Arrival in Tamahu

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.