A warm welcome from the Xoxlacians

There is probably a linguist somewhere who can tell us whether the proper way to describe people who live in Xoxlac as Xoxlacians, Xoxlites, Xociables for Xoclettiers. I don't really know, but I do know that these resourceful band of Mayan villagers do know how to throw a good welcoming ceremony.

Larry shows photos

As we arrived at the village a little after 5 p.m. Sunday, there were dozens of villagers lined up along the road to greet us, the young and the old and all in their best dress. Fireworks started lighting off immediately and we were greeted with open arms and gentle embraces.

We would learn later than we were the first Americans - and most likely the first Caucasions - to ever enter the village. The reason: While there are many mission groups that come to Guatemala, few venture the distance that our team did. Most are centered in the major population areas.

John Kirk makes friends with the kids. They dissed me.

We got all of our gear off the Landcruiser caravan and the villagers well, just kind of took over. The men got our luggage off the truck and stacked it at the doorstep of the school building where we would stay. Meanwhile, teammate John Kirk, who is fluent in Spanish, went right to work with the kids. He gathered them around, giving candy, smiles, warm greetings and otherwise breaking barriers.  (I tried for a time to infringe on this little party, asking Jon to ask the kids if they could gather around me for a photo. They were shy and refused, to which John said with a smile, "you gotta make friends first, Brian!"  Language barriers, ugh! Plus I didn't have any candy). John had also purchased two new soccer balls in Barillas and threw them out to the kids right away. They really liked the balls, forming teams and playing away in their big, rut-filled field with a big rock in the middle of it.

Xoxlac kids for teams for a soccer game. John Kirk brought the ball.

Marco, our Hands for Peacemaking host, also told us that the kids love seeing their pictures on our digital cameras.  Guatemala mission veteran Larry Schmick remembered, and proceeded to take kid photos and make friends that way too.

After settling in we were invited back to the central compound, where Pedro, the headmaster for the village school, collaborated with Marco on a formal introduction ceremony. The villagers gathered around and after some introductory comments and overcoming technical problems with the microphone, we were each invited to introduce ourselves. We all knew enough Spanish to state our names and after each introduction Marco would ask the crowd to repeat our names again and again until the villagers could say them.

Villagers stand in line to sign, or thumb, contracts for stoves

After this ceremony the villagers congregated for the most important part of the evening - signing their contracts for the stoves. This was the deal: Each family would pay for part of their own stove (or probably the whole thing, they thought). In exchange they would be obligated to participate in a village clean-up project (trash was all over the place in this village as with many others) and remove their old stove or open fire system from their cooking area. And if for whatever reason they welch on their contract, their extended family or fellow villagers pick up the share. Peer pressure, yeah. Some of these people don't know how to write, so sealed the deal with thumbprints. I think Pastor Jon got a photo of this so hopefully he'll send.

Meantime, we had a team dinner, got a feel for the place and, after a very long drive, settled into our nice new digs on the mattresses in the schoolhouse. Jon, Rueben and I attended a rather lengthy  evening church service, sitting in the back pew behind the women's side (men and boys on one side, women and young children on the other).  Okay, I was the first to bail because I couldn't understand a word they said (the sermon was in their native Mayan language of Q'anjobal), other than to hear "Washington" and see folks turn around and smile at us at one point. Jon gave me grief about bailing later, so hey, I had to point out that he bailed shortly after I did too. Any Marine View readers feel this way after one of Jon's services? :-)

We would get up early Monday to start stove installation, but tonight we would rest and prepare for a busy day ahead.

First Cougs in Xoxlac (with Doug DeVries)