Since it opened five days a week earlier this year, Xela Aid's June Russel-Glennon Clinic has served more than a thousand people in the San Martín area. Topping the list of ailments treated have been parasites and bacterial infections, especially in the wake of Hurricane Stan which struck last fall. The midwifery practice has been booming. Dozens of babies have been delivered by Nueva Alianza cooperative midwives in homes, and three were born in the clinic in the past several months. In July, Direct Relief International delivered a generous shipment of medicines and equipment for which U.S.-based Xela Aid and our partner organization Asociación Xela Aid (Guatemala) are exceedingly grateful. The clinic has been dubbed locally, "Centro de Apoyo Comunal" (Communal Health Center). The clinic got a new room and received tender-loving maintenance during this summer's group trip (see related story following and click through to see our gallery of photos).

Thanks to the generosity of Xela Aid supporters, the efforts of Amalia Vasquez, Xela Aid Coordinator in San Martín; and a seed grant from the Guatemalan government, Xela Aid was able in January of this year to launch "San Martín Tots" Pre- school ("Guardaria San Martín"). The facility offers care, instruction and hot meals for pre-elementary-age children each weekday in a circular classroom which is the next evolution of a structure used for more than eight years as a weaving cooperative (designed by Wolfram Alderson and donated by June Russel-Glennon). Children learn about traditional subjects as well as hygiene, get to enjoy the "Raquel Vargas and Friends Playground," a safe and supervised environment; and receive two hot meals each day in a kitchen facility sponsored by Mel Dinkel. In a pueblo where pre-schoolers have never had the opportunity to get a head start on learning, mothers are overburdened and meals are commonly delayed or missed, the new preschool is tremendously appreciated. Our thanks to these donors and others who are supporting San Martín Tots.

A distribution of educational funds, construction, repairs, organizing medicines, painting and Spanish study were some of the activities of the more than 20 Xela Aid volunteers who served over a month-long period this summer. Notably, a full traditional kitchen was added to the clinic facility to accommodate the caretaker family living there. Storage space was greatly expanded, with shelves being installed and filled immediately with medicines and supplies kindly provided by Direct Relief International. Plans are already underway for Xela Aid's 15th Anniversary Summer Trip (see Quick Link above, left) which promises to be filled with special surprises. Join us! Photo: Volunteer Hillary with PEX- sponsored Oscar Garcia. The two worked with other Xela Aid volunteers and villagers to organize medicines on just- installed shelves in the storage room.

Unsightly, and sometimes dangerous waste can be found along streets in rural Guatemala. Until recently, there were no public trash cans in San Martín Chiquito. During this summer's trip our volunteers changed that with the installation of the village's first trash can directly in front of the Clinic. It's a sturdy, steel can with supports cemented into the ground, and with hinges for easy emptying. Local community leaders will install additional trash cans at key locations as we fund them. Our goal is 30 across the town by the end of 2006.

If you haven't clicked through yet, please do so you can enjoy Xela Aid's new website. Web consultant and friend of Xela Aid Laura Bokesch out did herself with her beautiful design and navigation. On the new site, you can read in greater detail about all the projects featured here, and more, or even donate your old cell phone or car to support Xela Aid's work. Also, look for galleries of photos and ideas for volunteering all year long like hosting events, assembling infant packs with project coordinator Alana Jolley, and more.

More than 50 children sponsored for school expenses through Xela Aid's PEX program received their assistance in July. Grateful parents thanked all PEX sponsors ("padrinos" and "madrinos") and praised the program for the difference it's making in the number of children who are able to read and write in the village. The decade-old program is paying big dividends this year, as several young women progress in technical schools (secretarial, administration and nursing) and one young man will graduate from college. This December, Oscar Garcia - eldest son of Midwife- Weaver Amalia Vasquez - will receive a civil engineering degree. Oscar will become the first native Mám speaker from San Martín ever to graduate from Xela's private college! On a sad note, PEX lost two youngsters this summer who left the village to seek employment in the United States. One can hope that the years each child had in school as a result of PEX sponsorship helped prepare them for the challenges of their journey, and those challenges they will surely face in months and years to come. (Several children have already applied for the open spots and more information is soon to come regarding the full list of children wishing to be sponsored.) In a village where some children don't go to school at all, and few children stay in school beyond fourth or fifth grade, all PEX sponsors should be proud of what they are making possible. Heartfelt thanks to each of you for your commitment.