Heading South!

One rough visual estimate would put the distance between Boulder, Colorado, USA and Cuernavaca, Morales, Mexico at about 1,566 miles. (Anyone can tighten up that number with a surer-fire measurement than mine ;). That's where we're headed! Cuernavaca has earned a reputation as a lovely tourist destination with predominantly pleasant temperatures, lush plant life (and bird life), as well as historic sites in town and not far away, for visiting.

This Sunday May 23 we'll have a commissioning to ask God's blessing on our work and learning. Paul and Mary McKay, our coordinators and group leaders, will head to the airport soon after to get a head start on our time. Two groups of us will go: Group 1 from May 30 to June 5, and Group 2 from June 6 to 13. Our work site is with the children and staff at Buena Tierra School, which was built along the no-longer railroad tracks in town. Some of us will work to build an office/meeting space for the staff, and others of us will lead classes in art, health, wildlife-spotting (think of the birds!), etc. We're looking forward to bonding with the children there and giving of our time, as well as learning what we can of the needs of these people and some important history of environmental and community-building efforts in the region.

We've met several times together as a group to hear from Paul and Mary and to plan what to pack, what to eat and not to eat, etc. I hope each member of the group finds some time on the trip to write at least a little of the experiences and impressions that we'll have. As for me, I'm set with my hidden pouch, my mosquito repellant, and my daughter and I will be packing along one of the water filters supplied by the McKays for our use as a group. Basic things that we tend not to think about -- water quality, for one, are at the top of the list.

For starters, we can all check out the information on the "Good Earth Preschool" on EPIC's website: http://pointe.bozonics.com/~dana/epic/projects/labuena.html
You can see photos there and get a sense of the history and how the director, Elizabeth Marroquin, has led the way for preschoolers and primary students in the neighborhood.