Looking Back: Home Videos from Guatemala

At the end of June, the Harrington's had the honor of meeting their sponsor child, Doris and her family in Guatemala City, Guatemala. You can read the full account of that meeting here:
The Harrington's Get a Close Look at the Work of World Vision

Because the couple continued their travels after Guatemala it has taken us at The Harrington Times some time and patience to get access to these videos straight from the field, offering readers a deeper look into the summer experiences of Mike and Melissa Harrington. Keep you eyes here for the latest home videos and recent stories of the couples first month in South Korea.

A Home in Antigua

On Monday, June 29th, Mike and Melissa Harrington arrived in Antigua Guatemala. With address in hand and Quetzales in wallet, the couple loaded themselves and their belongings into a Tuk-Tuk and arrived at Dona Chiqui’s home. Dona Chiqui has been host to many students and travelers; she currently hosts a friend of a friend to the Harrington’s, Sarah. It is Sarah who made the Harrington’s and their friend Mark’s arrangements for Guatemala. It is Sarah who served as a faithful and intelligent guide to the Harrington’s while they explored and enjoyed Antigua.

When staying with Dona Chiqui guests are treated to three homemade meals each day, a private room, showers and even access to a washer and clothesline. The meals alone would satisfy any weary traveler, ranging from cereal and fresh fruits in the morning to refried beans and eggs for dinner; however, it’s the lunches that are meant to fill ones stomach. Lunch has daily included homemade corn tortillas from a neighbor, fresh vegetables with a lemon-salt-onion dressing, slow-cooked meats in tasty sauces and a cold refreshing beverage. Lunch is particularly enjoyable when one has the promise of either napping or playing with neighborhood children in the coming hour.

It took only a matter of days for the Harrington’s to feel at home with Dona Chiqui, her son Christian and Sarah. For five days they have had a home in Antigua, Guatemala and will always remember fondly their time in the home of tile floors and concrete walls set in the city of cobblestone streets and brightly colored shops.

An Ode to Antigua

Antigua
Tranquil
Rest. Relax. Rejuvenate.
Cobblestone streets
remind me of
Europe.
Volcanoes rise
their majestic
heads.
Tuk-Tuks.
Markets.
Indigenous.
Awake. Aware. Amazed.
Home.
Antigua.

Eating in Antigua, a Tantalizing Experience

One of the greatest things surrounding the life of a traveler is the great foods which are presented to the traveler’s palate. Antigua is far from lacking in the culinary department. From traditional (or as they say in Guatemala ‘typical’) dishes to international flavors, Antigua has something for everyone. With only five days to explore the street vendors, restaurants and Dona Chiqui’s, the Harrington’s focused on the local flavors.

The dish most often enjoyed by the Harrington’s was the tostadas. Similar yet completely separate from those of typical American fashion, the tostadas of Antigua start with a fried corn tortilla followed by a generous spread of fresh avocado topped with either cilantro and cheese or cabbage, carrots and cheese and always topped with each vendors special-blend of picante/salsa. Each bite then is crispy and creamy, spicy and scrumptious. What makes the tostadas particularly fabulous is their incredibly low price of 2.5 – 3.5 Quetzales (less than 50 cents each).

Other typical dishes that the Harrington’s were able to purchase and enjoy from the street vendors include: Chilies Rellenos, much unlike those of Mexican Restaurants, these chilies are stuffed with meat and vegetables then served on bread with lettuce and enjoyed as a sandwich. Reinitas are one of the sweet treats of Guatemala showcasing a sweet black bean sauce encased by a plantain. Dulces Tipicos include a wide variety of fruits that undergo a mysterious process until they are a rich reddish brown color dripping with sugary sweetness, the Harrington’s tried a fig of this type which was stuffed with coconut, sweet enough to rot ones teeth out! Within the same family, the Harrington’s also tried a milk candy which they describe as having the flavor of sweetened condensed milk and texture of cheese.

The number on meal of Antigua however isn’t on the streets and definitely not in the guidebooks, it is, in the truest sense of the word, a ‘hole in the wall.’ Unbeknownst to the average passersby, this hole in the wall produces a taco to surpass all other tacos, the potato taco. With the outside walls crumbling and peeling and the restaurant capable of seating a maximum of about 20 patrons, this unsuspecting shop offers the best cheap meal to be found. Sitting on plastic stools one is wise to order 2 potato tacos (the only item on the menu) and 1 horchata; total cost = 10.5 Quetzales (Just over US $1). Two corn tortillas surrounding perfectly baked potato squares are fried and served under a pile of vinegar (or other acidic sauce) soaked cabbage with a perfectly spiced red picante. Avoiding the cockroach in the table drawer, one begins to use their fingers to pile cabbage on each hot and sour, crunchy and flavorful bite of potato taco. And this, dear readers, is the dining experience that will push the Harrington’s forward, as they continue a search for the next great ‘hole in the wall’.

Timeline: the Chronological Order of Events in Guatemala

For family and friends who would like a concise format of how the Harrington's spent their time in Guatemala, the following has been composed:

Sunday, June 28th: Arrive in Guatemala City ~9:30
Stay at Dos Lunas, Mike’s first hostel experience.
Tuesday, June 29th: Breakfast at Dos Lunas while watching Paraguay v. Japan
Drive to San Raymundo – visit Doris and her Family
Arrive in Antigua to stay with Mark, Sarah and her host family, Dona Chiqui
Wednesday, June 30th: Breakfast followed by tostadas, chili relleno and reinita
Visit and explore Market – flowers, pottery, fruits, veggies, meats, artisan
Thursday, July 1st: Explore the Market, purchase various souvenirs
Grab a Tostada
Mike and Mark play football (soccer) with neighborhood children
Walk to restaurant for Potato Tacos
Grab a beer, Gallo, at Monoloco
Friday, July 2nd: Watch Brazil v. Netherlands
Visit the Textiles Museum
Watch Uruguay v. Ghana
Visit an Indoor Market, eat ice cream and of course one more tostada
Last Supper in Guatemala with our host family and dear friend Mark
Saturday, July 3rd: Depart Guatemala at 7:00 am

The Harrington’s get a Close Look at the Work of World Vision

On the 29th of June, 2010 Mike and Melissa Harrington woke up in hostel Dos Lunas in Guatemala City, Guatemala. After a few phone calls and a breakfast of scrambled eggs and fried plantains, the couple found themselves in an SUV with Francisco, the Sponsor Visit Coordinator of Vision Mundial of Guatemala. This was it, the moment they had been waiting for, their anticipation and excitement was nearly tangible, today they would be meeting their sponsor child, Doris and her family.

Here at the Harrington Times we want to convey the true beauty and emotion of this day in the Harrington’s life. In order to do so, we have received the good fortune of having access to Melissa Harrington’s journal entry reflecting the events and emotions of this day in their lives. It is therefore with pleasure and honor we present the story of Meeting Doris:

“Packs loaded, anticipation rising, Mike and I boarded the SUV for our 60 km in 2 hours drive to meet Doris and her family. The drive took us through the bustling third world city of Guatemala City. Shop next to shop; next to shop. Walkways filled with women and girls in brightly patterned skirts and tops. Men and teenagers donned more modern attire of denim jeans and cotton tops. Scents of fried foods reach us in our steel and glass container. School buses fight for room on the road. There seems to be no right of way, no normalcy to driving; yet all drivers are more or less polite and always accommodating.

“At one standstill in traffic we are suddenly surrounded by Guatemalans in traditional dress, men carrying torch-like objects, without flames but rather bearing the images of Saints draped by crepe paper; all of whom are spilling forth from the Cathedral to our right. Perhaps, suggests our driver, they are having a procession of the city Saint. This statement however cannot be made until he has warned us that fireworks will soon be set off on the sidewalk next to us.

“After numerous twists and turns on the windy Guatemalan roads we arrive at the World Vision ADP, essentially the regional office, which serves Doris’ community. With Francisco leading the way we enter the building for a tour and to pick up additional World Vision staff. Upon entering, we are introduced to the Board of Directors for this ADP as well as a group of about a dozen women who will be receiving water filters and water filter training today.
“I lock eyes with a gorgeous little girl in pink and white. Her long dark hair is pulled back into a pony tail, but this is not what has me entranced, it is her deep, dark eyes – what beauty, what innocence.

“But it is time to move on. Up a flight of stairs we find a large group of children and adults. As our eyes fill with tears, do the eyes of many of the adults in the room. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and seeing each other here helps us recognize that and our gratitude for such truth. Together the children stand, each of these children will be receiving a scholarship to help them attend middle school or high school (only elementary school is free in Guatemala). In return, these 20 or so children will become voices and ambassadors in their communities, serving as catalysts of positive change.

“Three students, a few parents and the director of the scholarship program speak words of gratitude to Mike and me but directed to all child sponsors. Who are we to receive such an honor? Don’t they know we are only flawed servants and stewards of our Lord? We don’t deserve these accolades. We in turn let them know it is our pleasure and honor to be here, with them – for them, we are grateful.

“Humbled by their action and increasingly anxious to meet Doris we continued on our way with two more staff members of World Vision. Twenty minutes more on the road was all it took before Francisco was being asked to park. Our eyes darted between homes and children, anticipating their first sight of our dear Doris. There! Just behind the large truck we spot the girl we’ve only known in photographs, annual reports, letters and drawings – Doris.
“Cautiously, we make our way up the muddy drive-way and the large truck. We are welcomed by two loving embraces, Doris and her mother. We receive also the warm and welcoming smiles of sisters, cousins, grandma and neighbors.

“We are speechless.

“So are they.

“They offer us plastic chairs and we take our seats next to Doris. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. This is our sole purpose in coming to Guatemala – this beautiful child, her beautiful family. How do we express how grateful we are to be here? We sit. We stay. We begin to converse.

“Where are you from, begins Doris’ mother. What is it like there?

“We are from Wyoming, we reply. There are mountains. We lie at a high elevation. There are only few people. Lots of cold days.

“We learn. Doris’ mother is a volunteer for World Vision, teaching women in the community how to create nourishing meals for children. Here, in Guatemala many children between the ages of 0 and 5 are malnourished. World Vision provides not only training but also vitamin packets to these families so they can reclaim the nutrition of their precious children.

“We learn. Doris is in 3rd grade. Art is her favorite subject, math is not a favorite. She brings out her school notebooks, her art notebook and her natural sciences notebook. She’s drawn a picture of Minnie Mouse and made a boat with newspaper clippings. She knows the Departments (States) of Guatemala and the bones of the human body.

“Francisco explains that in Guatemala they don’t call the children “sponsor children” but rather ambassadors. They are ambassadors in their communities, agents of change. They are ambassadors helping to usher in new attitudes regarding health and education. Doris and her two sisters are ambassadors, serving alongside their mother who has also become a voice as well as the hands and feet of World Vision in Guatemala. How fortunate we are in this moment to meet such an impressive and beautiful family.

“We have already learned, on the drive to San Raymundo, that there are 81,000 sponsor children or ambassadors in Guatemala (however, we do not remember if these are all the sponsored children or a mix of children with sponsors and some without). Either way, that’s potential for a lot of positive change in the communities of Guatemala. With 58% of the population living in poverty (less than US $2 a day per family) and 11% living in extreme poverty (less than US $1 a day per family) the right kind of change could be nothing short of a blessing.

“We have an opportunity to tell Doris that we are teachers and that we will be teaching English in South Korea.

“Now we present an offering of gifts to Doris and her family. Each member of the family receives a University of Wyoming t-shirt, hopeful they like brown and gold. And for Doris, a special set of gifts, the gifts donated by a small Sunday school class as well as a handmade gift from the same group. Perhaps it is too much to give, but it is not our generosity, it is the generosity of other children, children who know privilege but have been taught generosity.





“Having received a notebook, coloring book, crayons, markers, a book of numbers and bubbles it was time for a few photos followed by a lesson in blowing bubbles. I blew a few bubbles in Doris’ face, causing her to smile. Then it was her turn to return the favor and the joy of bubbles.

“Time was now winding down. Good-bye was inevitable, unavoidable. Doris’ mother shared many kind words with us, words of appreciation and gratitude; words of love and kindness. Together we prayed, we for them and they for us. With words, hugs, and prayers exchanged we began our way back to the SUV. Before we could load the vehicle we were asked to wait one moment, in that moment, Doris’ mother came to us with a special Guatemalan gift: a cloth used to carry bread or tortillas from the market. A gift we were honored to receive and will cherish always.

“Back in the vehicle, we slowly begin the process of understanding all that we have experienced. Giving thanks for this honor. Praying that we would be responsible with our privileges. Hoping the best for Doris, her family and her community. Considering the brokenness of the world, and the goodness that can come from individuals and groups of individuals in response to such brokenness. These thoughts take us from gazing out the window to dozing in our seats until we find ourselves in Antigua, the next chapter of our days in Guatemala.”

Late but Safe Arrival in Guatemala

On the 28th of June 2010, Mike and Melissa Harrington safely arrived in Guatemala city. The couple spent some unexpected time in Dallas-Ft. Worth due to some heavy rains, but were fortunate enough to board a plane at about 7 pm CDT (Central Daylight Time) arriving in Guatemala City at about 9:30 pm CST (Central Standard Time), the equivelent of MDT (Mountain Daylight Time)

More on their adventures is to come.

A Book for Doris

Less than a week from today, Mike and Melissa Harrington will have the great honor and pleasure of meeting the eight year old girl they sponsor through World Vision. In anticipation for this meeting the Harrington's wanted to prepare a special gift for Doris. With the help of the Sunday School class of Emmaus Road, the Harrington's made a special bi-lingual counting book for Doris. Each page has a hand drawn picture and numbers 1-10 in Spanish and English. Mike and Melissa are anxious to hand their book to Doris on June 29th and look forward to sharing the emotions of that experience with each of their readers in the weeks to come.

Mike working on the #8

The pages of the book!


The group of kiddos who helped make the book.