Hola from Tamahu!

We have been having such a blast here, from dancing in the downpour with the kids to visiting the malnutrition center. Today we visited two schools and felt like stars in both, we sang songs with them and had a great time playing together! We are now playing with more kids in the courtyard, and feeling sad that our awesome adventure is coming to an end! See you all soon!

The Clifford Twins

Tamahu Day 4!

Hi everyone in the United States,
     We don¨t have a lot of time in this tiny yellow internet cafe, but here is a recap of our day:
BreakFEAST was delicious and our hike up the moutnain was invigorating in the heat today. While Alturo  (our guide) worked on the roof with the father of our family with Dan C. and Malcolm T., the rest of us played with the children we have come to love in Tamahu.

It is dinner time, so we have to run.  The internet has not been very reliable today, sorry for the short message.

-Izzy, Kim, and Cam

Group 3´s Day of Work

Today, group 3 returned to our worksite 45 minutes down the road from Tamahu. The house is almost done as all the walls and the roof are built. We worked on making the cement for the floor and the foreman took over distributing cement on one half of the floor and smoothing it ,so we finished work at around noontime. We only have to finish the floor now. We then decided to play with the kids at our worksite. They love looking at their own pictures and we tried to teach them some English (they only know how to say goodbye so far). I mostly played with some kids named Pito, Juan Monolo, Eddie, Londo, and Allebal. Juan Monolo actually learned my name and would not stop saying "Cam". When it was time to depart, the kids followed us all they way down the hill shouting goodbye. About halfway through our trip back to the church in Tamahu, we hitched a ride from the police all they way back to the center of town in the back of their truck. Tomorrow is market day and I want to finish our house and visit the malnutrition center. Tamahu is beautiful and everyone is so nice.

Day 1 of work!

Day 1 Group 1: Swag erupts as we strut up the mountains, todos (everyone) watching as we get closer and closer. Mad people look at us and smile or say hola, but we just carry onward with water in our bags and happiness in our hearts. Upon arrival, theres a roof and an outlined foundation of a single room home, but  inside there´s the skeleton of a charred home. First we brought all the wood from the previous development down the diveted steps with the help of the owner and contractor  Francisco and Ermilindo. Francisco's wife and daughter, Irma, helped Ella and I sort out the wood that wasn't infected with termites and sent it up the steps to their future home. Banging out the job like nobody's business, we took on the challenge with ease, creating three walls and removing the entire insde within one day, and even getting to leave early. Ms. Hallihan told us the story of the family before we left. Francisco's first two children died, and now he lives his wife and two daughters. We are all so honored to be able to give this family a home they deserve, when we all take our lavish ones back in scimass for granted. To our families back home, we love you all, and this place is the most beautiful thing we have ever seen.  We're blessed to experience it and the people that live here. Thank you all for the support and helping us get here, for me, I already know this trip has changed me forever. We all love and miss you, keep it tru back in the states! #stayratchet #group1 #lovemollpalmkillaswag #andtherestofgroupone #butmollywrotethis #ella #jonny #nikki #maddie #alex #mshalihan #eileen # peaceoutdoe

Quick post to say that we have arrived in Tamahu.  Everyone enjoyed a hike up to the furthest work site.  It's been a fun day exploring the town.  Due to Easter, no Internet cafes are open, but you can expect a longer post from the students tomorrow.  Happy Easter!

Scituate High School Student Volunteers Are About To Make A Meaningful Difference In The Lives Of the Poor of Tamahu, Guatemala! (2014)

After months of preparations, lots of fundraising, and receiving an outpouring of school supplies, our 26 high school student volunteers and group leaders are very excited to make our way to Tamahu veeery early on Saturday morning! 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 beginning on Sunday, April 20th.  Our teen volunteers will be posting accounts of their daily activities and experiences (hopefully photos too!).

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

Greetings from Scituate!

We have arrived home safely last Saturday and have been slowly acclimating to life back here in the States. Our journey was smooth, and most of our travelers slept all the way home. Over the last several days, we have been catching up on news here and settling back into our routines. But there's a strong undercurrent from the experience - these students will never look at the world in the same way, and neither will I.

 As a teacher at Scituate High School, I have the distinct pleasure of seeing many Mir Pace volunteers (current and former) in the hallways and classrooms. Those who traveled to Tamahu in the past reminisce with those who have just returned. It's beautiful and inspiring to see everyone's face light up as they exchange stories and talk about how they already can't wait to go back. This year's trip was remarkable, and I consider it a tremendous honor to have been able to work with such wonderful individuals with a passion for helping others.

 On the journey home, those who managed to stay awake spent some time writing reflections on their experiences. Cliff and Jane started a list of lessons from Guatemala, and others added to it. I'd like to share it with you.

 The Things I Learned in Guatemala....
 -how to kill a cockroach and dispose of the body
 -how to enjoy being drenched in sweat and covered in dirt
 -how to wrestle and subdue 10 small children at once
 -ALWAYS start with the 'usted' form (formally addressing strangers)
-hills are brutal
-water = best friend
 -be happy with what you have -break in your hiking boots before!
-I love my family
-Go on a bug raid BEFORE you get into bed. Every night.
 -Sun hats are COOL.
-Chickens love cockroaches.
-Roosters are terrible at telling time.
-TURDUCKENS (ie, they exist)
-how to speak Spanish/effectively fake it
-Asian kids live in Tamahu too
-how to wash clothes
-what a marimba is
-how to make coffee with a water bottle and tea bag
-how to get kids to cooperate (with gum)
-I am pathetically out of shape
-wearing no makeup for a week IS possible
-zip up all of your belongings before someone else makes a home out of them
-dogs wait until I am sleeping to bark.

 While we are grateful, as always, for our own beds and for the comfort of family and friends, our hearts linger in Tamahu. This having been my third trip there with Mir Pace, I can say with sincerity that I look forward to each visit. Many, many thanks to Mir Pace for another remarkable experience with the people of Tamahu. Many thanks to Fr. Philippe for hosting us, making us laugh, and of course always seeking to help the poorest of the poor in Tamahu (you inspire us all). Many thanks to the students, for your hard work, compassion, patience and kindness. And even though it's a distinctly American value, we love that you showed up everywhere on time (especially at the airport). To the parents - we know you took a huge leap of faith in trusting that we would take care of your children. Many thanks from us and the people of Tamahu for your trust and generosity in lending out your children. They inspired us daily and even moved me to tears with their compassion and concern. Many thanks to John, Annette, Samantha, Ryan, and Janice for lending such guidance and experience to the trip. I hope your muscles have recovered from those intense hikes.

 And finally, thank you to Eileen, Mir Pace, and all the others who make this amazing opportunity possible.