Most of the group went to Guatemala today for a brief vacation. I stayed with those-left-behind. We were such a small group that we all decided to take a little car to Zaragoza and do what we could with regards to construction. I was doubtful that we would get much done, but the four of us were so enthusiastic, that we dug trenches and built walls all day long, and got quite a bit done. I must say though, I've never been so hot in my life. It was steamy weather, and I'm not used to heavy labor like swinging a pick ax at clods of clay and rock. But I really, really enjoyed it. I knew my labor was contributing to this really wonderful project.
Regardless of all of the beautiful things this day, there was one storm cloud. The alcaldia (mayor's office) of Zaragoza brought a big backhoe and they were ready to help us do some of the digging that it has taken many women and men many weeks to do only a part of. Just as they were about to start digging up the road, the neighbors at the top of the hill (the ones whose cesspool is dripping down onto the daycare center) came tearing down the hill, shouting and swearing that we weren't allowed to dig up that road. Here are the catches: it's not their land (it belongs to the community of Zaragoza) , there is a road 5 meters behind it that comes from and leads to the same place, and the dirt from that pathway washes onto the school each time it rains. I think their mad about being ordered to dig a new cesspool. Regardless, that display of senseless selfishness really left me downhearted. The backhoe promptly left.
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