Panajachel/ Santiago Atitlan Update

Hey everyone,

Hope you are all doing well! The group has had an amazing few days here in Santiago Atitlan. We are currently living with host families whom have graciously opened their homes to us and have provided with great food and wonderful memories. The partner organization that have been showing us around town is called Anadesa. Among the many projects that they have for the community here, the big one was providing water filters systems to various families in the area to provide them with clean water. The major work project that we have been helping with for the past two days is helping to clear out a school facility that was abandoned when Hurricane stan came through and left the building covered with layers upon layers of mud. On the first day we successfully (but painstakenly) cleaned out one of the lower classrooms as well as collected and transported two hundred boulders from another area, to the school, to help begin building a retaining wall. After a hard morning of work we were able to enjoy activities with the kids from the communities. We did a some arts & crafts, sang songs, and ended with some basketball/mini stick games. The kids throughly enjoyed themselves but definitely not as much as we did!

I don´t have time right now to write out everything else we´ve done, but I will update this post at the next opportunity we get. On that same topic, we are going to be going to San Marco´s tomorrow, and therefore internet access will be a lot more limited but don´t forget to keep us in your prayers. Some of the participants have been dealing with some stomach and headache issues, but it´s mostly due to the change in diet (as well as change in altitude) and luckily no one has had prolonged symptoms. Tonight we are looking forward to a cultural exchange/ talent show so I´m sure the next update will have a good story or two! Untill then take care,

- Felipe