Since the last newsletter a lot has happened: El Castillo has been going through the changes that have followed from the dismissal which totalled 16 people. We went to a camp for the University Christian Union, named GEU. Jo’s mum Miriam came here for a week. We celebrated Matt’s 22nd Birthday and Anna from the refuge’s 15th Birthday, and the new volunteers started work at El Castillo!
Starting from the top, El Castillo has had to reduce its work force dramatically due to the decline in income. So how has this changed El Castillo? Well, we can tell you what we’ve seen from our point of view. It hasn’t stopped them from starting a new process with a group of boys who sniff solvent. This group are older boys, in the highest age range that we work with (13 to 16), most of whom are 15 or 16. It’s been really good to see this process going on and the dramatic contrast in the behaviour of these boys from when they are on the streets to when they’re in this process.
*The ‘process’ is taking the boys every day to the offices to wash, eat and play for the morning. It is very similar to the day process and is a way of getting the boys used to a daily routine. One of the most important factors is that the boys aren’t allowed to bring their solvent bottles with them which gives them a chance to detox.
On the streets they are often struggling to engage with us through their hazy state of mind and it can be hard to feel comfortable in their company. When they are with this process its so much easier to see them as normal boys – playing football, fooling around, making jokes and smiling real smiles. Our hopes and prayers are with these boys – some of them have been in the El Castillo process before but dropped out, and for most of them this will be their last chance with El Castillo (who don’t take on children older than 16).
Aside from the good news that many things in El Castillo are continuing as normal, we have however noticed the effects of a smaller work-force. We’ve had meetings about cutting-back and trying to save money. The prayer meetings in the mornings are noticeably more intimate, and the Street Team have rarely been out on the street to continue the work of befriending and looking for other street children – although this is partly because of the new process – we can’t help feeling that with the larger street team of before, this important work could be continuing alongside the new process more easily.
GEU
A few weeks ago we went to a camp for Christians at university for a long weekend, which Jomara and Isaak were involved in, as well as many of the young people at our church. It was a good opportunity to spend time with some Guatemalans our age, and although it was hard work listening to lots of Spanish all day, we had a good time and are really glad we got the opportunity to go.
Miriam Arrives
For a week over Easter Jo’s mum came to see us and what El Castillo does first-hand. It was great to have her here and it was a really good week. Together we went to some leisure pools with the girls from the refuge. The pools are naturally heated by the volcanic activity, and since it was Easter they were jam-packed with people. After a fun day at the pools we went back to the refuge and presented each of the girls with a book brought here by Miriam as well as a quilt which had been put together by some of the ladies from Ridgeway church.
Miriam’s visit here also coincided with Matt’s Birthday. On the day of Matt’s birthday (a Saturday) we went to a really nice hotel in Antigua to have breakfast (the same hotel in fact that Leonardo Dicaprio once stayed in). This was a suggestion by our mentors, and the proof that their idea was truly excellent was indeed “in the pudding” (and all the rest of the food).
As a side, I’ve heard from a certain relative in South Africa that from reading our blogs they seem to get the impression that all we do is eat! Well I really don’t know how anyone could possibly come to that conclusion.
Emma and Gemma
The week before last has also seen the welcome of another volunteer into the home of Jomara and Isaak. Gemma moved in on a Sunday and it’s been lovely to have her here with us. You might remember her name from a previous blog – she’s come all the way from Australia to work with El Castillo, and for the last three months has been studying hard at language school to bring her Spanish up from zero to just a little behind where ours is now. Unfortunately the last week has also seen her goodbye from Jomara and Isaak’s! Well, not exactly. She has gone to work in one of the girls’ homes of El Castillo and so is going to live there from Monday to Friday and come back here for the weekends.
So our replacements as volunteers have now started at El Castillo. Although of course they’re not exactly our replacements, Gemma and Emma have begun work here and it’s been good that we’ve been able to pass on some advice and to help them settle in, just before we leave (only 3 days left now at El Castillo!) We’ve certainly appreciated Emma and Gemma being here as they are both really lovely people and we wish them all the best for the future.
Jo robbed
We do unfortunately have some bad news, and this is that one day Jo was robbed whilst walking with Fernando on the Street Team. But fortunately nobody was harmed and nothing of great value was taken. Jo has in fact said that it was the best way that something like this could have happened as she wasn’t carrying anything of great value and that she wasn’t alone. So although it was a bit of a shocking experience we are thankful to God that it was no more than that, and that Jo is fine and well.
Finally, we know that some people have been asking about Dulce and her brothers who we mentioned in a previous blog and in our newsletter. For a long time we didn’t hear anything from them. They had been moved to live with another member of their family. However last week a message came to the office from Dulce’s mother saying they were living with her again and that she really needed El Castillo’s help. So now El Castillo are looking for ways to take care of Dulce and her 3 brothers and we are so pleased that there is still hope for this family.
So now our time in Guatemala is almost over! Doesn’t time fly. We are looking forward to seeing you all very very soon and are excited about coming back to British weather, food and all our friends and family. Thank you for all your support. (We get back 10th May)
Love
Matt and Jo
P.S. Matt’s interview in Cumbria was sadly cancelled and so now we are back to the drawing board on what to do next, any ideas or suggestions?
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