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Jacquie and Dolores
We crossed Lake Atitlan back to Panajachel. There we met
Vinicio, our awesome driver, who drove us to Chichicastenango.
He had copies of the newspaper for us there and we found out
that a bridge had fallen on the Pan-American highway due to all
of the rain. Travellers would again have to find another route
to Nahuala. It was so sad to see the looks of horror on the
faces of the witnesses. This was the same piece of land that
fell last year, how could they not build it up to fix it this
time? And to my extreme suprise, they planned on having the
bridge back up and running on Monday!
Chichicastenango Market - Ruth & Nohemi
We checked in at Ruth & Nohemi's, another craft organization which works
with Sharing the Dream. Then, we left to explore the market in the city of
Chichicastenango. There were so many people in the town, some for church and
others for the market day. The colors and smells of the area were really
quite beautiful. Virginia took us through the outer market, which was
primarily for tourist benefit; and the inner market, primarily for local
use. You could definitely tell the differences between the inner and outer
markets. In the inner market there were stands for everything from underwear
to food products, whereas in the outer market, it was mostly crafts for
sale.
We went into the church of Santo Tomas, a Catholic Church near the market.
Virginia explained that to walk in the front doors, it was respectful to
enter the holy way, bowing and praying on each of the steps. There were side
doors to enter for visitors. There were several Mayan women selling candles,
incense and rose petals on the front steps; the scent was very unique! I
noticed several tourists going in the front of the church, camera in tow,
smiling at all of the "neat" things to look at. I wanted to grab
them and shout that they were violating the sacredness of the church! But it
wasn't my place and it would have taken me nearly 10 minutes to weave my way
up to the church front, longer if had chosen to enter correctly with the
bowing and praying.
Nonetheless, we entered through the side door next to a very large sign that
said "no photographs". Rightfully so, our group respected the
issues. We entered and sat on a pew near the middle of the church. In the
center were marble slabs, covered in rose petals and filled with candles.
The glow from the lighted wicks cast shadows on the solemn faces, bowed,
eyes closed, that surrounded each slab. The priest went from slab to slab
praying over the rocking Mayans, spraying holy water on them. The church had
been built on sacred Mayan grounds and the Mayans relentlessly continued to
visit their land for ceremonies and celebrations. The Catholics adjusted
their worshipping and the two existed in the strangest symbiotic
relationship I've ever witnessed. The collaboration isn't something I would
have expected of the Catholic church.
As I looked forward, I realized that after mass, there had been a series of
baptisms. Cameras flashed, family members I had supposed, but to my horror,
I looked and saw that it was a tourist. How would he feel if some strange
foreigner took pictures of his children on one of the most important days of
their lives?!?!
We returned to our home for evening and settled in. We listened as Diego and
his wife Juana explained the program. Diego explained the progression of the
Methodist Church in Guatemala. It was interesting to hear once again how the
period of war affected the church. He explained how it was dangerous for
church meetings to occur and the time when the churches were open fired upon
for various reasons. Juana explained how she had gone into communities for
work, but also noticed the extreme needs in some of the communities.
Ruth & Nohemi is based off of the biblical story of the widow. This
project began with widows and children of widows who were in need of
financial and emotional support. Many were given housing and education in
exchange for helping with the crafts in the shop. Many of the women did the
weaving and the children worked with the experienced tailors to make things
of the weavings.
We went to bed early tonight, its been a pretty overwhelming and exhausting
trip thus far. However, every night, I lay in bed for at least an hour
before I can fall asleep...my mind is just rushing with thoughts,
remembering the day's events, and thinking about what the people I met are
doing. Its hardest to sleep when it's raining, the sound isn't as relaxing as
it is back home.
Jacquie go to May 22
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