by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Three Guatemalans were in Whitewater Region for two days hoping to experience a little bit of the lifestyle. While they did much of what they wanted to experience, the one thing they didn’t experience was their first snowfall.
However, Madeli Quinones, Aner Minas and Mario Esqueque Shoc did experience wearing winter clothing, sawing logs and four-wheeling. They also made presentations in Admaston-Bromley Township, Eganville District Public School and at Grace United Church in Cobden.
These three people are known to Ted Richardson and Paul McLenaghan, who have been going down to Guatemala for the last decade to build schools and furniture.
They were in Whitewater Township last Friday, Saturday and Sunday before heading back to spend the next few days in Ottawa. They are in Ontario from Dec. 13 to 26.
Madeli can speak English while Aner and Mario relied on her to translate for them.
Speaking through Madeli, Mario noted the children in Eganville were very attentive. He said he used a soccer ball as part of his presentation, noting while growing up he used a bunch of paper mushed and taped together as a soccer ball. The children then did various presentations for the three Guatemalans, including a square dance and sang songs.
They then went to a class and enjoyed cookies and chocolate milk while they talked with a smaller group.
Mr. McLenaghan recalled seeing children playing soccer with plastic bags taped together.
Madeli also spoke about Nov. 1, the day when a large community kite is flown in the sky. It is then cut loose and let to fly skywards.
Mr. McLenaghan recalled when he met Madeli, Aner and Mario. Madeli was principal of a school and met up with former La Passe residents Susan and Richard Schmaltz. Madeli was hired to operate Mrs. Schmaltz’s training program for the Planting Seed School. While involved in the training program, Madeli was also a student in the Early Childhood Education program at the university, which she recently has completed.
Aner graduated from teachers college, earning a gold medal. However, he has decided teaching is not for him and recently finished his second of a five year accounting program.
Mario has completed two of a five- year program to become a lawyer.
Mr. McLenaghan noted all three of them received financial help through the generous donations from the Dream Team who raised money in their various communities. The Dream Team, comprised of various people from throughout Renfrew County, including Mr. Richardson and Mr. McLenaghan, travels to Guatemala each November.
Throughout the years, they have built homes, schools and furniture.
One of the goals of coming to Canada for Madeli, Mario and Aner, was an opportunity to meet some of the people who have donated or raised funds to help get the necessary materials to complete the various projects in Guatemala, as well as help them with their education.
Mr. Richardson recalled meeting Aner and helping him. He said he had heard about a young boy who had a dream of becoming a teacher. He was able to finish grade 6, but with 10 brothers and sisters at home, he had to quit school and work in the coffee fields. For two years he saved money to go to Grade 7.
It was going to be another two years to save money for Grade 8. However, when the Dream Team heard about Aner, they wanted to help him, so they did.
“He was a smart boy and very respectful,” he recalled.
When Mr. Richardson asked him what he wanted to do with his life, the young Aner said he wanted to be an example for his younger brothers and was going to become a teacher.
Mr. Richardson spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Schmaltz and they agreed to provide the opportunity for him to go school.
“And, as they say, the rest his history,” he said.
Last week, the three stayed at Ted and Bea Richardson’s house. They visited Klaeisi’ farm on Government Road; cut wood at Mr. Richardson’s lot on Government Road; went 4-wheeling in Golden Lake; and before a small crowd Saturday night at Grace United Church in Cobden, spoke about their life in Guatemala and then had opportunity to play crokinole and socialize.
Mr. Richardson noted the wood they were cutting is a fundraiser for the Dream Team. He has the wood brought to his property and a group from the Dream Team, along with others, will cut the wood up and then sell it for firewood. Once the expense of the wood is covered, the rest is a donation. It works out to about a $900 donation for the Dream Team to make purchases for necessary items in Guatemala.
When asked if they noticed a difference between their home and Canada, Mario said people in Canada like to help people in other countries.
“You give opportunity to those without hope,” he said. “You have good hearts. You’re not selfish.”
People aren’t like that in Guatemala, Mario said.
However, Mr. McLenaghan said it’s not that they don’t help, it’s that they can’t help.
While they aren’t able to help their neighbours or strangers they don’t know, Mr. McLenaghan said what he sees when they go down there, is that they help out their own families.
“They don’t have the resources to help others,” he said. “They are just surviving.”
