumped, high-fived, low-fived, and ended with a final fist-bump. The majority of students really got excited after that point and worked together on their classwork and finished early. The students who finished early then helped those who needed help and eventually everyone finished the worksheet. We then lined up for recess and all ten students asked me to either give them a piggyback ride, hold their hand, or just give them a hug. I was completley covered in overjoyed 6 year olds. Outside we played jump rope. They did not know how to time their rope with their jump. I helped a few with their timing until a student hit me on the back and said the Spanish equivalent of "Tag!" I ran after the student and finally tagged him. By this time the entire class decided to play and I was constantly tagged because the children wanted me to chase them, which I did accordingly. I chased the kids for a solid 15 minutes until I stopped to take a break, when the children decided to all hug/attack me at once. All the girls hugged my legs and the boys jumped on me. I eventually got myself free only to be chased by the children again. Soon thereafter, the teacher called the students in for lunch and I was called by Mr. Dane to leave for the day. I said "Adios" to the kids as I left and they all gave me one last hug. I then went to the main school for construction work for the next 4 hours and returned to the retreat house around 5 p.m. only to find that we could not play soccer as a result of the rain. That is beside the point, because I am really just looking forward to returning to help the children tommorow. (written by Austin Mack) Hasta manana, The SJJ Guatemala Team

Nuestro Servicio Empieza!

Today was the most anticipated day of the trip. We had plans to go down to Zone 3 near the dump and meet with the students and teachers of Coll School and the Nursery. At 7:15 we gathered for a prayer service, closely followed by a delicious breakfast. Our bodies and spirits were full and refreshed for the long day to come. We departed for the school and Juan Carlos AKA Our Driver AKA Mr. Whip Game, navigated the Guatemalan streets with a grace previously unknown to mankind. Along the way we picked up two armed guards, who would escort us the rest of the day. During the drive, we witnessed the cityscape drastically change from one of relative wealth, to one of extreme poverty. Despite the dismal atmosphere surrounding the school, we were warmly welcomed with a showcase of enthusiasm and excitement. The school was a literal diamond in the rough. Each of us was graciously given a bracelet and handmade greeting card as we walked through a tunnel of smiling students. Inside, we had front row seats to beautiful music and wonderful dancing, despite minor technical difficulties. The entire room was filled with overwhelming smiles and laughter. The Coll School students' happiness was truly inspirational to all of us Titans. The performance was finished and we attempted to chat in Spanish with the students, until being called to the bus to travel to our next destination. The recently renovated nursery was in pristine condition and the babies and toddlers were not too shabby themselves. The children's ages ranged from 3 months to 7 years old. The students in the nursery will continue on to The Coll School as they grow older. Over the next four days, half of our group will be at The Coll School and the other half will be babying it up in the nursery. Our trip took a more serious turn after leaving the nursery and arriving at the edge of the city dump. Some students had previously seen the dump in documentaries shown at St. John's, but it did not compare to seeing it with our own eyes. Over the dump we saw many parents of the students that we are working with. This specific destination yielded a very engaging discussion later on about various aspects and solutions to extreme poverty. It is safe to say all of us were in shock of what we had just seen. Our discussion helped us process the emotions and thoughts that were running wildly through our minds. Today also began our construction work on a new wing for the Coll School. We were all divided among tasks indluding: leveling ground for pathways and floors, cutting steel support beams, and beginning work on support for a second floor. Throughout our time working on the construction, many niños who lived in the surrounding area approached us wanting to talk and assist us in our work. These children who have so little were offering their help to us in building the school, demonstrating their selflessness. After a long exhausting day, Juan Carlos delivered us back to our retreat house where we played a game of fútbol, had dinner, chatted up a storm, and wrote this blog post. And that brings us to now, with baggy eyes and sore feet, we wish you a good night. Hasta luego!!!!! Gracias por leyendo! The SJJ Guatemala Team - written by Benjamín Eddingfield(or Eddingfinger as Mrs. Jindal would say) y Sachin Jindal

Antics in Antigua!

Hey everyone and Happy Día de los Padres! Hope everything is going well back home. Today was a fun, cultural day spent in the old Guatemalan capital of Antigua. On the hour long drive from Guatemala City, we witnessed a Fast and Furious-esque race between 30 motorcycles that were weaving through traffic (obviously to get good seats at mass). Nevertheless, our driver, Juan Carlos, stayed strong and got us to Antigua with extra time to see the Tenedor de Cerro, a tall, mountainous sightseeing area with some fantastic art. Next on the schedule was mass in one of the oldest cathedrals in the Western Hemisphere. Luckily, we found seats as the church was packed to capacity with some standing but everyone in their "Sunday Best." What made the mass so special and memorable was that it was completely in Spanish. Even though all of us struggled to understand exactly what was being said, we were all blessed to have that experience. Some of the Spanish students were able to chime in during the Our Father, which made them feel really cool about themselves. Leaving the cathedral, we headed straight to the bank to exchange our dollars for the Guatemalan Quetzales. The exchange rate for all of us was 7.7 Quetzales for the dollar. This took forever because Sachin somehow managed to crash the system, probably because he wanted a million dollar exchange and refused to say no. Andres took us to a great restaurant that offered delicious authentic Guatemalan cuisine. Although the markets were next and we were all excited to barter, this little girl lured in the Brother L, Eddingfields and Gramza while we ate. Before the markets, the team swooped by the Jade Factory/Museum where we recieved a nice history lesson about jade and its role in the Mayan culture. After this, we are are convinced that the world will end on December 21, 2012.While at the markets,everyone was searching feverishly for soccer jerseys, especially Mack. Mike Eddingfield and Nick Gramza bartered someone down to the point where they were asked to leave. In the end, everyone was happy with their purchases and, do not worry family and friends, there are "regalos" for you too (and not all the money was blown in one day). One little controversy which we all discussed was that we feel bad trying to barter with these people who are selling these goods for a living and might not be in the best economic circumstances. We then concluded that both sides enjoy the bartering and that it is a part of the marketplace activity.In between, we visited the old Jesuit residence and now Spanish embassy, which Br. L enjoyed. After returning to the Retreat House and eating dinner, we came to the disappointing realization that it was too dark to play soccer. Looking back on the day, it was awesome to observe the culture and get souvenirs, but we all recognize that the real focus is on tomorrow and the rest of the week when the work begins. Again, we hope everyone is doing well and having a good break from their sons! -SJJ Guatemala Team (Written by Samin Rai and Nick Gramza)

San Salvador

June 15th, 2012 We began the day with a prayer service in the chapel that overlooks the city. The view was incredible and so different from what we are used to in the United States. We soon departed for the University of Central America (UCA). Everyone was in good spirits, viewing the city through the bus windows. One thing everyone noticed is how colorful the city is. Buldings are painted in bright, bold colors. We finally arrived at UCA and took a tour of the Romero Center. There, we heard the stories of the massacres throughout San Salvador, especially the Jesuit massacre which occured on that very soil. We got to see many different relics of the Jesuits who were murdered there. From there, we walked out back to see the spot where the six murdered Jesuits and two murdered maids were discovered. Standing on this holy ground was incredibly powerful. Our travels then led us to the place where Oscar Romero used to live. Inside, we got to see his personal possessions and even the clothes he was assassinated in. We walked accross the street to the church in which Romero was shot. Standing in front of the spot where one of our Jesuit heroes died made his sacrifice seem very real. You could really feel the energy present within our group. We then drove to a park that contains the memorial of the 60,000 Salvadorians that were murdered by the government. After lunch, back at the retreat center, we went to the San Salvadorian Cathedral. We first went to the basement of the San Salvadorian Cathedral which contained Oscar Romero's tomb. Afterwards, we went upstairs into the actual Cathedral. There was Eucharistic Adoration going on at the time and we truly felt God's presence! We then had our first taste of the Salvadorian markets. There, we practiced our bartering skills and picked up a few souvenirs. We are constantly increasing our Spanish vocabulary! Then we returned to the Jesuit retreat house for a feast, followed by great discussions about injustice in the world. We concluded our day with a prayer service in the chapel, in which we reflected upon all of today's experiences. Everything is going great!! The food is great, the people are very kind and we have never felt in danger. Ron and Samin were feeling a little sick but soon recovered and now everyone is feeling great. This is the start to an awesome trip and what is soon to be one of the greatest experiences of our lives! We are all missing you and hoping you are doing well. Lots of love and prayers from El Salvador! -The 2012 Guatemala Team (Written by Sean Wheelock and Nick Behm)

We arrive in the land of the martyrs... Bienvenidos El Salvador! Upon arriving yesterday, I could already feel that in some way this land was holy.  Upon praying that first night at the Jesuit retreat house, where we were staying, I meditated that it must be the blood soaked ground which whispers of holiness and a fight for what is right. We gathered in the gorgeous chapel which overlooks all of San Salvador to end our night. I tried to the best of my ability to relay the immensity of our presence in this place and reminded them of the call we have all received to be His hands, His feet, His eyes and His voice. As I retired to my room, a cross hung above my bed... a cross with Archbishop Romero... my hero... tomorrow would be like no other. We woke early and prayed in the chapel and shared in breakfast before we headed out to the University of Central America, UCA for short. Upon arrival, we were escorted into the Oscar Romero Center which outlines the struggle for freedom outlined through the lives and examples of the martyrs. I watched the faces of our young men to see how they would react and take in the reality of the Salvadoran people. They were transfixed and moved as the stared at the artifacts and personal belonging of Padre Rutillio Grande, SJ, Archbishop Oscar Romero and the Jesuit martyrs of the UCA. I prayed that the boys for but a moment put themselves in the shoes of these martyrs and relive and experience what a selfless sacrifice is. In Toledo and now here in El Salvador I asked the boys a question over and over, "Is there anything in your life that you would say is worth dying for..." I looked deep into the boys faces as they looked at the images of my fallen Jesuit brothers who were murdered at the UCA and stood in the garden where their bodies laid the morning they were discovered and began to see a softening of eyes and an opening of hearts to what it means to believe in something so much that your life is a gift worth giving. This realization on their part only added to the power of traveling to Romero's house and place of assassination. We knelt in prayer in the chapel where a driver 30+ years ago drove up to the door and fired a single shot that silenced once and for all the prophetic Monsignor Romero. We prayed an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to honor this amazing man. Personally for me this moment will forever remain in my heart. As I shared with the group later that night, Romero has served as a primary example of selfless love... a type of love deserving of a full life commitment to God. When I was a Junior just as they are, I heard, read and watched the Romero story and in the far recesses of my heart heard God's call to the priesthood. It was his passion, his voice, his example that gave me some of the same to follow a priestly life. There I was standing at the very altar where Romero laid down his life. With tears in my eyes I recommitted myself to my priestly call and kissed the altar in respect as Archbishop Romero had done so many times before. Thank you Monsignor for your example to me and the young men. We then drove to a park which lists the names of all 60,000 + people of El Salvador who had given their lives in the civil war. The memorial is very similar to the Vietnam Memorial in DC. It was moving to see the boys walk along the wall and trace their fingers over the names of those who died. Many found Fr. Grande and Romero and in a silent prayer traced out their names. It was a beautiful scene and moment. We then traveled to the Cathedral where Romero is buried. In our reflection that night, it seemed this was the place which most moved our students. The dark cool basement and the impressive tomb seemed to silence the boys and put a solemnity to all that they had experienced in the day. As one student reflected looking at a cross, "Romero and Jesus both died for a cause... Jesus died for all of us... That is just unbelievable and makes me moved like never before on what my faith means". The immensity and sacredness of the Cathedral moved us all. We then lightened the mood by traveling to a market where the young men for the first time met the Salvadoran people face to face. They bartered, haggled, and laughed as they communicated and bought trinkets and souvenirs. We returned to the retreat center for a delicious traditional meal of Papusas and lively conversation. After dinner, we gathered in a circle and relived the day. We discussed the issues of poverty, injustice, and martyrdom and shared the powerful moments of the day. I was so moved, proud and impressed with the boys sharing their experiences and perspectives. Numerous young men shared of the powerful moments of faith that they experienced through the examples of the Salvadoran people. It was so cool to see how close God was to so many of them. To wrap up our day we again gathered in the chapel where we had begun our day and prayed a traditional Catholic prayer known as the litany of Saints. The boys heard the stories of the martyrs and prayed for their intercession. The guys lit candles which illuminated their faces and illuminated all of our hearts on the events, moments and memories of the day. To end my reflection of El Salvador, I think the name fits so beautifully for this land. The Savior is so present here. I stood in Romero's little house which he once occupied and looked at his glasses which now sit on display. I reflected on all that has been seen through those lenses and prayed that I too could have such a glance of love Romero did so many years ago. May we all place Romero's glasses upon our eyes to see, care and love the oppressed as they are... children of God! Prayers from the land of the Martyrs!!! Br. L, SJ