(Jim Thurman & Margie Parker at Tikal, December 21st, 2010)

This year’s Unificacion Maya ceremonies were dedicated to Marjorie Parker, who, even though she was unable to attend for health reasons, sent a donation that enabled us to pay the costs associated with bringing in a group of tatas and nanas from all over Guatemala to facilitate the fire ceremonies.

Freckles, the jaguar baby who was a gift from Margie last year, held her place for her at the ceremonies … watching the fire from the altar of Chus …

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From December 15th to 21st, 2011, this incredible team of Tatas and Nanas led daily Sacred Fire Ceremonies at 7 Sacred Mayan Sites in Peten, Guatemala. From left to right: Tata Armando Cruz, Nana Feliciana Cortes, Tata Jose Soc, Nana Maria Luisa, Tata Pedro Caueche, Terry Rubin, Tata Pedro Cruz, Tata Chus Ixim Toj, Nana Marcelina Chen, Tata Marcelino Sacol, Nana Luisa Rothwell, a child of Uaxactun and in front, Tata Mariano.

One of the greatest changes I have seen in the local children since Margo and Alex have been running regular classes in the library, is in their desire to read. When we first opened the library, the children had absolutely no interest in the books and would never have thought to pick one up to read. Now, however, they are at the door when it opens in the afternoon to begin their daily reading session.

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Project Ix-canaan and all the participants in the Ix-canaan programs, wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and the best of the holiday season!!

BIG THANKS to Dra. Aracely Avendaño, the architect who is in charge of the construction of the very first MUSEO DE LA CULTURA MUNDO MAYA, now being built in TAYASAL, Peten, who contacted us to pass by her office in Flores, so she could present us with a new computer for the Ix-canaan Computer Center. It will be put right to use with the large classes of students who use the computer facilities.

The project is complete! Well, not quite complete, as the community will continue to tend and mend the tree as it is needed. The Women’s Group will be making more flowers to fill out the branches better … and the students of the N.U.F.E.D. School will teach future students how to make new flowers to replace any that are blown away or damaged.

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The last but not least part of the new village Tree of Life was to add the roots.

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As the volunteers from the community were making flowers, the One Love Generation Team began to place them on the tree. The trunk was wrapped in small mesh chicken wire and the base of the “flowers” (which would be the opening of the bottle) popped perfectly into the holes.

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