Archive for January 7, 2010
On the road: “Even the Earth’s a pilgrim”
The following is an end-of-year reflection by CFCA President and Co-founder Bob Hentzen as he walked along the route in Guatemala on the last day of 2009:
This is Dec. 31. The first 10k before dawn. Beautiful morning. Full moon. And the interesting thing is that the volcano called Pacaya is in eruption and we’re walking straight towards it. Our reflection: Even the Earth is changing. Even the Earth’s a pilgrim.
Henry Flores [CFCA-El Salvador communications director] is kind enough to bring this recorder and my Flip camera out on the road together with Judy-Anne [CFCA-Kansas communications staff] and Loretta [CFCA-Kansas communications director]. They are filming as we actually go down the road. Everybody’s doing OK. Suresh [Hyderabad, India, project coordinator] has been fighting a fever and is taking a little break in one of the vehicles.
It is amazing to look at this line of volcanoes from Fuego, Agua, Acatenango, Pacaya: the ring of fire. It is just amazing.
Our little poet from last night [Miguel] is now walking with me. And when we reach the first stop he is going to be declaiming another poem that he calls, “The Challenge.” I asked the father a little about the family. There are two other children. It’s an uncle and the dad who teach this little boy these poems and acting.
January 7, 2010 at 9:38 pm Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) 3 comments
A few bumps, but going well
Paul Pearce, CFCA international programs director, is currently walking with CFCA President Bob Hentzen and the Walk2gether team.
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010
We’re within 4.5 kilometers from the El Salvador border, as of yesterday evening. We will spend today and tomorrow with the community in Jalpatagua, Guatemala. Today was an all-region finalist talent event, and tomorrow a livelihood program showcase.
The walk is going well. A few bumps, but going well. Cristina (Bob’s wife) had three toenails removed, and the camper has a new clutch plate (we have lightened the load considerably)… Everyone’s spirits are very high.
We have had some very hot days and lots of climbs. Some of the walk days stretch from 3:30 a.m., when we board the vans, to 7 p.m., when we reach the 40 kilometer mark after dark. The third 10 kilometers of the day is the most difficult – “the wall,” and sometimes takes twice as long to get through. The enthusiasm is incredible along the road.
In Chiquimulilla we estimate there were 4,000-5,000 CFCA kids, moms, dads and staff on arrival. Yesterday, we had several hundred walkers. The moms, some dads, and children as young as 3, students and elderly are walking significant distances. They seem to understand the difficulty of the walk and its significance.
There are many, many individual stories we’re trying to absorb as we go. One story is that of Stephanie, who is sight impaired, walking 10 kilometers. At one point we were lagging behind the group quite a bit – probably 150 yards, so we decided we should run. I was amazed by her. Many stories like this.
We’ll sign off for tonight and get back on tomorrow. Hope everyone survives the storm up there. We’re having high winds.
Take care all. Greetings from many folks along the road. – Paul
January 7, 2010 at 2:33 pm Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) 2 comments
