Mir Pace International

2011-04-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

Our team has just arrived at the Biltmore Hotel in Guatemala City. We are tired from the long trip from Tamahú, but we´re having a lot of fun shopping in the hotel for souvenirs for ourselves, families and friends, as well as hanging out by the pool with everyone. A part of the trip has not been discussed on this blog. It was a very big important part that definitely should be shared. One part of the trip that everyone participated was going to see the newly opened malnutrition center in Tamahú. It was opened the week before we arrived and it offers a great help and hope for the families and children it attends for. The malnutrition center is a hugely important aspect to Tamahú because it is a center for young children who are very poor in health due to the bad nutrition and insufficient balanced diet. We met five children there. One was named Marvin and is an adorable little toddler but sadly has a horrible case of worms. He was by far the friendliest and always has a smile on his face. Another was a small baby who was both blind and deaf and had scabies all over his face. Claudia and Mira were two small babies who were severely premature due to the malnurishment. Norman was a little boy we met with his mother during our visit was is severely disabled neurologically. It was a sad sight to see, but we were all able to take out of it many happy memories.

Nicole

Heading back to Guatemala City

2011-04-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone - this is Ms. Hallihan. Our busy schedule yesterday did not allow us to blog (as we were busy saying our goodbyes and sharing time together). It has been an amazing week full of discoveries, challenges, language lessons, and plenty of laughter. We do not have much time now to share stories but wanted to let you know that all is well. We are headed back to Guatemala City now and will be headed back to the US in the morning...with plenty of stories to share with you! Hope all is well in the Northeast.

Tuesday in Tamahu!!!

2011-04-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today was definitely taxing but we all had a great tim! The day began with our usual breakfast ...today it was pancakes and cereal! Right after breakfast we headed off to the church to get our supplies for stove building and wall covering. While meany of us were already tired, the day was just beginning! Next our guide arrived and brought us on our hike up the mountain. We soon learned that we were REALLY going up the mountain. About an hour and lots of sweat later we arrived at our destination and got to work. It was so fun to meet the families and play with the kids, who could not be any more excited. We are able to see what life is really like for them by peering into their houses. Many have no stoves at all, which leaves them cooking on te ground and threatening their childrens safety. In addition, the walls are planks that are sometimes nailed together, sometines tied with string, subjecting the families to drafts and rain. It is no wonder they are so sick! Our group split up and in total we were able to biold 5 stoves and cover 6 walls. The people are so grateful, and it makes us so happy to know that we are making a differene in their lives. When it comes to the kids, their memories of playing with us will last them a lifetime. WHen it comes to the adults, and the families in general, these stopes and plastic wall coverings will hopefully make a huge difference in their health and productivity. We returned for lunch exhausted, but many of us soon set off again for soccer, the shops, and other fun. Overall, it was a great day, and we are happy to be in Tamahu! Adios!
Helen and Bridgit

Sunday - Gabe and James

2011-04-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

Gabe - Hola Mom, Dad, and Genna!!! Today was Palm Sunday for the locals in Tamahu, and they celebrated the event with several celebratory actions. When we woke for breakfast they told us about the two-hour mass in the church, "iglesia", and we attended the event. Prior to the mass, we watched as the locals took strands of palm and sang as they walked in the streets. Several people wore special garments for the event, and the clothes consisted of bright colors. In the mass we were un-able to understand the actual sermon, but the people were welcoming and extremely happy that we joined in on the significant day for their culture. We even recieved a blessing for Mir Pace! So I am doing well, and I wanted you guys to know that Im having a great time and I miss you all very much. Especially you, Genna! Hasta luego! (Until next time!) James- Hola from Guatemala. We posted this a bit late because the internetcafe was, probably because of Palm Sunday. Seeing as Gabe posted about the festivities, I will fill in the blanks on the rest of the day. We did not go into the mountains today, so we got to see a lot of the town and the market. We hung out a lot at the sports court and played frisbee with the little kids. At first they seem to be a little nervous, but soon we are all having fun. Afterwards we played a game of basketball with some of the older kids who were about the same age as us. They were a lot better than us, but we did ok. It was about 6 on 6, us against them. We were all having a lot of fun and they invited us back tomorrow. At dinner some of us bought some handmade clothes. It was a good day, but I got to go. Bye hasta manana

Saturday in Tamahu

2011-04-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hola!! Today, we spent our day working on building simple stoves for those without and covering exposed walls with tarp. We spent the rest of the day socializing with the children and playing soccer, then we had a delicious meal made by Marta. Tomorrow, we will attend a two hour long mass, and hopefully visit the nutrition center for malnourished children. We also will not be able to blog since all shops will be closed for palm sunday. We will keep you all posted-check up on Monday! Love, Helen, Bridgit & Nicole!

First Work Day in Tamahu

2011-04-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

Today, we woke up from our first night with our host family (the Filibertos), and prepared for our first day of work. We ate breakfast as a group - corn flakes, pretoasted toast with jam and peanut butter, bananas and plaintains. After breakfast, we divvied up supplies for the stoves we're making and the plastic we're using to weatherproof houses. We all loaded into a bus, which was blasting techno music, and headed up to an indiginous village. We spent some time in the center of the village, getting to know a few locals, and being debriefed about the day ahead. Xavier, the church caretaker and leader of the expiditions to the houses we're working in, showed us how to build the stoves. Each one uses four square posts with a pointed end. Boards are then nailed to each of the posts to form a rectangular box, open on both the top and the bottom. After they were built, we moved them into the locals' houses and filled them with dirt. This structure provides a raised surface for the women to cook on, and prevents children from burning themselves on ground level fires or hot cookware. Aly- I got to meet two families today, although it may have been more, because it was often hard to tell which children belonged to which parents. The people here live very communally, and it seemed like the children felt comfortable moving between houses. I had the opportunity to connect with two kids especially. One of them was named Alejandro; he is a thirteen year old boy who was very interested in helping nail the boards for the stoves and digging the foundations for them. He was very social. The other was a ten year old girl named Claudia-Esmeralda. She was very interested in my hair, and using the shovels. All in all a great day providing a good balance of relationship building and production. :) Lily- Thoughout this trip so far, I've been struck by the friendliness and welcoming air of the local people. The indiginous Mayans proved to be no exception. As we began our trek up perilously steep mountain paths, lugging staples, staple guns, and wood for our stoves, it was definitely a test of endurance just to reach our work sites. Once we were there, we got to work. We built two stoves, plastic-ed two houses, and made friends with countless little children. Although they were timid at first (connecting us to their previous white visitors - a group of doctors who gave them shots) they warmed up quickly. Making faces, of course, helped a lot. Overall, I was struck by the trusting air of the Mayan people. Not questioning our presence, our competence, or our motives, they welcomed us and worked alongside us. The children, especially, were eager to hear us sing the alphabet, or teach them to play pattycake, or engage in almost any other form of interaction. At the end of this day, I'm left feeling satisfied, and contemplative. The words of Eileen and Xavier are starting to make sense: "The real gift is not the stoves, the real gift is your presence, and your attention". I understand that better now, and I hope to continue forging relationships with the beautiful, happy people in and around Tamahu, Guatemala.

Arrival in Tamahu

2011-04-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

After leaving Guatemala City yesterday morning, we got on a bus... where we would spend about the next six hours. Passing through arid desert, lush tropical forests, and countless cliffs and ravines, we shared our sweat and laughter until we arrived in our home for the next week: Tamahu. The village is small and condensed, filled to the brim with friendly locals. We got a brief tour, including the basketball courts, nutrition center, place where we eat, and town square. For lodging, we are in groups of four to six (single gender), each group assigned to a family, who have graciously opened their houses to us. Although the houses are of varying descriptions and have families of varying levels of presence, everyone is comfortable and happy. Our meals are prepared for us specially, so we know that everything served to us is safe to eat. We are about to depart on a one to two hour hike into the mountains, where we will be working for the rest of this week. We will be building stoves and weatherproofing houses. We will be posting again tonight; hopefully that will be our regular schedule. - Lily and Sean

First Day in Guatemala!

2011-04-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Last night, we arrived in Guatemala! After a long day of travel taking us from Boston to Miami to Guatemala City, we were all exhausted, but excited. Despite some nervousness about customs, going through the Guatemalan security was a breeze. The bus trip from the airport to the hotel took a little longer than expected (the bus was slightly tardy). However, once we reached our hotel (after some pretty thrilling curb-riding and corner cutting), we were pleasantly surprised by the excellent quality of our hotel, the Biltmore Express. Nearly everyone slept like a rock-despite some external noise-and when we descended on this morning's continental breakfast, we were ready to do some serious devouring of the papaya, pineapple, croissants, watermelon, waffles (with maple flavored honey), and other exotic foods. We're about to depart on a 4-6 hour drive by bus to Tamahu, and apparently we'll be going through some pretty intense terrain, including a desert and high altitude. We'll check back in soon!
-Aly and Lily

Tamahu - 2011

2011-04-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

Although busy with last minute preparations, our 21 student volunteers and five group leaders are very excited to make our way to Tamahu tomorrow! We are looking forward to seeing our beloved friends and to serve them with open hearts, warm smiles, and great big hugs!

To follow our week of service and fellowship, check this blog daily. If we are able, we will also upload photos along with our posts.

Please keep us and the people of Tamahu in your prayers!

Guatemala in Crisis

2010-09-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

Mir Pace is reaching out to the people of Tamahú affected by deadly landslides that have hit Guatemala in the last few weeks.

The landslides were triggered by hours of torrential rain that destabilised hillsides and washed away homes. In one incident, at least 22 people died when a wall of mud engulfed a bus in the north-west of Guatemala City and another mudslide struck passersby as they rushed to help.

Another landslide killed a dozen people when it slammed into a bus on the Inter-American Highway, one of the country’s busiest roads. It is one of 30 mudslides to have hit the road.

Guatemala is coping with its worst rainy season in 60 years. This has already been a very difficult year for Guatemalans after tropical storm Agatha killed 150 people and drought killed off many crops. We fear the imminent rainy season could bring more devastation.

Normally September and October are the heavy rainy months in the region due to the hurricane season. We are praying that this doesn’t happen because if it does, it could cause a major disaster.

Mir Pace is providing food and shelter to the people of Tamahú whose homes have been washed away or badly damaged by the mud.

6th Annual Paddle for Poverty

2010-06-30T05:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 10th, Mir Pace will hold it's 6th Annual Paddle for Poverty! Check out our event page at www.mirpace.org/Paddle2010.htm.

This year, we have the amazing and very generous support of Tinker's Son in Norwell, MA. Tinker's Son will be hosting an after party and 10% of all proceeds (for the entire day and night!) will be donated to Mir Pace for our work in Guatemala and Haiti. We are grateful to and applaud all those at Tinker's Son for their support and for sharing in the spirit of our work for the poor! Go raibh maith agaibh! ("Thank you").

Hurricane Agatha

2010-05-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of Mir Pace:

Please keep the people of Guatemala, and in a special way, our dearest friends in Tamahú, in your thoughts and prayers. Our people are okay, however a beautiful and very holy man named Ramiro died because the landslides made it impossible for him to reach a hospital. I am so grateful that I was invited to spend time with Ramiro at his home while we were there in April. The people of Guatemala have endured so much suffering. We will update you as we learn more.

Happy Memorial Day!

Thank You T2

2010-04-24T12:50:00.001-07:00

Welcome home to all of our teen volunteers!!! You should feel so very proud for all that you accomplished this past week in Tamahú and for the many ways in which you shared your friendship, love, and compassion for the people both in the village and in the mountains. Your hard work in establishing a community garden, teaching the people to compost, assisting in the medical mission and in the food distribution, as well as bringing tremendous joy to the little school children was so very important in helping us to improve the health and well being of the people and was gratefully received by all. Father Blazej was moved to tears by your deep passion and love for the poor. Not one of you will be forgotten, as you will be held in the hearts and prayers of all those whom you served.

Reflections written by two of our volunteers during our journey home:

Eternal Life
(Alina-Ioana Favazza)

I look at these people,
Like my second family.
The love they share with me,
Makes me one and the same as them.

Home is where the heart is,
Where you can be who you want to be.
Some place where you feel complete,
You don’t need technology to enjoy your time,
And you do not want to leave.

From the time we landed to the time of departure,
Time flew by and by.
Everyday I wished time would just slow down,
For more time in Guatemala
To be with the people we have become family to.

They capture you with their hugs and smiles,
Making you feel like you are at home.
It only takes a moment,
To give them your heart,
Always and forever.

Leaving is the hardest part,
Crying until your eyes run dry.
You know your future is to return,
For a longer period of time,
But for now we thank God for them all.

I now know what I would like to do in the future,
Returning to Guatemala with Mir Pace opened by eyes.
I would love to help take younger kids to Guatemala,
With the hope that they will enjoy their time,
And appreciate this opportunity with all their hearts!

I thought I was truly happy in the U.S.,
But I realized that being in Guatemala,
Is what I would like to do.
Being with people there,
Made me realize that there is no greater love
Than the love they shared with me.

You suddenly realize that you do not need a
Cell phone, computers, or a TV,
As long as you are surrounded by people,
Who truly love you and you enjoy doing
New things with them.
You find the meaning of life and love,
And your heart finds the path to eternal life.

Eternal life is knowing that what you’ve done
Has been for the benefit of others,
And you’ve given all your heart to the cause.
You become selfless and you think of others,
Always and forever.

Tamahú, La Nueva Vida
(Bridgit Wald)

We arrive by bus, ever so keen
White faces in a sea of green
And discover what life truly does mean
We will never forget what we have seen.

The people here, so kind and selfless
Qualities I truly will miss
Kindergarteners so eager to kiss
Despite the hardships, life here is bliss.

I see now that I was blind
In the privileged home I left behind.
Life here truly blows my mind
And lessons learned stand the test of time.

As the sun sets each and every day,
I pray, dear Tamahú, never fade away.

April 21, 2010 Food Distribution

2010-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hola for Tamahu!,
Today we helped to distribute food to the people by bagging rice and black beans. We also created sets consisting of vegetable oil, rice, black beans, sugar, and soap. There were so many rows that the entire floor was covered. Many of us went up to the bell tower as well during a short break. After, we formed a makeshift assembly line to pass out the food to the people who needed it. We accomplished this very quickly and had great success. Tomorrow, when we arrive in Guatemala City, the rest of today´s blog will be posted.

From Kris and Lisa!

Tuesday April 20, 2010 Trip to the School

2010-04-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hola!
Today we visited the local prekindergarten through first grade school. We played with the kids and they made us cards, necklaces, and greeted us with hugs and kisses.You could definitely tell how much being there meant to them and the sisters running the school. One of the sisters started crying because she was so grateful to have us there. They all thanked us profusely but nothing meant more to us than the cards that they made for us. This brought up the whole group´s spirit! What a great day!
Some of us picked up the children who attend the school who live in the mountains. Each child entering the bus gave us a hug and a kiss. They were eager and more than ready to talk to us. All the little kids knew how to whistle using their hands and when we tried to do the same, we could not. They thought that thus was funny and they started laughing. The smiles coming off them made us happier to be with them. The cards that they made will be used to send to the benefactors of Mir Pace.

Monday in Tamahu

2010-04-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

HOLA!!
Today we climbed the mountain for the last time!! We taught the people how to properly compost. Then we cleared part of the land, and we planted. Special gratitude to Walker,John, Eileen and our translator Marlin. They worked especially hard today, while most of us beaten from the walk up stayed in the shade. Tomorrow we begin work on a house here in Tamahu for a family whos father just passed away.
Adios for now!!

Helen and Bridgit

P.S
HEY DAD
love Bridgit

Our day at the medical clinic

2010-04-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

HOLA!
Hoy, tomamos un día libre a reconocer a los sabbath y se fue a una escuela local que sirvió como una clínica médica para el día. Aquí, hemos ayudado a los médicos a mantener el orden y la paz y la escolta de la maravillosa gente de Guatemala a la farmacia a recoger el persriptions y suministros médicos. Era un día de pena reconizing porque realmente entendía cómo drástica la necesidad de atención médica. Más tarde, volvimos y algunos de nosotros jugar fútbol o futbol con los niños de Tamahú, mientras que Nurry un buen amigo de Mir Pace se unió a nosotros en nuestra · casa · y disfrutamos de la presencia de su hijo, Juan De Marco. Todos estamos de unión muy bien como grupo, y como lugar común que pueda parecer nos estamos convirtiendo en una familia de Mir Pace. Mañana, empezamos el viaje en bruto a la montaña para comenzar nuestro proyecto del jardín de la comunidad. Eran todos tan contentos de estar alrededor de los pobladores de montaña.
Adiós por ahora!

Helen y Bridgit

First work day in Tamahu!!!!

2010-04-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

HOLA!
Today we climbed a grande montaña, and it was quite the challenge. The smiles awaiting us at the top were well worth it. First, we attended mass with the Chipacin people, then we had a lunch, gave the children bubbles which created a mass eruption of laughter. Finally, we got down to business and met with the people about nutrition. During this meeting we discovered a way to help the people grow better and more nutritional crops-COMPOST!!! We are going to accomplish composting using manure, and monday we will return to help clear an area and begin the community garden and education about the compost and manure use. Tomorrow we will go to a medical facility and help treat local patients. We will keep you posted!
-Helen, Bridgit, & Walker.

2010-04-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

HoLa!
We have made it safely to Guatemala City, and we are going to be helping the missionary sisters today. Later this morning we will start our van journey to Tamahu! The weather here is nice and everything is going well so far! We can`t wait to depart! We will be sure to keep you posted!

Walker & Bridgit :)

In Less Than 48 Hours...

2010-04-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

We will begin another remarkable week of service to the people of the village of Tamahu! As last minute details are being finalized and the packing has begun, the excitement is intensifying among our teens. The people of Tamahu are counting the minutes until we are among them once again!! We will be blogging each night during our stay in order to share with you our experiences, daily accomplishments, the remarkable friendships and discoveries that will be realized throughout our stay, and we'll try to post pictures as well. We ask that you cover us in prayer and hope that you will follow us on our journey as we bring God's love to the poor of Tamahu.

Our next greeting will be from Guatemala!

¡Adios nuestros amigos!

Guatemala - April 2010

2010-03-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

We are five weeks away from another amazing and life-changing visit to the village of Tamahu, Guatemala. If you are in high school and wondering what you are going to do with your upcoming April vacation, there is still time to sign up, but you need to hurry! Give us a shout: info@mirpace.org

Tamahu is anxiously awaiting our arrival!

2010-02-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

I just hung up the phone with our dear friend Nury in Tamahu, Guatemala. She and all of the people in Tamahu are preparing for our arrival. Nury reports that all is very calm and peaceful in the village, and that they are very excited to have us with them once again. All of our friends in Tamahu especially hope to greet our volunteers who will be making a return visit.

Scituate High School Raises Funds for Haiti Relief

2010-01-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

The 1,600 or so students at Scituate High School are raising money through what they call "Penny Wars." It's a creative and competitive way to collect pennies and then eliminate competitors by dropping larger coins into the mix. Money collected through the Penny Wars at Scituate High will be directed toward our efforts in rebuilding and development in Haiti.

Thank You to The Tinker's Son and Bia's Bistro

2010-01-24T19:59:00.000-08:00

Today, our friends at The Tinker's Son and Bia's Bistro went all out to promote our work in helping the people of Haiti! They very generously donated 10% of today's revenues to Mir Pace for the work we will undertake in the reconstruction and development of Haiti. Two angel waitresses even donated their entire day's tips to our efforts! To them and to all at The Tinker's Son and Bia's Bistro, to their patrons, and to tonight's spectacular entertainment, Érin Og, we thank you! Brian, Erica, and Annette, this couldn't have happened without your deep compassion for the people of Haiti and for the tremendous suffering they have and will continue to endure. We pray to diminish that suffering one child and one family at a time.

With heartfelt gratitude,

All at Mir Pace International
Pace!

Haiti Response

2010-01-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

As donations continue to come in, we want you to know how grateful we are for your immediate and very generous response. Your gifts will help us to assist the people of Haiti now and in the coming weeks, months, and years. You will find updates here of all that we are able to accomplish, as well as news of our long-term plans in Haiti.

My heart hurts so much for the people of Haiti who have endured unfathomable suffering with strength and grace. We are so deeply grateful to all of you who have donated so generously in support of our work.

A Reason to Eat!

2010-01-20T16:07:00.001-08:00

This week we learned that Brian Houlihan, owner of both The Tinker’s Son in Norwell, MA and Bia Bistro in Cohasset MA, is donating 10% of the proceeds from these two restaurants on Sunday 1/24/10 to help us in our aid, reconstruction, and development initiatives for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. You can read more here.

The Tinker’s Son opened in November 2009 and is a “family friendly Irish themed” restaurant. Tinker’s Son is open on Sundays from 10:00 am to 12:00 am. A Sunday brunch is served from 10-2; a traditional Irish session from 11-2; lunch from 12-3 and dinner until 10:00pm. Tinker’s Son is located at 707 Main Street, in Norwell, MA (781-561-7361).

Bia Bistro www.biabistro.com has “Mediterranean fare with flair”; the restaurant is open on Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Bia Bistro is located at 35 South Main, Street in Cohasset, MA (781-383-0464).

We hope many people in the area will visit either location this Sunday for a great meal! What better reason to eat? You will also have the opportunity to thank Brian for his enormous generosity!

Hope to see you!

Haiti Relief

2010-01-20T16:05:00.000-08:00

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12th was massive and the number of lives that have been taken is staggering! Many areas beyond Port au Prince are only now being reached and the full impact of the earthquake is still unfolding.

I am worried about the children who must be horrified, especially those who are orphans and the many who have become orphaned by this horrible event. I am worried about the families, especially here in the Boston area, who have not been able to reach their loved ones in Haiti and are prayerfully awaiting word.

Billions of dollars are going to be needed to rebuild a completely destroyed infrastructure and the road to recovery for the people of Haiti will be long.

This is a time for all of us to pray for the people of Haiti and for their family members, especially those living here in the Boston area awaiting word of their loved ones. This is also a time to act.

What Can You Do?

We urge you to contribute generously, not only for this immediate crisis, but in order to support the long-term rebuilding and development efforts in Haiti. During this period, if you or anyone you know are planning to make a financial donation to assist those in Haiti, please consider Mir Pace.

We will begin by assisting families who are referred to us directly through the Boston-area Haitian community and, together, we will identify the most urgent needs (food, water, home repair, medical and financial assistance). Priority will be given to those families in Haiti with little or no internal or external assistance.

We will also help to rebuild the Port au Prince and Jacmel medical clinics and orphanages operated by the Missionary of Charity Sisters (Mother Teresa's religious order).

Our commitment to Haiti is for the long-term. As the larger agencies attend to the larger issues, we will attend to children and families, one child and one family at a time.

Our overhead costs are minimal and are paid through donors that give to our general fund. 100% of all financial contributions made to Mir Pace International for emergency aid, reconstruction, and development in Haiti will go directly to the people of Haiti.

I will personally deliver your donations to families and orphanages once travel to Haiti has been reinstituted.

In solidarity with the Haitian people,

Eileen M. Weisslinger
Founder/CEO
www.mirpace.org