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Why Is Volunteering Rejuvenating? — February 20, 2012

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Our 35 mission volunteers have returned to their daily lives. Those who traveled from the US are catching up with family and work responsibilities. SPECIAL THANKS to island resident volunteers, Ray and Sandy Ham, who have invested countless hours after our February 1-8 Mission Project Week to finish renovating Casita del Corazon, a new therapy center for children with disabilities.

There was a surprise waiting for me when I logged on today . . . an email from Roger Hoy in Lincoln, Nebraska. Here’s an excerpt from Roger’s reflections about his first Cozumel mission trip:

“For me personally, I think that was the most rejuvenating experience I have had in decades and look forward to doing more in the future.”

Roger’s comments struck a chord and I’ve been mulling over this question. . . Why IS volunteering in a culture other than our own such a compelling experience? I’m not sure I have “the” answer nor do I believe it is the same for everyone. Perhaps one or more of the following explanations contributes to the feeling of rejuvenation Roger experienced. How do these fit for you?

1.Volunteering enables us to put things in perspective about what is truly important. Helping families struggling to provide basic needs of food, water and shelter for their children is humbling compared to things we tend to focus on in our daily lives. Photo at left: Roger helped Jose’s family access water by installing a manual pump in their well.

2.Volunteering challenges our problem solving abilities. Not having access to resources typically available in the US or Canada causes us to think differently. We can’t assume the same solutions or materials will work in a tropical climate or an environment where families and organizations may not have reliable services (i.e. electricity, transportation, protection against environmental elements). I jokingly say in the US, some problems can be solved by throwing money at it . . . not so in Mexico. Photo at right: A plan for collecting rain water from the family’s roof, flowing down a tube to store in barrels had to be based on materials available and a process the family could easily maintain over time.

3.Volunteering results in personal growth, learning and discovery often leading first to frustration, then followed by a sense of accomplishment. You can’t walk away from significant volunteer experiences without having changed or gown in some way. It may be overcoming a language barrier to get the job done, require you to work outside your expertise and/or stretch you to address a personally uncomfortable situation. Photo at left: Roger (back) and Larry (front) install the rain water collection system. The first try seldom works (true in this case) and often requires multiple trips to secure supplies and tools. Mission volunteers quickly learn projects take 2-3 times longer than we “think” they should!

4.Volunteering allows us to share the grace of giving/receiving genuine expressions of appreciation without strings attached, expectations or a sense of entitlement. Photo at right: Jose’s family was so appreciative that one of the children cut fresh coconuts to share cocunut milk with mission volunteers for helping the family access clean water for bathing and washing clothes as well as for dental fluoride treatments provided for the children by Dr. Julie.

It always amazes me we have such an eclectic group of mission volunteers with diverse life experiences who come together to share a common interest in helping Cozumel families and the community. Working with local and visiting volunteers as well as donors is truly rejuvenating for me! ~~ Karen

Mission Week Volunteers Reflect on Experiences…Feb. 10, 2012

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It is one of the beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson


Mission week has come to an end. While there will always be more to do, we’ve wrapped up our projects for now. A huge thanks goes out to all the volunteers, community partners and organizations that worked with us.

We gathered one final time to revel in our accomplishments and reflect on our time here before people headed for home. I struggled with how to communicate the powerful experiences of our volunteers and wished I had more than my hastily written notes. Instead these excerpts—only an approximation of part of the conversation—will have to suffice.

Jay (Nebraska, returning volunteer) – “I just want to thank everyone. We know how busy everyone is and we’re just glad we could share part of this time with you. Our goal is to plan for next year so that we can be here longer.”

35 volunteers participated in this Mission Week. This the group that worked full time during the past week. Back: April, Gary, Byron, Ray, Jason, Roger, Jay. Middle: Kristin, Aimee, Larry, Mike, Karen, Ilene, Sandy, Phyllis. Front: Tammy, Becky, Shirley, Diane, Julie.

Shirley (California, 1st-time volunteer) – “I’ve had a marvelous time. I felt so welcomed and cared for all this week.”

Diane (Nebraska, 1st-time volunteer) – “I remember Carlitos, the little boy at the therapy house we were renovating. He wouldn’t even look at me at first. But later in the week, he was waiting for us at the gate. He grew so much within a matter of days just being exposed to that extra stimulation.”

Carl (half-time island resident) – “The people at the therapy house were so happy to have all these repairs made. But they’re just happy people. They’ll laugh at the drop of a hat.”

Larry (Iowa/part-time resident, FOC leadership group) – “Roger made this comment….I don’t care how bad a day you’re having when you go to the therapy house or out to Jose’s family, you feel so much better when you leave. I agree with him, they’re so happy that it’s like they’re giving back just through their influence.”

Karen (island resident, FOC leadership group) – “It’s all about perspective. It just hits me when I go back to the U.S. every single time. Everything is so big and we own so much stuff. It feels very wasteful at times because the families here are incredibly happy without all of that. I keep learning that over and over.”

Carl – “All the stuff we own just doesn’t mean anything. Some of these families have so little, but they’re so happy. I think sometimes we allow stuff to replace family”

Diane – “I know. Antonia (grandmother in Jose’s family of 12+) keeps saying ‘God blessed me’ yet they have hardly anything and sometimes not enough food to eat.”

Roger (Nebraska, 1st-time volunteer) – “When they climbed those trees to get the coconuts down for us, Larry said he wished they would keep them for themselves since they have so little. But they felt a need to give something back and that’s what they had.”

Larry – “It was a great gesture. It was one of those special moments.”

Aimee (Iowa, 1st time volunteer)– “You think you’re going to feel sorry for them, but you go out to Jose’s family home and they’re so happy. There’s no way you should feel sorry.”

Roger – “They’ve given me more this week than I’ve given them. This is one of the most energizing experiences I’ve had in years.”

Gary (Nebraska, FOC leadership group)– “Sometimes I wonder if I could be that happy with so little and that makes me sad. It’s almost like you lose part of your soul when you have so much. You tend to spend time in other ways when you have fewer material goods.”

Kristin (North Carolina, returning volunteer) – “Yes, we all spend too much time taking care of our stuff.”

Sandy (island resident, FOC leadership group) – “A lady who gave a donation told me ‘you can have all this stuff. I know where my next meal is coming from. It’s not until you get rid of some of your stuff that God will bring new things into your life.’”

Ilene (Texas, FOC leadership group) – “Do you ever wonder how God decides where we’ll be born and what we’ll have? We’re so lucky to be born with all our freedoms and opportunities. We have a commandment from God to share and serve. That’s what we’re here for.”

Becky (Nebraska, 1st-time volunteer) – “I was excited to meet all of the women at the NUAFA sewing class and how happy they were with the underwear they’d made.”

Mike (Nebraska, 1st-time volunteer) – “The sewing is a valuable skill. Today Becky and Diane gave the maid in our condo one of the little cloth bags Becky makes with some little gifts inside. She said ‘I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. I wish women here knew how to make them.’”

Sandy – “All your different skills have been so helpful. I was so impressed with how gracious everyone has been with the work assignments. Some things were more difficult than others and we got dirty, but everyone just did what needed to be done,”

Byron (Texas; FOC leadership group) – “Look at what we’ve accomplished with 35 people. Just think of what we could do with 10 more—or even double that amount. There’s lots to do here.”

And there is so much more to do. That’s why we’re planning more mission work between the last week of July and the first week of August. You’re invited to join us. – Phyllis (Nebraska, FOC leadership group)

Let your life speak. ~ Quaker saying

Who’s the “giver” and who’s the “receiver”? Think about it…Feb. 8, 2012

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We just finished an amazing week of volunteer efforts on the island here. Some interesting facts…

  1. We had a total of 35 fulltime and parttime volunteers – that’s a lot of people!
  2. Of those, 16 were “first timers” who can now consider themselves “veterans.”
  3. We impacted approximately 1,000 people on the island in that time (more on that in another blog)

One of the first timers, Roger Hoy, made the comment as we were returning back to town from installing a water collection system for Jose’s family “You know…regardless of the kind of day you’re having, you just can’t help but be happy when you leave that family.” Now, this comment wasn’t reflecting the warm feeling you have after you do a good deed. Roger was pointing out that every member of this family seems to have a smile on their face whenever you go out there. The children run out to greet you, anxious to engage and offer their assistance as “project apprentices” and the adults are forever grateful for our efforts. I have yet to have anyone go out to this home for the first time and not leave with the same impact, saying “these people have next to nothing and yet they all seem so happy!”

We talked about this at length last evening after our closing dinner. You quickly find yourself questioning why we place so much importance on material things. It’s so easy to get caught up in the cycle of having to own the latest iPad, a newer car, nice clothes, personal items…..yet most of these things are truly not necessary and they certainly don’t guarantee happiness.

Yes, Jose’s family is forever grateful for the things we’ve done for them and they tell us they can never repay for what we’ve provided. But the truth is that every person who leaves their home rethinking what happiness really means has received a gift far greater than what they’ve given. Yes, the “receivers” ultimately became the “givers.” It really does come back ten-fold when you give to others. What are you going to do for someone else today?
– Larry Pedersen

Tammy’s Perspective…Feb. 7. 2012

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Tammy (second from left) and Kristin helped students with English language skills at ICAT, a school in Cozumel for adult learners.

Having spent our time here trying to understand words and short phrases of Spanish to communicate, it was fun speaking English to ICAT students trying to learn our language. Everyone had different specific reasons for why they are learning English. Some worked at resorts and others were learning in order to get a better job. All the reasons amounted to them wanting a better way of life. 

At the end of the lesson, I was surprised that they were begging us to come back and talk with them. That same day we spoke with a taxi driver whose younger brother was riding along to learn the business. He talked to us and even took the long way so he could practice his English. We are finding that everywhere we go, people are so eager to talk and learn our language. It is so rewarding and fun at the same time.

We’ve had several other projects in the works. The concert our group helped with was a huge success. Several bands played including our very own Amigos de Cristos. There was a great sense of community as people gathered at the Parque de la Concha to listen.

At the concert it wasn’t about the lighting and stage props. It was about sharing their message and talent with the community. The concert started a bit late (like most things here) and the order of performance was not quite set, but each performance touched me. The drama that the youth performed to a song moved me to tears. It was so good to see so many young people included in the concert. The children ran around the park wearing glow bracelets and playing and singing along to the music.

Caretakers Carlos, Lupe and one of their sons, Jose, are pleased to have a newly painted bathroom with a new shower curtain and rod.

The renovation at Casita del Corazon is moving along nicely. The paint and woodwork are really making the place look amazing. Roger volunteered to hang two new ceiling fans in the caretakers’ room. Well, I guess he didn’t technically volunteer but his talent is greatly appreciated. Bright colors are being applied to furniture pieces to brighten up the place and the fabric being used on the curtains is going to bring the rooms together. I’m really excited to see it all done.

The caretakers’ home was painted first so the family could move in from the main house that we needed to work on. The bathroom needed plumbing and repairs but the family moved in a couple days ago. In the main house I used white paint for the trim and tight corners around the cabinets while the others rolled the ceilings and walls. I felt like I’d done 10,000,000 squats. Then I moved on to bright colors—a hot pink book shelf, two orange tables and a lime green cabinet. I’m glad I wore a lime green shirt that day. We’ll put on the second coat and probably a third coat today.

Carlitos, one of the caretakers’ sons, is right by our side as we paint. He picked up “see ya” in English and he comes up to us and says “see ya” and runs away then comes back again as a game while we paint. I’m going to miss him so much when we complete our work. ~ Tammy

Tammy paints a cabinet for the Casita del Corazon.

Tammy made friends with Carlitos, one of the caretakers' sons at the Casita del Corazon.

It’s All About Potential…Feb. 7, 2012

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“Most people see what is, and never see what can be.”  — Albert Einstein

The main house at the Casita del Corazon has big, airy rooms that will be a great environment for children once the renovation is done.

The Casita del Corazon is a metaphor of its own mission. As we work to renovate a property that once needed much more care than was available, it’s changing. The potential beneath the surface is beginning to show–just as we hope will happen for children who will come here for therapy.

Repairs are progressing. Painting continues. It’s beginning to feel like a hopeful place. Thanks to all the volunteers–local therapists who will have a beautiful new place to work, families who will use the services and our Friends of Cozumel workers, too.

Serious painting calls for just the right headwear.

“What a wonderful group of people we have with us this trip,” said Larry. We were a little nervous about having as many as 20-25 people working there at the same time, but everyone is getting so much accomplished as they quietly form into groups to tackle tasks. Carrie (of Carrie’s Heart) is really going to be surprised when she sees her house that she’s going to open for children.”

Bright colors are being used to help stimulate the senses of children's in therapy.

Sandy takes a hit- from painting, not a bird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us. — Wilma Rudolph

Aimee freshens the bathroom with a new coat of paint.

 

Learning to Fish—for Underwear…Feb. 6, 2012

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“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” ~ Chinese Proverb

Underwear can be a big deal, especially if you don’t have any. They’re on the must-have list of supplies and uniforms needed for children to attend school. But Becky from Nebraska came up with a solution for families in Cozumel who simply can’t afford to purchase underwear: make them yourself.

“I started making underwear for my own kids more than 40 years ago,” Becky said. “I’ve taken underwear to Bolivia, Honduras, and also sent some to Africa. I had extra fabric and I thought I could put it to use to help people in Cozumel.”

Becky and Mike taught sewing classes at NUAFA.

So she made a couple dozen pairs of children’s underwear at home last year and sent them to the island with another mission volunteer. Then she learned about the sewing workshops for women at NUAFA (Nucleo de Apoya Familiar – or Heart of Family Support) supported by Friends of Cozumel. What a perfect opportunity to adopt the model from the Chinese proverb about teaching a man to fish. It was time for Becky to do some teaching in Cozumel.

Becky teamed up with her husband Mike to hold special sewing classes at NUAFA on making children’s underwear. Becky used her sewing skills while Mike was her Spanish translator.

“I left Honduras at age 17, so I was worried I wouldn’t be able to translate well,” said Mike. “I prayed for some intervention and when I worked with the sewing class, it turned out well. We taught them how to trace the patterns, how to cut the fabric and how to sew it together. The women were so happy they gave Becky a hug.”

Learning to sew on stretch fabric can be a challenge.

Becky and Mike brought nearly 15 yards of fabric and 300 yards of elastic as well as master patterns and paper to Cozumel. They anticipated working with five or six women, but were surprised when the class attracted more people.

“I was overwhelmed,” Becky said. “They just kept coming.”

Twenty-two women came to the class along with their regular instructor. Becky and Mike trained the teacher, then helped each individual with their underwear projects. The women were amazed that a man would step outside of the cultural norms to help with this project, but took it in stride.

“They all did a good job and were really happy,” she said. “They were so proud.  When the first one finished her underwear, she held it up and everyone clapped. I was really pleased.”

Becky also put her sewing skills to work for other Friends of Cozumel projects such as banners and

an alter cloth for Vida Abundante church, and a cushion for a special chair for a disabled child.

“You never know how your individual talents can be put to work to make a significant impact on people’s lives,” said Ilene, one of our organizational leaders. “But if you offer them, we’ll find a way. Kudos to Mike, Becky and all the others who are making this mission week a success.”

— Phyllis

The women are proud to show off the results of their new sewing skills.

The new banner and altar cloth were used in Vida Abundante's church service where Larry, Gary, Jay and Julie provided music for services Sunday morning.

Women in the NUAFA sewing class were thrilled to learn how to make underwear for their children.

Becky also created a banner and an alter cloth for Vida Abundante church.

 

Making Water Accessible…Feb. 6, 2012

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This is the well used by Jose's family before our project began.



It’s funny how many things we tend to take for granted – like running water for instance! Jose’s family has a well located about 20 feet from the house. When there is water in the well (it often runs dry) they use a rope to lower a five gallon bucket, fill it with water, then pull it up by hand and carry it to wherever they need it for laundry, bathing and cooking. Keep in mind that five gallons of water weighs a little more than 40 pounds. That’s a fair amount of weight to pull up with a rope, especially for Antonia, a 60 year old grandmother.

One of the projects on our list this for this mission week was to devise a way to make this water more accessible. This project was assigned to Roger, our engineer, who accepted it with enthusiasm.

Roger created a plan to help Jose's family improve their access to water.

Roger became determined to find the best ways to bring water up from the well. A hand pump similar to one you might find on a typical farm years ago seemed to be the best answer. After measuring the depth of the well and obtaining the appropriate length of pipe, fittings and fasteners, we attached the pump to 15 feet of pipe and mounted the pump at the top of the well.

Antonia is pleased with the new pump.

The family was extremely excited at the thought of getting water more easily. Antonia immediately asked other family members to retrieve some of the ripe coconuts growing on their trees. Minutes later, we were enjoying fresh coconut water straight from the shell as a thank you from the family.

The next project to be done is to devise a method to capture rainwater off the rooftops to provide a second source of water to be used by this family. — Larry

Julie and Roger enjoy the "fruits of their labor."

Everyone Loves Music…Feb. 5, 2012

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“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” ~ Billy Joel


Be careful what you wish for—and to whom you mention that wish.

Sometime last year some musicians in our group said “Wouldn’t it be cool to do a Christian music concert in Cozumel?” It was mentioned to Pastor Mariela of the Vida Abudante church and voilà, allí es, there it was. Of course it wasn’t as simple as all that. A lot of work went into making it a reality, but it’s a perfect example of how things work here: someone has an idea, no one has resources, but somehow through cooperation and creative thinking, a solution is found.

Larry, Gary, Jay and Julie of Friends of Cozumel formed a music group they called Amigos de Cristo while Pastor Mariela helped connect them with a local drummer and guitar players. She also recruited other local Christian bands, vocalists, dancers and dramaturgical groups for the concert held the evening of Feb. 4.

About 200 people attended the free contemporary Christian music concert at Parque del la Concha on Feb. 4.

Larry, Gary, Julie and Jay traveled from Iowa and Nebraska to practice together a few times, but they didn’t meet their rhythm section until a practice here in Cozumel just before the concert.

“My Spanish just isn’t very good, but we all understood each other—mas o menos (more or less),” said Gary. “They’re great local musicians, so once we got going, language just didn’t matter.”

The sky was overcast the day of the concert with threatening black clouds in sight just before the time to start. I got a text from a friend in Cancun who reported that it was raining gatos and perros (cats and dogs) just a few miles from where we were. But there was no backup plan in place, so we hoped Pastor Mariela had spoken to her boss about holding off the rain.

The concert was a great success. About 200 people came to the picturesque venue of the neighborhood plaza. Amigos de Cristo got a warm welcome and did a great job with their songs in both English and Spanish. Near the end of the concert, members of the other groups joined them on stage for a finale piece, “How Great is Our God,” in Spanish. The crowd was on their feet, singing and clapping along.

Amigos de Cristo included Julie, Gary, Larry, Jay as well as local musicians Karina, Alex and Antonio.

“That was a special moment for me because we were all sharing the same message,” said Larry. “Music really is universal.”

Everyone loved the music. And once the crowd had gone home and the equipment was packed away, it began to rain—gatos and perros.

The concert included dance and drama as well as bands and vocalists.

“Music is God’s best gift to man; the only art of heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to heaven” ~ Walter Savage Lander

Leave us your comments below. We’d love to hear from you.–Phyllis

Toothbrushes, Eyeglasses and Smiles All Around…Feb. 4, 2012

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“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.” ~ Native American Proverb

Donated clothing and household items are sold at the Gran Bazar to bring low cost goods to people in need and to raise funds for future Friends of Cozumel projects.

The people who showed up early to the Gran Bazar knew through word of mouth promotion that they’d find affordable used clothing.What they hadn’t anticipated however, was that they’d also have access to free dental care and eyeglasses. Long lines formed around Dr. Julie, a Nebraska professor of dentistry, who was giving free fluoride treatments. One of her helpers was a young local volunteer who hopes to go to the U.S. for college some day and perhaps pursue a career in health care.

Dr. Julie shows children how to open their mouths for fluoride treatments.

Dr. Julie shows children how to open their mouths for fluoride treatments.

“One of my high points in this experience so far was watching Nuri help with the treatments,” Dr. Julie said. “It was so cool to see this young woman work and know that she could be the next person to carry on here if she’s able to pursue her education plans.”

Crowds also formed around volunteers testing vision and handing out “cheater” eyeglasses. While we take a visit to an optometrist for granted, many people have never had that opportunity.

“Getting a pair of magnifiers and suddenly being able to read the small print of a Bible is a life-changing experience for some of these folks,” said Ilene.

Local volunteer Nuri had to be persistent to paint the fluoride treatment on a baby's teeth.

At times we’ve worried about not having sufficient Spanish to complete some complex processes in the course of our work, but the local people use so much patience and good humor with us.

“Even without a common language, we can say so much,” said Shirley from California. “Just look at their faces. You don’t need words if you really look at their faces.”

Mike helped people select the right strength of reading glasses.

For some, a simple pair of magnifier eye glasses turns into a life-changing experience.

Diane and Mike used a chart with various sizes of print to help people determine which strength of magnifiers was needed.

Aimee showed teeth-brushing methods to children with a model.

Shirley found no problem communicating at the Gran Bazar.

Getting a new toothbrush all their own was a special treat for many children.


 

“We never get to the bottom of ourselves on our own. We discover who we are face to face and side by side with others in work, love and learning.” ~ Robert Bellah, American sociologist and author of Habits of the Heart

Therapy House Renovation Progresses…Feb. 3, 2012

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The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do. ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach


With just a little rain to slow us down, we’re making progress on Casita del Corazon, a place where families with children who have disabilities will be able to find therapy, education and respite.

Thanks to Shirley and Byron for time in awkward positions painting the insides of kitchen cupboards and fixing plumbing. Byron swears we only take photos of him when he's under a sink.

 

Byron and Steve work on refinishing a door at Casita del Corazon. The glass was donated by Lucy at a local store. Our local supporters are very generous.

After two hard days of scraping off old tar, Gary and Ray finish sealing the roof on Casita del Corazon. The roof has been leaking badly, preventing interior repairs.

Ray leads a crew of hardy volunteers who have spent several days working on the roof.

Brush and garbage from around the house fill dozens of trash bags waiting to be hauled away.

The courtyard has been cleared of debris and now serves as a great outdoor work space.

After dozens of volunteer hours of scraping the walls, painting has begun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger says he's gotten sort of attached to the roof he's been working on for three days. Or is he just stuck to the tar?

Making Small Differences…Feb. 2, 2012

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“I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people convinced that they are about to change the world, I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference after another.”
~ Ellen Goodman


I found a great website with quotes about volunteering. It’s full of “wish I’d said that” kind of ideas from both classic and contemporary philosophers. Even the Lorax from Dr. Seuss, made the list: “Unless someone like you cares a whole, awful lot, things aren’t going to get better, they’re NOT!”

We worked hard today to make small differences. We began with devotions led by Larry who acknowledged that some in our group represent churches while others don’t. Our common thread seems to be simply caring a lot, as the Lorax says.

We first launched into renovation at the Casita del Corazon, a cooperative project with Carrie’s Heart, a Texas-based nonprofit. The goal is to create a home-like environment for families needing a place for therapy for children with disabilities. The house had been abandoned and is in serious disrepair, but before painting we needed to scrape and repair the walls.

By turning paint scraping into a competition, the hours melted away faster than our energy.

Byron and Ilene are part of the leadership of Friends of Cozumel, but still love the chance to get their hands dirty.

Local volunteers as well as families who will use the therapy house put sweat equity into the project.

Phyllis scrapes walls in the kitchen area.

 

 

 

 


Thoughts from a 1st Time Volunteer…Feb. 2, 2012

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Tammy (left) and Shirley (right) make friends at the Gran Bazar.

Woke up this morning and realized that it was Groundhog’s Day. Looked up the news on my iPad and checked the weather and heard Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so I guess that means six more weeks of winter. Then I realized where I was. Who cares? I’m in Cozumel, Mexico and will be for at least one of those six weeks. With that said, today started off great. Coffee at Karen and Larry’s house with morning devotions and sharing about what our special talents were. I believe bacon was brought up. I guess eating bacon could be a talent. A very good one at that. Great, now I want bacon.

Renovation of a therapy center was first on the agenda. It was so great when Carlos (a child with disabilities) greeted us at the door. Right away paint brushes, rollers and scrapping of the roof began. In record time first coat was on ceilings and walls. The roof posed a bit of a greater challenge but good progress was made.

Tar was scraped off a leaking roof on an abandoned property that will be turned into a therapy center for children with disabilities.

April served us an amazing lunch and we all got fueled up for the big bazar where we sold clothing to raise money for our projects. Wow, I didn’t know quite what to expect but it was nothing less than amazing. Karen has this organized down to a T. It seems like hundreds of people came through the gates. It was great to see so many people buying stuff by the arm full. The children were entertained with silly bands and stickers while the parents shopped.

The Gran Bazar helps raise money for Friends of Cozumel projects--and provide a lot of affordable clothing to families.

After a quick shower and power outage, everyone gathered for dinner sharing stories about the success and progress of projects of the day. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I think it’s going to be tough to top today.

—Tammy, a first-time volunteer from North Carolina

Kristin and Tammy (top center) helped entertain children at the Gran Bazar while their parents shopped.

Mission Week Volunteers Use Skills of All Types…Feb. 1, 2012

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“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross lies your calling.”      ~ Aristotle

Our mission week has begun. Old friends greeted new friends and returning volunteers oriented first timers. The group felt like a team from the first meeting and it was clear that this is a good-humored bunch.

First timer, Tammy from North Carolina, was recruited by her friend Kristin who is a returning volunteer. “She asked if I wanted to go to Mexico and I thought ‘Sure, why not?’ It’ll be great—the weather, the diving—and then she said to bring along a pair of work gloves.”

Back: April, Gary, Byron, Ray, Jason, Roger, Jay. Middle: Kristin, Aimee, Larry, Mike, Karen, Ilene, Sandy, Phyllis. Front: Tammy, Becky, Shirley, Diane, Julie.

Asked if she had any fears about coming on the trip, Diane from Nebraska said “Absolutely. Lots of them. But after our fellowship time (code for Happy Hour), they went away.”

As we discussed the upcoming projects we learned about a wide variety of skills in our group. Roger has an engineering background; Mike, Shirley, Karen and Larry speak Spanish; Jay is a woodworker; Julie is a dentist; Becky is a seamstress; Kristin, Tammy and Ilene motivate and add energy; Byron, Ray, Jason and Gary can fix just about anything, April is wizard in the kitchen, and get out of the way when Sandy has a power tool. It’s great that Aimee is an experienced surgical nurse, but we hope not to use that particular skill.

But what about someone like Diane? She wondered how her special skills in knitting could possibly contribute to families who struggle to simply feed their children.

Diane (left) used her knitting skills to share some happiness with Antonia (right).

The answer was evident on the face on Antonia, a grandmother who helps care for more than a dozen family members. Her meager resources go to caring for the children. She never dreamed that someone would take the time to knit her a beautiful shawl to keep her warm during the damp and chilly winter months. “She was so happy,” Diane said. “She gave me a hug.”

It’s easy to see where many of our skills will be used. But perhaps the most gratifying results will come in finding unexpected ways to share those talents just waiting for an opportunity to touch someone’s life.

“Your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.” ~ Victim of the October 1998 Texas flood in reference to the volunteers helping to restore her home

We hope you’ll add your comments below. We’d love to hear from you. — Phyllis

Volunteers arriving for Mission Week…Jan. 30, 2012

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“Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing.”     ~ Quincy Jones


That’s what we hope to do during the Friends of Cozumel’s Mission Week. Twenty people will soon join other resident volunteers on Mexico’s largest Caribbean island at the tip of the Yucatan peninsula. It’s a beautiful setting known for its clear blue water and white sand beaches. Beyond the tourist zone, many families struggle to meet the basic needs and food, shelter and education for their children. Our mission is to share a little of what we’re each good at doing to help families in need.

The group includes volunteers coming from Nebraska, Iowa, South Carolina, Texas and California. Some have already arrived while others are still packing.

Kristin from South Carolina and Larry from Iowa are both good-natured, repeat volunteers. Kristin says she’ll be sure to pack her watch to time Larry who has frequently been heard to say “This project will only take 20 minutes.” Kristin learned during her 2010 experience that everything takes more time to accomplish in this environment than expected. It takes longer to find the right kind of paint (who knows how to say ‘magnetic latex primer’ in Spanish?), longer for the paint to dry in the humidity, and longer to deal with the mess without the arsenal of cleaning products we’d use back home. Those of us with control issues (you know who you are) will have to adopt a mantra of “it’s close enough.”

Nebraskans Roger, Mike, Diane and Becky have already arrived. This group packed what could only be described as a small mountain of gifts–from school supplies to hand-made children’s underwear and tools for some of our building projects. “I brought a cast iron hand operated water pump with me,” Roger said. These long-time donors, but first-time volunteers did a masterful job of getting through customs with all kinds of strange, but legal things. Spanish word of the day: increíble (in-cray-E-blay). That means incredible.

Aimee and Jason from Iowa are coming to Cozumel for the first time, but already plan to get to know the local community and experience the culture. “We try to stay locally, to eat locally, to be a courteous guest rather than a rude tourist,” Aimee said. They’re packing mask and fins and looking forward to getting some underwater time as certified divers.

Gary, Julie and Jay from Nebraska are packing sheet music, microphone cables and various adaptors for the borrowed equipment they’ll be using for a Christian music concert. Stay tuned to learn how they fare when they join local musicians they’ve never performed with before.

And I’m packing promotional materials for the concert, just hoping the Spanish on my banner and fliers is correct. Or at least not too offensive.

We’ll all do our best to share our individual talents. And then we’ll share our experiences with you through daily blogs. It’s the next best thing to being there, so join us by asking questions, making suggestions, and inspiring us with your comments. Our work officially begins Feb. 1, so check back here for updates. –Phyllis from Nebraska

Two Cultures, Two Languages Celebrating Faith . . . Jan. 23, 2012

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Women of Vida Abundante, a local congregation here on the island led by Pastor Mariela Cruz Laynez, celebrated Christ’s love with 17 members of SAIL on Friday, January 20. SAIL is a bible study cruise group of women from various states in the US.

Differences in culture, language or religious affiliation do not hinder the celebration of incredible faith among these women! Pastor Mariela shared an inspirational message about the role and strength of women. She highlighted Vida Abundante’s key challenge for 2012 . . . to acquire land to construct a worship center over time. A number of SAIL participants and others have donated funds to match contributions from families in the congregation to make the first of two payments for the land.

Highlights of the joint celebration included a liturgical dance performance by the team of young women pictured in the front row of the photo, communion referred to here as “Santa Cena”, prayer and SAIL singing “Bind us together Lord, Bind us together; O bind us together with love . . .” What an uplifting experience!

SAIL’s day-long visit to Cozumel also included hosting a fiesta with daycare children at NUAFA, a tour of KaoKao Chocolates, and lunch at Cameron Dorado where the owners thanked SAIL for their mission efforts to benefit Cozumel children and families. SAIL works hand in hand with Friends of Cozumel volunteers. Our projects focus on quality childcare and children with disabilities; famlies in need, education/learning opportunities, and ministry. Our goal is to help families and organizations become self-sufficient.

SAIL’s visit is a GREAT lead-in to 2012 mission efforts. Mission volunteers begin arriving on the island tomorrow to prepare for our Friends of Cozumel sponsored Mission Week February 1-8.

Cozumel Celebrates Philanthropy Day . . . November 15, 2011

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Here’s a translated message from Dr. Oscar Frausto Martínez, Coordinator of the Council of Non-Profit Organizations in Cozumel . . .

Today we celebrate the Day of Philanthropy, each from our own vantage point doing our bit to improve the quality of life for all those who populate this beautiful island of Cozumel. We have to thank many people who support us with their donations, whether monetary, in-kind or the strength of their hands and hearts, but we must also recognize and realize that we have many tasks and challenges ahead.

To each of the non-profit organization leaders, volunteers, staff and advisory board members, I send a big hug on behalf of the Board of the Council of Civil Society Organizations of Cozumel.

Celebrate the Day of Philanthropy with the best you can do: helping someone else!

Adding our appreciation to Oscar’s message . . . THANKS to our Friends of Cozumel volunteers and donors who provide tremendous support in so many different ways! Together we’re promoting volunteerism, developing local leadership skills, supporting education and learning opportunities so people learn to help themselves as well as benefitting individuals, families and organizations that need assistance.

Making a difference . . . one family at a time – October 2011

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This time of year during “low” season for tourism many families are without work. They struggle to put food on the table and are masters at stretching what limited food they have. Not long ago I visited local friends, a couple who are like grandparents to us yet they are just a few years older. Life is physically more demanding here and the harsh sun/heat takes a toll. The wife of the couple was making their “big” meal of the day . . . boiling water with a cut up radish, onion, cilantro and a small bit of chicken skin for flavor. That’s all they had until next payday, a week later. Yet they felt blessed to have what they did.

We work with many single parent families supporting several children on the minimum wage of ~$7USD per day as well as extended families who may have only one person employed supporting 8-12 children and adults.

Visitors often ask “How can I help?” See the idea below shared by Cindy Trautwein, an island resident with a HUGE heart. Cindy is involved in a number of ministry efforts as well as being a Friends of Cozumel volunteer who helps support families in need. ~~Karen

Allow me to introduce you to an effective way to share your compassion with a family living in Cozumel. They are called despensas, a simple box of food put together by the MEGA store you can order from the Customer Service desk and they will prepare it within a day. Each despensa or box is packed with basic food to support a family of 4 for a week. The store packs the supplies with an itemized list ready for you to pick up for only $20 USD.

Rather than taking a friend out to dinner when you have made acquaintances on Cozumel or if you would like to share some of your resources with others, consider ordering a despensa from the MEGA store and giving a gift to benefit an entire family. The box contains essential items such as rice, beans, tuna, powdered milk, cereal, oatmeal, sugar, salt, oil, masa for making tortillas, pasta, cookies, drink mix, toothpaste and soap.

Families generally aren’t blessed to shop for a week’s supply of groceries, but rather buy as they have cash. You can make a difference with one simple, effective way to impact a family here in Cozumel. If you’d like to help in this way and need assistance identifying families in need or prefer we deliver despensas to families with the greatest need, please contact us via email: Karen@friendsofcozumel.com or post on the Friends of Cozumel Facebook page. We’re glad to help you make a difference!~~Cindy

Donations Send 125 Children to School–September, 2011

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Picture this: Big smiles and excited chatter while dozens of kids stood in an orderly line in extreme heat and humidity. What were they waiting for? Ice-cream, perhaps? No, they waited for notebooks, pens and pencils, protractors and the other things that would make it possible to attend school.

Friends of Cozumel volunteers recently sorted a mountain of donated supplies children must have in order to go to school. Fully stocked backpacks were distributed in August to children ready to attend kinder through prepa–the equivalent of elementary through high school.

While I swatted mosquitos and dabbed at the sweat running down my face, the soon-to-be students proudly accepted a backpack and pledged to study hard. They were clearly thrilled to receive our gifts.


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Even though many families value education, some can’t afford to send their children to school–or they must choose one child among many to attend. In addition to school supplies, children must also have uniforms, shoes, socks and underwear.

(photo left) Volunteer LaFonda traveled from Texas with friends to spend her August vacation helping out. As she helped clean children’s feet so they could try on donated shoes, she said “It’s such a blessing to be part of this. I don’t know who’s happier–the kids or me.”

FOC helped 125 children this year with a goal of 150 for next year. Volunteers have done a great job of gathering some of the needed supplies during back-to-school sales in the U.S., but we’re still seeking donations of backpacks, children’s and young adult’s athletic shoes, scientific calculators, and Spanish/English dictionaries. They’re simple things but they have the power to bring huge smiles–and send a child to school. ~~ Phyllis

School Supply Assistance by AIB College of Business – August, 2011

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OK – so it was a really long time ago (35+ years) that I went to school at the AIB College of Business for my accounting degree. Throughout the years, I’ve maintained contact with various members of the faculty, attending retirement parties and other activities. Last spring, I was visiting with Reonna Snyder, Alumni Director, about Friends of Cozumel and the types of activities we support. When I mentioned the school supply project, Reonna was quick to introduce me to Rita McClain, sponsor of a student organization – FTP (Future Travel Professionals).

The mission of FTP is to develop a better understanding of the travel and hospitality industry through networking, guest speakers, and having fun; while together becoming more involved in the organization and our community, gaining experience, responsibility, and leadership skills that will spark enthusiasm for our future careers and lives.

Rita was excited to offer her student group as participants to help gather school supplies this fall (we’re buying now for the 2012 school year). As the fall quarter had not yet begun and the number of available students was limited. Those that could, headed to Target with Rita and Reonna after receiving their “shopping list” from me. “We never knew doing something like this could be so much fun and feel so rewarding”, one of the students said. I was more than pleased to stop at Reonna’s office last week to pick up over 150 items that they had purchased for us.

It is a distinct possibilty that this group of Future Travel Professionals may schedule a visit to Cozumel at some point in the future as they experience popular destination spots. If they do, it is our hope that we can put them to work! – Larry



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LEFT PHOTO: Reonna Snyder (Alumni Director), Sara Bush, Austin Benge, and Alec Rushford
MIDDLE PHOTO: Headed to check out!
RIGHT PHOTO: Rita McClain (Sponsor), Austin Benge, Sarah Bush, and Alec Rushford

Families Helping Families Across the Borders — August 2011

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The power of families reaching out to help other families has an incredible impact in supporting children in Mexico to continue their education. We just finished distributing school supplies to 125 children (Kindergarten – University) from families with limited resources in addition to the CAM School for 100 students with special needs/disabilities.

For me this is one of the most personally rewarding volunteer efforts we do throughout the year. Seeing children’s smiles and their excitement in carefully unpacking and repacking their supplies is priceless. And the parents are soooo appreciative knowing their children have the opportunity to continue on in school another year . . . it is a privilege, not taken for granted!

THANKS to the many families, educators and organizations who are passionate about helping kids . . . your donations make the School Supply Project possible!



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Creekside Montessori students from Vernon, BC; Canada and their families collected over 60 pounds of school supply donations to send to Cozumel in March 2011 with Valerie Brousseau, Creekside Director. Valerie visited NUAFA daycare and plans to return this coming March bringing Spanish learning materials.

John Wilson and his family are passionate about providing learning opportunities for youth. John, a school administrator, and his wife, also an educator, are frequent Cozumel visitors. They provided significant donations of specialty items including a supply scientific calculators needed by middle and high school math students. The Wilsons brought school supplies to Cozumel in March and July in addition to recruiting friends coming via cruiseship to bring supplies.

Transporting donations to the island is one of our greatest challenges. We really appreciate it when cruisers, like Darla Gatte’s family who came in April, are able to drop off a bag of donations to be received by one of our resident volunteers.

Gracias to the Stolle family from Plano, TX who combined community service with their family vacation in July. Lyndall Stolle, an Advanced Placement English Teacher, contacted Friends of Cozumel to identify donation and volunteer needs. The entire family, including dad Mark, supported the effort by gathering items and being donation “sherpas”. Lyndall and the girls, Catherine and Caroline, volunteered a couple of hours one morning to preassemble paper packets for 125 backpacks. Afterwards they briefly visited a school property being renovated during summer break . . . what an eye opener to learn about local schools and some of the challenges teachers, administrators and families here face.

Check back for photos of local children benefitting from the School Supply Project ~ Karen