On Top Of The World

Six months ago, we had talked late one night about "what's next" for us, and I had floated this crazy dream with Danaya. The following Thursday morning, I dropped into Stan's office, and said "I've got a crazy idea". After I explained it, he told me that Sharon had called thirty minutes earlier, saying that Tierra Linda would love computers and a teacher for a few months. Four days later, we were a go. Soon after, we had a website up. Two months later, we were on a plane to Guatemala.

Six months later, we are on top of the world, amazed at how the impassable doors have opened, one by one, step by step, against all odds. Friends believed in the dream, gave generously, and encouraged us. Colleagues helped us continue job responsibilities. Family supported, visited, called, emailed.

Now there is a village with a computer lab, the knowledge to run it, and the eagerness to keep learning. More importantly, they know that people in other countries believe that their kids "can too".

As I told fifth-grader Gamaliel Rene this afternoon on the walk down, maybe twenty years from now he'll be in another village in another country, teaching computers.

Thank you all for walking with us. We have a few days left, but you were on the mountaintop today too.