Day 1:
Travel days call for Starbucks runs in DC waiting for a transfer flight, impossible crossword puzzles in new-agey Air Travel magazines, and a spontaneous conversation with a Guatemalan. Let us focus on the latter.
I never got his name. It was on the flight from DC to Guatemala City that a friendly Guatemalan told me his story. The story he told me gave me a glimpse at the Guatamalan spirit. The Prologue to my very first mission trip started with him, as his narration made the rest of Day 1 all the more extraordinary. The Guatemalan said that he was a teacher, born in Guatemala, married to a Virginian. This Guatemalan travels back and forth between the U.S. and Guatemala to make money as a Spanish teacher in each. He told me about the national bird, the people, and the volcano that has wrecked Guatamala City twice before. He concluded his novella by giving me Guatemalan currency with a smile that said "We are family." Okay, but I just met you dude.
Little did I know, this encounter was my first bridge into Guatemala, and showed me the determination of the Guatamalan.
After Customs, we made our way out into a mass of people, all waving and shouting. Our mission leader stood tall over the Guatemalan mass of short stature. We followed Ben to the truck where he called Carlos to pick up the rest of us. Carlos arrived with a smile in his eyes.
The drive to Magdelena was intense, as mild road rage ravaged the insanely busy streets. But after hairpin turns and 60 degree + hills, we arrived at Carlos & Thelma's house, our missionary hosts.
Upon establishing a plan for our stay in Magdalena, we were quickly off, and began visiting locals. The magic happened here, as what I saw was ethereal, and the unbelievability would not stop pulsing through my veins.
Lilli is a young girl enrolled at the art school. Her roof is a draped tarp, and her mother has a post-cancer infection, yet her eyes smiled widely at us.
Violetta is a member of the cooking school, who lives in a 9x9 foot room with two children and an alcoholic husband, yet her laugh could make a cloudy day the sunniest yet.
Spiritual poverty outweighs possessive poverty any day. Lying in bed here, reflecting on day 1, I just know there's something special about the Guatemalan people.
Day 2:
We got right to work on Day 2, scarfing down a delicious Guatemalan breakfast of plantains and Magdalena Bread. I can't forget the tortillas, which are served at every single meal.
The vocational training center we are centering our work around allows students to study art, carpentry, and cooking, to put themselves in the market-world and fall out of the cycle of poverty. The picture below is the mural our church painted, with the help of three extremely talented art students, on the wall of the VTC. I did the water!
Upon completing the mural, we continued visiting students. We met Carlos (not the same Carlos as our host), who offered up his days wages to give us Pepsi to drink. We also met Jacuelin, an inspiring young girl who plays the mother role for her family in a tiny tin house. Her mother left her family for another man.
We concluded the day with worship from my grandma Gail, my brother Logan, and myself. I felt moved, yet again.
The following are a few pictures from our first full day.
Day 3:
Leading worship for 50+ Guatamalan students was amazing. I had the privilege of praising God's most holy name with extremely talented musicians native to Guatemala on the morning of Day 3.
After worship, we had the opportunity to visit all of the classes the vocational center offers, being art, carpentry, cooking, and English. The determination in the students showed how badly they wanted to get out of the cycle of poverty and support their families.
Next was building a kitchen for a family of 10 who all lived in a small hut. I got hugs from many of the kids, their grins contagious and beautiful. I didn't think it was possible, but with our team of 7 and a few hard-working Guatemalans, the job got 3/4 of the way complete as late afternoon unfolded. The heat was becoming unbearable.
We ended the day with visits, one of which was the family of Maynor. Maynor greeted me with a hug, and took delight in opening gifts from his sponsor, the Stamper family from Southpointe Church. He was so excited he couldn't contain himself! Maynor is enrolled in the art school and is extremely talented. Although this family doesn't have very much, and Maynor and his sister have to make daily treks up the mountain for firewood, the joy this family had was awe-inspiring.
Day 4:
Our last full-day.
Day 4 included finishing the kitchen, delivering food to the needy families we visited, and visiting Antigua, where we bargained with local artisans for Guatemalan crafts.
I'm shortening the description for this day, because this being the last full day of our trip, it called mostly for reflection:
I now have a new perspective on people. People, when born into wealth and good care, never have to depend on God if they don't feel inclined to. (Notice I am not saying those that are in good care and born into wealth don't need to depend on God.) The Guatemalan people, because day-to-day living is a challenge in itself, have to depend on God, and trust in him fully. Because of their trust in Christ, we can witness the array of fruits that bloom, most noticeably generosity. (Thelma, Carlos's wife, made a necklace and earrings for my mom, and almost every family we visited offered us something.)
Day 5:
I climbed a mountain today. A big one. Because it was our last day, 4 of us got up and hiked a steep mountain, where, at the top was a view of Guatamala City, three Guaramalan volcanoes, and jungle. On the way up, we saw many older women and children hiking up with axes and machetes to collect firewood. We only hiked the top half, driving up the first half, and I was out of breath after 10 minutes of hiking the insanely steep incline. Seeing the Guatamlan women and children conquer the mountain with such determination reminded me that these people, so dependent upon God, also have put their family's well-being #1 on their lists.
We left for the airport after his hike, and in an emotional farewell, we boarded the plane home...
1 comment:
Eric, I'm Ben's Mom. I loved your journaling. They are amazing people in Guatemala. They have such a determination as you said!! And they are so giving!! They just settle down in your heart for a long time. Thank you for sharing!!
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