Supporting literacy in the jungles of Guatemala
Barry Gray and his son Jeffrey took part in an Ak’ Tenamit service project along with 18 other volunteers from District 6440 in January
Every morning, the volunteers traveled by boat for an hour to Ak’ Tenamit school, where they worked on girl student housing and an aquaponics project that will allow the community to raise Tilapi and vegetables to vary their diet. They also delivered 50 water filters to a Mayan village and witnessed a Mayan festival.
Barry and his son got to spend time with one very special student, Walter, whose father was leader of the village they visited. Walter couldn’t walk when he was a child, but Ak’Tenamit sponsored surgery to repair his deformed legs. Now he is studying and taking part in the school’s cooking program, and wants to be a chef when he completes his studies. Barry is sponsoring Walter through a monthly pledge commitment.
On Friday, the volunteers left Ak’ Tenamit, and after a five-hour boat and bus trip, enjoyed some sightseeing in Copan, Honduras, touring Mayan ruins.
“It was a life changing experience for both me and my son,” he says. “It is one of the best things we have every done.” Jeffrey is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where he is studying nonprofit business and leadership.