Mum and Corrina, La Independencia

In the last few days, it has been difficult to take the smile off my face – one that has a very good reason for being there. It is a smile that is fuelled not only by the recent successes that we have had down on the community project in Malacatan, but by something more personal as well. It is a smile reflecting the inner peace and calm that I feel at being able to share my work, my passion with someone I love – in this case my Mother.

Arriving in Guatemala for the second visit just under 2 weeks ago, I must admit that mum was not the only one who spent the night before praying that this time would be different. Her trip in 2008 (and the end of my first stint volunteering in Guatemala) involved injuries, mugging at gunpoint and her daughter (me) returning to Australia to be admitted to hospital, to spend 3 months recovering from an undiagnosed blood clot. Although I am not a mother, I can understand why she cried when I told her I was coming back.

But a true mother at heart, nothing would keep her away from her daughters and so – just in time for the craziness of Antigua’s  holy week – she headed back over. This time around however  (and I take my hat off to her for having the courage to come back) I was convinced it would be different. This time, under the banner of Seres, Mum would be coming to see what it is that had driven me back. To come and see the communities that we are working with, and see the changes that we are making. To come and experience the unparalleled feeling of having someone thank you for helping to improve their lives…and, ojala, I believe her experience has been a good one.

Teaching Permaculture to the children and caretakers

Driving back yesterday from 5 days down in Malacatan, I asked her if she would be interested in writing a blog for Seres. After I promised that she wouldn’t have to type it up on the computer, she agreed to put something together and when I came into the office this morning, there it was. I picked it up to read through, and – completely unexpectedly – was overcome by emotion as I read through the pages. It reminded me of how important the love and support of family and friends is when you are doing this work – it is this support that keeps us fuelled during the lonely, challenging and difficult times.

And so to my mother, and to all mothers, fathers, partners, family and friends – thank you for understanding, thank you for believing, and thank you for being there. And here it is…Chris’s Blog:

As I arrived at the airport in Guatemala City I was shaking – remembering my last experience when Corrina and I were held up at gunpoint (although only little guns, compared to some of the ones that they have here in Guatemala!). However I was met by my beautiful daughter Corrina, her lovely friend Jaz (also from Australia) and by her dog Jango, and they drove me back to their flat in Antigua. The first few days were spent “shopping” (and preparing me) for a visit to their project in Malacatan with Solace International. After enjoying the fine food and great music of Antigua (the “good life”) we set off for the project, arriving after 5 dusty, hot hours of driving (where’s the air-conditioning?). Arriving at the Casa Del Nino’s, I kept thinking: “Oh no, I’m too old to rough it…I’ve been there, done that, and I’m over it!” It was a little hard to get settled at first (although not too rough), and the place itself is a tropical paradise – lush greenery, with pineapples, mangoes, bananas and avocadoes growing everywhere. But HOT! I spent the first few days watching and observing, and thinking: “Now I know what Corrina’s about”. Her focus in the community is permaculture – something I know about from the 70′s. However my experience was somewhat different: a lot of struggle and hard work, and in the end it didn’t work. Our dream became too difficult, and we went back to comfort and the mainstream lifestyle. And now, 30 years later, I find myself revisiting this “ideal”. However this time it is different. Suddenly, I can see it working. I question, I look around, I read the books they have laying around – “That’s right, I LIKE this stuff!” Grey water recycling systems, ferro-cement tanks, future black water systems for toilets and “bagged” earth accomodation.

Installing the solar system for the Casa Del Ninos

I help Corrina set up a solar system (I hand her the tools and hold the cable) to give lights to the dorms for the carers and children. I watch as Corrina organises and interprets for the project. I am so proud. And then I see it: I understand her dream, even as a mother I want her home in Australia or at least in Asia which is so much nearer. I cry. I miss her…I worry. But I also know that she is happy, following her dream.

Mum – Chris Grace