Michelle writes:
Hola, from my new volunteer location. I have joined a group of women from South Dakota and Minnesota here in Santiago Atitlan, which is a 2-1/2 hour drive northwest of Antigua. Atitlan is a fairly large lake with 12 villages scattered along its bank. The villages are accessible by boat and road. Actually, part of this particular village was wiped out in 2005 from mudslides down the steep volcanic slopes caused by a hurricane.
View from the Rooftop of the Hostel
Three volcanoes surround me, but this time they are very close. The fire volcano in Antigua is active, and I did see red, molten lava one night while I was there. How's that for excitement? There are others in Guatemala that are currently active, but not these here, thankfully!
I had a tour of town and have been learning about the war. I took photos of the Peace Park, with its graves of people killed while trying to talk to the military. The soldiers were raping the women and girls. One girl got away and ran to town; the church rang the bells, and the town mobilized. The men and boys went out to the military base with their machetes and hoes (the only tools they had) and white flags. They were mowed down. This park has grave stones of people from age 6 to 53. Sad.
At some point, the mayor went to the government with a document which was then signed, saying that if any military personnel come to this village, the people have the right to kill them on the spot. No military is ever welcome here again.
This village is only accessible by boat or a long trek along the side of a volcano. Because the village is so remote, the war really took its toll. That is why there is the Elder Center. These women have no families left to take care of them. I will meet some of the elders tomorrow.
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