A toilet. Not something we usually give much thought to (or get teary eyed about).
It's there. We use it when we need to. We find them slightly disgusting.
But what if you didn't have one? What if there wasn't a designated area to do your business? (When we lived in India, Greg discovered the distressing fact that over 600 million people in that country do not have a toilet.)
Or, what if you did have a place to poop, but it consisted of nothing more than a can above a hole and a few tarps and pieces of tin for privacy?
Can you imagine what it would be like to live that way?
Even worse, what if this 'bathroom' was located down a steep hill from your house, and you had to walk up and down the precipitous, slippery trail to use it, in rain and heat, when you're pregnant or carrying a toddler? Can you even comprehend such a thing?
I can't. I've tried to imagine it, but it's very far out of the reality I know, that it's difficult to comprehend what that would really be like.
But we know a family that lives that way. That's been their 'bathroom' situation for the past 25 years. Through rain and heat, raising three children and serving in their church.
For the past 25 years, this is where they've had to do their business:
It's only about 4 feet tall, so you have to stoop to go in.
There's the toilet seat.
We're about to change that!
We hauled the supplies up from Panajachel, where we live, to the aldea on the mountain above us - Patanatic.
This gives you a small idea of how steep and how far they had to carry the wood. I carried Atlas, and had to stop a lot along the way. When I got to the top I was shaky and light headed. I know, I'm a wimp... especially when compared to these tough Guatemalans.
She ran down the hill, and then carried four 2x4's up the mountain on her head.
Then she went down again, and came up like this!!
He carried seven cinderblocks up the mountain on his back. That's about 175 pounds! More than he weighs!
Toilet progress... 
Let us pause for a moment to consider something. Let's imagine that it's been a long day. You've been on your feet, climbing mountains and working hard. They hurt. Your back hurts. You just want a comfy place to put up your feet and to rest your weary bones.
Now imagine that this is all that is available. This is the most comfort you have at your disposal:
Now take that one step further and imagine that this is the most comfort you have available to you everyday of your life. I remember when I first made that realization. Most people in the world live with very little comfort. They have hard, small beds that they share with others. They have hard, small furniture, and cement or dirt floors. THERE IS NO PLACE THAT IS COMFORTABLE!
Now go lay on your cushy couch or your soft bed, and be grateful for it!!
The semi-completed project.
But this is where I and the kids leave the story. We were dropped off at home before the guys went back up to finish it up.
When they finally left, Juan (the proud owner of a new toilet) took a moment to say to them, with tears in his eyes.
"Thank you so much. I never thought that I would have something as nice as this. I feel like a rich man."
(Now they were all a little teary-eyed by this point.)
They came home for dinner with big smiles, a good feeling and a few more plans for more small improvements in the world.
What we've learned and how you can help
With the small experience we've had in the world, we've grown to believe that the best 'humanitarian work' is that which is done on an individual basis - helping one person or family at a time to improve their life in some small way. It's what I call the 'starfish principle'. It might not make a big difference, but it makes a difference to the one.
This is something we've done throughout our travels, and we plan on doing throughout the rest of our Epic Expedition.
Now we want to give you the opportunity to get involved and be a part of it!
It's this simple. Whenever we discover a worthwhile project that we want to orchestrate (like planting a garden, or installing a smoke-reducing stove), we'll let you know about it, and give you the chance to donate.
Every dollar you give will go directly to the project, and when we're done with it, we'll post pictures here on the blog (and even give thanks to you, unless you wish to remain anonymous.)
We think this will be a great way for you to give to something for which you'll be able to see the effects your donation will make.
Here's the catch. We don't want to take your donations unless we have a specific project. We don't want to feel that we have to come up with something because we have donations we need to use. When we find a need, then we'll let you know. Until then, we don't want your money. 🙂
To start out, we do have two current projects in mind:
Solar-heated hot water system
This same family (that we just built the composting toilet for) has never had hot water. In fact, their 'shower' is just a pipe out by the pila. We want to install solar-heated pipes on their roof, which will give them hot water for the first time in their lives!
Estimated cost: $200
If you would like to donate part, or all for this project, click below. (Please indicate if you would like to remain anonymous.)
Teaching skills for a better job
Greg asked our neighbor what kind of job he would like to better provide for his family. (He currently works as a tuk tuk driver, aka taxi driver, and makes about Q50 a day - US$6.45.) He said he would like to work at a hotel.
Greg told him to go find out what skills he needed to know to work at a hotel, and then report back. He recently told Greg that he had done it, and he needs to know English, Word and Excel.
One-on-one classes will be beginning soon! Here's what we need though. An empty Dell computer was already donated, but we need to install Windows and Microsoft Office on it to use for teaching the skills he needs.
Estimated cost: $20
(Ha ha, my husband just informed me that it's NOT $150 like I put previously. It's Q150 - about $20. Oops, my mistake!)
If you would like to donate part, or all for this project, click below. (Please indicate if you would like to remain anonymous.)
These projects have been completed. Thank you for your donations!
You can read about the project here.
Comments
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Great job! If the computer had Windows before, then you can ask for a code to re-install it for free. Or install Linux as a free operating system. And instead of Excel you can use Open Office, it is very similar and free.
Thanks for the tip. Where/who would we ask for the code to re-install Windows?
@Rachel: I was in the UK when I did that, so I called Microsoft customer service, explained my case and got my code, I think with the computer’s serial number underneath. In your case I would download a free 90 days trial (just Google that), and then check with a cyber in Pana if they have a code, or can help you install free Linux instead.
Cool, thank you.
My husband did point out a typo though – I had posted $150 for the software. It’s actually only Q150 (about US$20 – big difference!)
@Rachel: I love your idea of doing humanitarian work on an individual basis. You gain so much more donating your time than you would just money.
By the way, as Pauline mentioned, you can use OpenOffice.org, and you don’t need Linux installed. There’s a version for Windows that I’ve been using for years.
Thanks for the tip. Does that apply if there is no operating system installed? The donated computer we have is completely blank.
We wish so much we could have been there to help with this wonderful project! Give our
best to president and his family. They are the salt of the earth as are each of you. Love you all!
Okay, we will! Thanks.
I completely sympathize with the comfort issue and how little things we take for granted can make a huge impact on our lives. We rented out our U.S. house and have been living in our house in PR for one year now. It wasn’t our house when we got here (we’ve since inherited it), nor did we/do we plan to stay. It will also be rented as we live our nomadic life. In the meantime it has been under head-to-toe construction-renovation. Only the stair railing and foundation will be original. So this means we have no real furniture. Seating is now a few plastic patio chairs. My bed is a yoga mat (after many leaky air mattresses). We finally bought the kids real beds. All this aside, I am very aware that this is a life and situation of my choosing. I have the option and means to outfit this house but do not because it doesn’t make sense. But for sure there are days when all I want is a sofa to plop down on. I can stretch my mind to what it would be like to live this hard, barren existence for life and, even knowing from this experience that one does adapt – I am so grateful I will not have to. You guys are great and do such good things.
I can empathize with your situation! We’ve been there before, and it does give you more gratitude for the small comforts of life!
Are you near the volcano that is erupting?
No, it’s about 2 hours away.