FRIENDSHIPS

Friendships.

Last year I went tio Guatemala to learn a language and instead learned about myself. The experience changed me and for the better.

I met many people on my travels. There is though one singular subject that I found to be confusing. This came from travellers that I met that where seeking "expats." Expats to me are people that are living in a country and from somewhere else. Expats speak English mostly.  Expats for me would be either Canadian or people from the states.

When I look back at that time wonderful  in Guatemala and ask myself who are my friends there, the word "Expats" doesn't enter the equation. All my friends in Guatemala are Guatemalan.

Why would I purposely seek out groups of people and friendships that are Canadian or from the states? The pleasure and the joy of experiencing Guatemala is advancing my knowledge and my understanding of the Guatemalan culture and the people. Associating myself only and primarily with people from Canada or the USA, cancels out that experience.  

Mi amigos son gente Guatemala

"STARING AT WALLS"

I was reminded recently of how many people when they retire just sit somewhere and "stare at walls."
Fine I guess, if you like just turning off who you are. But not fine for so many people that have so much in them to share with others.

Sharing something you have, something you know, something you delight in and allowing someone else to gain from that sharing is nothing short of magic.

Hola, mi nombre es Gavino...(hello my name is Gavin).
I am offering anyone that opportunity to share with others what you know and understand. With a group of professional Guatemalans we are going to build homes for people that cannot afford homes. Yes, there are many well known names out there building homes. The catch is that a candidate for that opportunity first has to have land. Their land of course becomes the equity for that arranged loan.

What happens to those with no land? Who will help them?

We want to. Will you help us to help them?

There are many plans to generate that cash flow needed.
An alignment with a recognized Spanish language school is one, where participants would learn espanol part of the day and the rest they would (physically) build homes.


Another is me being a retirement consultant for people that wish to retire in the land of eternal spring. Here I would offer my knowledge and connections for people to see the advantages of retirement in Guatemala. Believe me when I say that a couple can retire in a great and comfortable lifestyle for less than a thousand dollars (CAD) a month.

Another is your idea...

Or would prefer to stare at walls?

Take a look at my blog for contact info and more information. There are NO WALLS there.
 http://www.heartquest-guatemala.blogspot.com

Gracias,
Gavino

Guatemala, Please Help the People..

It was a reminder, something I felt.  I was laying in my warm comfy bed and the rain was tapping its dance on the tin roof above. There was something in the shadows, a stir from my memories.

Pasaje Enriquez is a long high arcade passage with wrought iron facades at either end. It is situated on the west side of Parque Centroamerica in Xela Guatemala. Originally designed and constructed in 1898 for high end shops it's high partly glassed covered roof, with restaurants and bars is the hang out for university and the tourists crowds.

Now it was raining memories.

Puddles in the mall had grown to impassible lakes of wetness. Dripping rain everywhere as it collected below, from far above where the towering glass met the rusting metal roof above. The party crowd were there, it was loud and happy.

At one end in the shadows I felt a stir. People, children, a family huddled in some shadows. Huddled for dryness, for quiet, for safety in the dark marauding night with its ever wetness. Huddled on the cold dark concrete.

Building homes for people, is a purpose I cannot put down. While there are many organizations doing this, helping, there is that catch that money is possible to help them, if they have land.

What then happens to the people with no land?

What happens to the family huddled in the doorways and the shadows .

Who will help them?

I want to.

I want to build these people homes.

Give them new hope, away from the shadows and the fears of survival.

Help me to Help the People.