De nuevo recordándoles algunas anécdotas de la vida (ENGLISH VERSION)

Dear friends,

The small hand of the clock silently points to 3:00 a.m. It is the dawn of a new day filled with the side effects of chemotherapy, fatigue, and intensifying bone pain. I am glad that I don’t suffer from nausea like I did during the first round of treatments. I have been thinking of all of you, and praying to God to keep you well and safe. 

Today, you will not be hearing another anecdote about my life, because I want to talk about last Saturday’s community dinner and the incredible happiness it brought me. When we started to plan the event, I told the volunteers that I might not be able to be there in person on November 6, and that I would read some of my poems via Skype. We discussed bringing a laptop and a modem to the event, so that I could deliver remarks and read the poems from home.  That was at the planning stage.

I was in a serious condition, and I thought that it would stay that way. During the week before the event, I did not undergo chemotherapy and had started recuperating. The pain in my liver subsided, and I was more energetic and feeling stronger because I was very happy that my friend Leocadio Juracán, from the Comité Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA), was staying with us. Slowly, the idea of going to the event and participating directly was brought into being. We went as a family with Leocadio to the church where the activity was being held, and arrived just when dinner was starting to be served, a few minutes before the start of the show. The hall was almost filled to capacity, and people were still coming in.  I could see the items for sale at the silent auction. We had been assigned a table in front of the stage. Almost all of the tables were occupied. 

You have no idea how happy I was to see all the volunteers working together in an orderly fashion to ensure the success of this event.  I felt the joy reflected in the faces of the coordinators and volunteers going about there tasks, which then transpired on me. If only I had been in better health, I would have helped like I did for the previous events, but I had to resign myself to greeting people and being part of the public. Nevertheless, I felt renewed and energized enough to continue.

 I want to thank Janet for coordinating the event, the members of the various work teams, the PSAC Social

LouiseCasselman & Leocadio Juracán

Justice Fund for their great support, the head of finance, the MCs, the artists, the food preparation, silent auction, raffle and sound system teams, the people who contributed items for the silent auction as well as those who coordinated and prepared the program, and the artist line-up. I am not using names, because I don’t want to forget anyone, and my goal is simply to recognize all those who have contributed to the success of the evening.

In conclusion, the results of the community dinner 2010 are fantastic. We made a profit of approximately $7,000 after expenses. When we add individual donations, the grand total reaches $8,000, enough to build 4 houses.

Camila cantando para Roberto

With regard to education, Leocadio, who has a lot of field experience, explained the situation of rural workers, and how the solidarity established between Canadians and Guatemalans as well as with groups from other countries has helped the CCDA gain access to 25 farms, so that more families may improve their conditions and take part in their own development. CCDA is also looking for ways to improve production, and works not only for the members of the organisation, but also for the small producers and those who don’t have any land on which to work. The issue of security for Leocadio and his family, as well as for the other members of the organisation was also discussed. Leocadio stated that progress has been made, and it is thanks to the support of the Education in Action Project and Café Justicia and of all those who have heard of the CCDA and bought coffee.

Finally, I want to recognize the contribution of the Latino-American and Canadian artists, the Health Canada Spanish students, the members of PSAC and other unions that have supported us in one way or the other.  I

also want to give special thanks to the Guatemaleans, the Salvadoran woman and her husband who not only prepared the meal and obtained deserts with the help of a Canadian volunteer, but also donated some ingredients so that we may make more profits.

We thank the Lord for another accomplished mission. The team work and the dedication of all the volunteers confirm that together we can build a better and just world.

Roberto