Monday, October 5, 2009

Enlace 2009


THE SOUNDS OF MOURNING
Outside the sounds of mourning awake to the awkward daylight.
Amidst the fog and early movement a chorus of stray dogs bark with industrial timing;
biting and snarling at the violence and distrust of humanity which is engraved in the very bones they knaw.
The rapid rhythm of the corn mill erupts in the damp air as if the stone of the mountain still holds the echoes of gunfire in its sad memory.
A rooster crows, marking like Peter, the universal cold shoulder of denial wh
ich left this innocent country abandoned and betrayed.
Yet, somewhere, a country baseline is heard, pulsing up and down across the fertile countryside resembling the eternal heart of Guatemala,
beating despite the ache and trauma of it past, present, and future.

-John Wideman (Enlace 2009 leader) August 11th 2009



host brothers Akul, Nebaj


art activity with children in Panabaj, Santiago Atitlan

weaving day Akul, Nebaj


working on greenhouse for youth committee in Akul, Nebaj

recuerdos
being challenged by Hector

story session with John and Ghost Runner
discussion with youth at Mennonite church
getting ripped with Brendon
Margarita and her profound comments
being attacked by braiding children
working on the greenhouse
Don Pedro's stories in the cemetary
"buen provecho" from Tomas at least 3 times a day
you're safe and sound with me
trout and mushrooms
futbol in San Marcos
Juan Pablo and his amazing songs
crazy hiking day
swimming in Atitlan with Diego and Juan Jose
carrying soccer posts through the town
the walk of our lives: carrying 20 tress on our backs up a mountain
Addy's devotional
dancing and singing together at the bonfire


working together on a weaving project with new friends from Akul, Nebaj

Jenny and the puppies

more art in Panabaj

LOVE YOU ENLACE 2009!!

Enlace is a program sponsored by MCC Ontario (http://www.mcc.org/ontario/enlace/). The 8 high school participants and two leaders, spent almost 5 weeks in Guatemala from July to August, studying Spanish and learning about the history and context of the country, followed by time spent living and working with communities in Nebaj, San Marcos, and Santiago Atitlan. To read more about their experience here, please check out the group's own blog: http://enlace2009.blogspot.com/