In six days I leave home. On the 24 of August I will be leaving for New York, where I will have one week of orientation. The YAV program has five different sites, so all the international volunteers will be together for this orientation. Then on the 31 I will be flying to Guatemala for one year. I have been making lists and trying to figure out what I should pack, and what I should leave behind. I have one large duffel bad (with wheels) that I am trying to fit all my belongings in. Since a major focus of the year is on simple living, I am trying to only bring the necessities with me and leave a lot of things behind.
My placement is with an organization called, Pastoral de la Mujer of the Catholic diocese in San Marcos. They have a relationship with Cedepca, an organization I am already very familiar with. Pastoral de la Mujer is located in the small city of San Marcos, in the department of San Marcos, which is about one and a half hours from Quetzaltenago, or Xela. My first responsibility is to form a relationship with the people of San Marcos, and the work of Pastoral de la Mujer. The women's ministries include training workshops with women in indigenous communities on topics of rights, values, and participation in society. The have also formed small libraries that they oversee in certain communities. In the beginning I will accompany the women and watch and learn, but eventually I will find spaces where I will use my skills and will actively participate. I may be given the opportunity to accompany and translate for groups from U.S. churches later in they year when my Spanish is stronger. I will live in San Marcos with a lady named Elivia and her family who works at La Pastoral de la Mujer.
I want to say thank you for all your support and can't wait to share my experiences with you throughout the year. I will have decent access to internet, so please comment on my blog, facebook, or send me emails!
