On behalf of the second group from the Niagara United Mennonite Church I report on our incredible mission experience with the Wells of Hope Mission Team.

Unsure of what to expect, our group of 11 arrived in Guatemala City on Feb. 19, 2005. We were met by Bob from the Wells of Hope Mission Team, who escorted us to our taxi waiting to take us on a 3-hour journey through the mountains and to a village near the city of Jalapa. Upon our arrival we were greeted by the core members of the Wells of Hope Mission Team. Ted van der Zalm's mother, whom everyone calls Oma, showed us to our tents. After settling in and a wonderful meal, we all went to bed exhausted from a long days travel.

As we soon realized, the nights proved to be very entertaining. If we weren't fast asleep, the howling and fighting of the dogs, the crowing of the roosters, the gobbling of the turkeys, the mooing of the cows and other less identifiable sounds reminded us that we weren't at home.

Our trip of 9 days encompassed two Sundays so we had the opportunity to celebrate mass in two different Catholic churches. The first church was so full there were as many people outside as there were inside. A young mother behind me changed her baby's diaper on her lap while another mother nearby nursed her baby. It was interestingly different from how things are done at home. After each church service, the entire missions team of about 25 was invited for lunch. Both lunches consisted of chicken soup, rice, chicken and tortillas. Tortillas are eaten morning, noon and night. Very early every morning we could hear the corn grinder grinding the soaked corn for the days supply of tortillas.

Corn stalk school - Currently being replaced by a new school

Our days were very busy. The second school was ready for painting. This was an ideal project for us as our team was quite young. We were responsible for applying two coats of paint to the inside of the three-room school. Although our three eldest boys (aged 15 years) painted too, they were often used for more difficult work. They had to break up the stones on the floor of the school into smaller pieces with a sledgehammer in preparation for pouring concrete. Other times, while we were painting, they were taken to help dig the foundation for the third school and yet another time they had to fill buckets with rocks, carry and dump them to fill the entrance way to a level suitable for pouring concrete. Our youngest three (aged 11-13) had the opportunity to sit in on the morning class at the old corn stalk school (the school we painted is replacing). They learned Mayan numbers and about a Guatemalan hero, Tecun Oman. Although outraged at first that they would have to go to school on their "vacation", they emerged from their lessons with smiling faces as they showed us their drawings of Tecun Oman and the counting system of sticks and coffee beans used to count Mayan numbers. All of the children had at least one opportunity to help teach English lessons.

Niagara United Mennonite Church Painting team - New school under construction

One day our team was used to help distribute food in a local village. A truck load of food originating from Mississauga, Canada arrived. We helped organize and distribute food supplies to over 800 local families. It was a hot, dusty, very tiring day, and an eye opening, not soon to be forgotten experience for all of us.

We had an opportunity to go to one of the well drilling sites and observe the drilling procedure. A number of local people came and went, some drawing water from a contaminated well just a few feet from the drilling rig. All are anxious to reach clean water.

Our wonderful, tasty dinners reflected the seasonal foods harvested from the area and available from the market in Jalapa. At the end of each day 2 of our team were responsible for washing the dishes of about 25 people after dinner, a small feat in itself for children from homes containing dishwashers.

The trip has been a wonderful experience. Our eyes were opened to the plight of others in the world far less fortunate than we are. It is not something we just see on TV but a reality for so many with no other hope than a heart and hand of compassion. Equally moving is the love and hope the team has for these people, their unwillingness to lose sight of their goal despite the difficulties they encounter each day. They truly work as a team focused and dedicated to their cause.

May the Lord richly bless the work they do.

Erika Froese,
Niagara- On- The- Lake

Water for People

American Water Works Association

Canadian Water Quality and Health

Visit the Niagara Warehouse of Hope

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