Reflections of an Intern
Miracles in Action sponsored a recent college graduate to intern for some of our partners this summer. This begins a short series of posts by Becky Zorn, about her experiences.
In early June, I returned to the United States after teaching English in Turkey and traveling around Eastern Europe for 6 months. I was planning on staying in Washington, DC for the summer before commencing graduate school at the University of Copenhagen in September– that was until I received a call from Christie Brown asking if I could intern in Guatemala for the summer. Without hesitation, I accepted the opportunity and flew from Washington, DC to Guatemala City 4 days later.
Miracles in Action has provided me with many excellent opportunities to assist those in Guatemala who lack the opportunities available to those in the United States. I have been thrilled to jump in wherever my assistance is needed, and I have been helping with various projects which I will continue to blog about in the future.
Two weeks ago, I had the great opportunity to attend the opening of school #30 in Palo Blanco outside San Martin. This school opening was delightful and well-attended by the community who supported the project, just as much as Miracles, our NGO partners, and donors supported the construction. This school was sponsored by several families — Jason and Karen Leupen, Angie and Rick McKenzie, Ray and Polly Sund, Jerry and Sandy Leupen (all from Cincinnati, OH) — and Moorings Presbyterian Church in Naples, FL. Here are a few photos from the opening:
Representatives of the donor group and Miracles in Action uncover the plaque on the school.
Some of the students in the older grades perform a dance at the school opening.
The kids were all so happy and excited to have a new school and more educational opportunities.
A picture of me with some of the girls who will attend the school. I have interned for women’s rights organizations in the past and love that Miracles highlights the importance of education for women and girls in Guatemala.
Preserving Lake Atitlan: Pennies for Potties
Preserving Lake Atitlan: Pennies for Potties
By Magdalena Battles
In my opinion, one of the most breathtaking places on this planet is Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. I have had thevprivilege of staying in Panajachel (Pana) several times during my trips to Guatemala. Pana is one of the larger communities located on the lake. Going by boat out to Casa del Mundo (I recommend that everyone stay here at some point in their lives, it is a peaceful retreat from the rest of the world) from Pana during my past trip I noticed that the water was looking darker than I had remembered it being previously. As a matter of fact, on my first trip to Guatemala, I stayed at the Lake area for several days and while out on the lake I commented that I could see the bottom of the lake through about 8-10 feet of water. Growing up in northern WI, our lakes were never this crystal clear. It was astonishing to me.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just my imagination that the water was darker. It seems that communities located around the lake have been dumping their sewage into the lake. I am not a scientist, but even I can see this in not a great idea. Several groups have stepped forward to help with this problem. The goal is to have these communities build and use eco-banos.
Eco-banos are dry latrines where waste is turned into compost. In this situation they are used to improve sanitation and eliminate waste water and feces from running or being discharged into Lake
Attitlan. There is a project in Santa Cruz on the Lake where they are promoting dry latrines for the whole community. There was a pledge to fund 10 eco-banos (the pledge was made by Miracles in Action and several Rotary groups) and they are in the testing phase now. The Pennies for Potties was an idea to fund-raise, with people putting their donation into little wooden outhouse potties as a fun idea for raising money. If you want to help preserve the Lake please by contributing to “Pennies for Potties” please go to the donation page on our website: http://www.miraclesinaction.org/donate/contribute/
Celebrating Graduations and Connections
Kayleigh Alexander, a recent graduate from Wittenberg University in Ohio, decided to direct her family and friends to donate to Miracles in Action in honor of her graduation. Kayleigh visited Guatemala in 2008 and loved the people, sights, and experiences. 
This is such an awesome way for someone to celebrate their graduation and we commend Kayleigh for this selfless act. It is also an example of how past experiences and connections in Guatemala are so long-lasting. Many people have stated that a visit to one of the impoverished communities has changed their lives forever. This is obviously true for Kayleigh.
Kayleigh graduated with a triple major in Spanish, Education and International Relations. She will be teaching Spanish as a high school teacher in the fall. We wish her the best of luck and hope her concern for the Guatemalan people continues for a lifetime!
