2024 Codesh Ministry's Collaboration: Living in Xelaju

 

My life's work is dedicated to helping others. It is why I hope to take my non-profit onto an international platform. Peace in Palestine is one of my greatest dreams, and I hope to one day be a volunteer on the ground that helps the people of Palestine when they rebuild after this horrible war.

This year's charity project has been epic, to say the least. I learned a lot. It was difficult being able to coordinate with n unplanned group of that size, however, where there is a will, there is a way. 

Our first step was going to be cleaning the trails of Santa Maria Volcano. Unfortanely, due to the rainy season, we could not collect plasti  bottles from the mountain trail, with the scouts troop of San Augustin, Quetzaltenango. Like I said, where there is a will, there is a way.

I collected bottles from around my apartment in Xela, Quetzaltenango, and when I visit my grandmother, luckily and by chance, this beautiful woman had so many plastic bottles that she was going to throw out, because her doctor suggested that she start drinking electrolyte water, which unfortunately does come in plastic bottles. 

I had a decent sized bag, and after cleaning each one of them individually, I was ready to recieve the group of volunteers in Guatemala City, but, the rain had washed out some of the roads, so I had to depend completely on Codesh Ministries to send a shuttle and pick up the two groups of volunteers! 

When everyone arrived in Xela, I felt a sort of cold distance coming from the volunteers. A form of shunning, to say the least. I was bullied as a child, and I don't do very well with conflict, this is why, as  volunteer director and projects coordinator, I must learn how to communicate and handle situtations with the best for everyone in mind. I am personally a very nondiscriminate and selfless person, but we all have our tendencies to think for ourselves first, and mine was in specific not wanting to feel as if I had failed the group. The issue ended up being personal beliefs about really what became verbally shared as a prejudice against my skin color. I had scheduled the group of volunteers to arrive on June the 19th, as flight tickets on that day were at a reasonably low cost of $75. A group of the volunteers insisted on leaving the day after, as one of them had a job obligation. I felt that our group would have the opporunity to build a relaiton, like friends, as the original volunteer I had invited to do the music workshop for the children of the Codesh Ministry's TOUCH Camp, for the visually impaired, was my primary choice, but had requested to invite a group along with thenm. As an all-inclusive organization, I embraced this, and even now, I do not regret that, as it was a beautiful experience that was shared with the children, the ministry, as well as, I hope to believe, the volunteers sourced from the U.S.A. I had fundraised the weeks before, and only reached a goal of $400. Having added up the additional costs of differently scheduled flights and a larger number of volunteers, I found that that amount evenly divided up into $75 per person, which was perfect for the original flight schedule. It was communicated that I pay the full amount of the additional flight arrival costs as soon as possible, which after little to no communication from the group, seemed a bit demanding. I realized that the focus was not necessarily on the kid's camp until we all arrived. It was an unforunate and uncomfortable experience, personally, as  I truly had only the best intentions, but comically enough, as my brother says, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I was told upon their arrival, with no regard to kindness or mutual respect, that a discussion was meant to be had, and I realized the one member of the group who became quite volatile in their communication and feelings otwards me and my persona, intended for that discussio to happen just minutes before the kid's workshop. I sustained abusive comments from race to personal attacks such as being called a "liar" and a "thief", and unfortunatley, these comments persisted even after the volunteer workshop, on personal messages and in the group Whatsapp chat. As a director, I believe my health and safety must come first, in order to take into consideration the needs of the entire project, and that is still after I am certain that the safety of the group has been met. 

I had communicated my ability to pay for the cost of the original flight schedule before the arrival of the volunteers, but the complication ended up being that the additional costs would not be possible unless it came out of pcoket. It took me a few days to recover from the treatment from such a large group, and seeing as my personal feelings had been impacted, I meditated for a few days, and decided that I would cover the additional costs, out of pocket, if there was any further communication. I feel that a form of extortion took place, and in the best interests of my orgainzation, I plan on sending the additional costs in the period of the next three months. This is the best way for me to be able to ensure that in the future, I do not make the same mistakes, and of course, that the integrity of my organization is upheld.

It was an incredibly successful workshop, regardless, and we are on the phase 2! Phase two includes a gardener from Texas who is a valued member of our southern coastal texas community. I had dreamed for years of helping this individual managed a project internationally, and finally, I was given that opportunity through Codesh Ministries! He will he helping them further, outside of our orgainzation, with a permaculture project. Our phase two simply consists of donating a raised garden bed with herbs in order to provide a fun and interactive activity for the children with sensory impairments, which in turn provides equal access activities for all of the children in the camp.

Phase 3, is to donate a $1000 to Codesh Ministries in order to help the construction and maintenance of the camp, while they offer scholarships to so many individuals that attend.

Along with this collaboration, I have been working with G-Team Xela and their MMA program! After trianing with Ceja MMA in Houston, I brought her eto Quetzaltenango a form of muy thai known as BANG, where we learn a series of combos and techniques. I will be returning to the United States and helping Jose Ceja out with a women's workshop and kickboxing boot camp! Along with this I plan on raising the money in order to help build the scholarship fund for Codesh Minsitries, thus ending our collaboration with their camp for the year!

A sneak peak? We'll be doing an MMA for the Youth Scholarship fundraiser at G-Team Xela consisting of 3 workshops in the next 12 months with elite mixed martial artists! More on this soon.

A dream of mine while living here in Xela is to house volunteers and instructors, which means making connections with local hotel owners. While I have been doing this, I have also been inspired to buy a hotel of my own! This will be my biggest business venture, yet. My dream is to call it "Camilita's: Casa Meditacion", and it will be the rebuilding and preservation of a local historical building from being turned into a parking lot! I wish to raise the money in order to offer it all up front, a sort of deal that cannot be turned down. Along with this idea, I hope to provide an interfaith space for spiritual enthusiasts from around the world, where meditation, kirtan, and yoga circles can be held. Volunteer opportunities would allow it to function as well, like an ashram!

I love participating in the music scene wherever I am located at the time. This is the host of weekly Karaoke's at Casa Kiwi! I thought the church behind him in the window looking so perfectly like a painting, that I captured this photo without him even knowing. When I showed him, he laughed and said that he was handsome! I totally agree!

I cannot wait to take the covers and originals I have been rehearsing on the ukalele and share them with local live-music venues!

Along with up to four hours a day of mixed martial arts training, I study ashtanga daily with Yoga House near central park! It is a passion of mine, and I am very grateful to study under my friend and yoga instructor Kevin Smith. I have a profound love and respect for my teachers, and I am grateful that Kevin has taken me under his wing in the way he has. 

Peace love and namaste, and keep an eye out for future posts!

Love,

Camila Wilson

Founder and Coordinator of EarthThreads International