Written by Ella Pugh-Smith, Norfolk (ENG)
As the van pulled up to the church in Cancun where we would be staying for the next six weeks, I realised that this was going to be the challenge I was hoping for. Behind the dusty car park, complete with pot-holes, was the sanctuary. Next to the sanctuary was an office and next to that were the loos, the stench from which could be smelt as soon as you stepped into the church grounds. Upstairs was a small apartment which we were allowed to use to cook and take a shower once a week. I should point out that a shower was a rather generous name for a pipe, out of which water trickled when it felt like it!
Our work in Cancun involved working alongside our contact, Mario, and his team of volunteers, doing whatever he asked. This mainly comprised working in the Mayan villages, helping to repair buildings and entertaining the children. Other activities included helping at a food bank, a lot of manual labour and last, but not least, picking up rubbish off the streets. There is so much to say about my time in Cancun. However, a few memorable experiences is all the limited word count will allow me! Valle Verde was a Mayan village that we visited every Saturday. It was the most primitive of all the ones we saw; however, it was my favourite. Most of the work we did there was repairing or building something, but one day whilst the boys were busy repairing the church car park, the girls went to Valle Verde to entertain the children as it was national “Kids’ Day”.
When we pulled up outside the school-house a swarm of children surrounded the van. As we stepped off the van sweets were thrust into our hands. I did not know what to do. Following numerous visits to this village I had become aware of how poor these people were. However, I could not win. If I rejected the sweets the children would be upset, but if I accepted them I would feel awful. Luckily Mario was prepared for this act f generosity. He subtly handed round a bag for the sweets which was given to the headmistress. They would be redistributed once were gone.
The programme was now rolling. After the puppet show we organised some dancing competitions. Each winner received a balloon animal we had made earlier. The laughter and happiness of the children was contagious. It was so nice to see them having so much fun, and there was not a television or computer in sight! It was soon time to leave. We knew we would never be able to escape not doing any hard work that day!
After his story I feel I should mention the subject of generosity. This was one of the things that really struck me about the Mexican people. The people we associated with had very little. However, at every opportunity they would lavish presents and meals on us. Whenever we tried to return the act they would not accept. It made me reflect on just how much I take for granted back home.
No account of Mexico would be complete without some discussion of the weather. The only word to describe it was HOT! One particular scenario springs to mind. We were in charge of entertaining the children at a national Christian convention, four hours west of Cancun, in a place called Merida. After several nights in a cramped tent, where my friend Andrea and I had to sleep, the church floor seemed like a palace in comparison! Although we had little shade, the temperature got up to 48C and the water had run out, the team unity was never better. We soon learnt that complaining never got anyone anywhere.