South America / Letter 5

Travels to Antigua November 14, 1998 Hello again to everyone, It truly has been an adventure. I arrived in Panajachel, Guatemala that is close to Solela, Guatemala. Panajachel is beside a lake at the base of a volcano and mountains. The lake has risen 28 meters because of the rains. The sunrises and sunsets are fantastic. My adventures have taken me to a butterfly sanctuary, gardens, and a boat trip to the small villages around the lake. The villages Santa Cruz and Santiago were the most special. The traditional dress of the different villages give color a new meaning. The material for blouses and men's pants are loom woven and then embroidered. The color patterns identify the village. Panajachel is a trade center for selling the hand woven bags, shirts, belts, sandals, and pottery of the different villages. I have spent 2 days here with Miguel and teacher Villma. (Miguel Tzul runs a travel agency and also is the director of the small school that I started in Chimaltenago, Guatemala for children with cleft lip and palates.) I have decided to move the school for many reasons and have worked on those details. Jose is one of the students who is 9 years old and had 3 different cleft lip and palate surgeries, and is doing very well. His speech is improved, but even more he has learned his basic reading and writing skills. I'm now in Antigua with The Common Hope Project (based out of St.Paul, MN). Director John Huebsch has opened up many ideas for our future plans. It sounds like malaria, dengue, respiratory infections, and fungal infections are the worst. The last few days Common Hope has been gathering supplies, antibiotics, soaps, chloro for water decontamination, clothing, and contacting places in Honduras for me to deliver and help as is needed. Many of the problems are starting because of continued mud and water depths throughout Honduras and Nicaragua. I hope to leave in the next week but, are waiting to hear if antibiotics can be sent down from the US mid week.  I started on Chloroquine (antimalarial) and stocked up on mosquito repellant. I have also decreased my needs down to the basics to make room for supplies. Antigua was also hit with very high rains, mudslides, and loss of homes. Especially hard hit are those who have nothing. For those of you who are involved with , one family was totally wiped out from 2 feet of mud running through their home. I arrived to watch a work team shovel mud, help move the small amount of belongings that they had left and to help them rebuild a small structure (8x10) for a family of 8. Their muddy clothes were hung on a line to dry... remember the mother has to go to a pella to hand wash everything.  I will try to get a picture of a pella for you. Life is not always fair..but I must say a big thank you to John and Common Hope for everything. They have been very busy and still have time to open their hearts to those in other parts of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Well, it is time to get this sent. I will email one more time and try to give you our route and plans. Hugs to all, Ben