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Show page A6 Tuesday, August 1 6, Davis County Clipper 1996 XALIBE possess continued from front the goal of the group was to help In addition to the medical work, build potable water storage tanks. turned away. Much to our urpirxe. she started crying. They rushed back, picked her up and began ottering the baby colotful toys, which alter a few minutes she began to reach tor. What a thnll it was tor us to see this beautiful little child progress so quickly with such a Ittle bit of stimulation. The next day the grandmother left with the baby and toys. Karol said. The grandmother came from the primitive village of Xalibe which was a grueling two-hohike up the steep mountainside from Senahu' and the final destination ot the expedition Xalibe is the home of the Q'eqchi descendants of the Mayans. Few own land. The people are impoverished villagers winking on coopeiative farms in the aiea. Here doctors performed operations and dentists extracted teeth by the light of a flashlight. Kent Wood, a dentist from California said he didn't expect to see such a great need We woiked from 8 a m. to 7 p m and the people ust waited and waited One ot the highlights ot the trip was when we entered the village and the childi en ran out to greet us with the innocence and love that onlv childien When they reached the village, they found the water supply consisted of a network of bamboo coming down the mountain which acted as a conduit for rainfall. The villagers would stand in line for hours to fill their water jugs from one small stieam which ran onto the ground at other times. Osborn said it worked OK during the rainy season, but at other times collecting task for the water could be an y v lllagers w hen the w ater dried up to a trickle. The CHOICE volunteers helped construct a tank which worked much like a large canteen. Instead of the surplus water running onto the ground, it is now collected in the tank which was outfitted with spiggots. It seemed like such a simple thing but it made a huge difference to the people." Osborn said. The superstitions of the villagers prevent them from getting even the most critical health care. Osborn said many of them sutler from cataracts which, if they had the courage to leav e their v lllage. could be removed e Their woild consists of a radius. They aie afraid to walk down the mountain to the next village. The Peace Corps volunteer Paul Koenig told me he'd offered to take them, but two-nnl- they are afraid." Eating three meals a day was an embaiassment for Osborn. We tiied to eat our evening meal late at night so the children wouldn't see us. We felt strange eating meals when we knew they might have had only com all day. Americans live to eat, there they eat to live. In spite of their fears and their poverty, the people are happy. They live like one big family. Here we teach our children to be independent. There when a child gets married a lean-t- o is added to the shack for her family, Osborn said. Koenig agreed. I've never seen a family dispute. The kids raise each other. The family unit is ust incredible. The CHOICE group left the Q'eqchi's with some brighter smiles, some medical problems solved and a better water system, but they took with them much more than they left. We could learn many lessons trom these people. They are very proud and very happy with very little. said Osborn w ho hopes to return to help again. The goal of CHOICE is not to Americanize the villagers, NOW WELL GIVE YOU A SHOT: CHOICE Member Dr. Lee Dixon talks with children from the Guatemalen village of Xalibe before he examines them. They seem to be enjoying it. The children never cried, except in pain, even if they had to wait for hours. but to help them improve their hfesty le in their culture. If we can gain their confindence, we can educate them about ways to save their lives. hope we don't mess them up. ITS A SMALL WORLD: The pho tographer was surprised to meet Eldei Joseph Marchant of Centerville NEVER MISS THE WATER TILL THE WELL GOES DRY: CHOICE volunteers helped locals build a reservoir for water. Before it was constructed the natives had waited in line to fill their vessels at the only spout in the village, below Sticks and stones: Villagers still act as beasts of burden while transporting their goods POLICIA?: Photographer Ron Osborn poses with "bellmen" at the Guatamala Hotel Insurrection by government dissidents led to the bellmen being armed with sawed-of- f shotguns. Photos by Ron Osborn THERE, THERE, ITS OK! A grandmother in Xalibe cuddles her granddaughter. The grandmother gave birth to twins, the same day her daugher gave birth to the girl, but the daughter then died. The grandmother had problems taking care of all three children. SEE THE PRETTY COLORED RINGS: Fruit Heights resident and CHOICE member old Guatemalen girl, who was underfed to the Ned Giles plays with a amazed at the small amount of stimuli it took The was of starvation group point to garner a response from the toddler IDAlDWAy IDUnUHM SEOTMO BW? DANCE ACADEMY mgr VflDWJ BETTES Daily to: FEATURES SMALL CLASSES INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION EMPHASIS ON TECHNIQUE POSITIVE, V TAUGHT ENCOURAGING ATMOSPHERE BY A PROFESSIONAL DANCER INSTRUCTOR DIANNE LOWE WAMPLER Christopher's Seafood & Steakhouse Limited Dinner Offer 8." , METROPOLITAN PALLET CO OPENING ACT FOE SEALE (f CSOFTS, POINTER SISTERS, BING CROSBT. APPEASED IN SICK SPRINGFIELD VIDEO, CHOREOGRAPHER FOR "TOVTH OP AMERICA 44-12-30 135 N. 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