Day 6

Student Reflection by Molly Morris

"It is finished" In the Gospel according to John, Jesus  spoke these last words from the cross. But what came after was far from finished. Jesus's ministry was only just beginning. The miracles, parables, and teachings were only the start of what was to come. While his ministry on earth as a fully human man had finished, his ministry continued with all his followers.

 

While our time in Guatemala has finished, it is far from ended. We have been charged to go home and share our experience. In the past week many stories have been shared with us, and the love and passion for the people of Guatemala have been given to us. Our trip does not end at the airport, just as the life of Christ did not stop at the cross. 

We learned of the La Puya community that is located just outside of Guatemala City. For the past two years they have been enacting a nonviolent protest against a mining company. Over the last two years, the mining company has been attempting to strip mine and use toxic chemicals to extract gold from the land. The government of Guatemala has supported the companies in this effort, often sending in riot police to disband the nonviolent protestors. The company removed their machines in March, only to return on May 23rd. The morning of May 24th, the day we left Guatemala, the  headlines read if the violent attack on the nonviolent protestors. The papers told the story of the 23 people who had been injured and at least four had been detained.   

This is just one of the many stories that we bring back with us. These people stories are now apart if our stories. As we come back from our "finished" mission trip, we need to continue to grow our ministry with all that we learned. The hard work has only just begun. And just as Jesus commissioned the 12 disciples in the end of Matthew, so too has everybody on this trip been commissioned to share each story we have been given.

Student Reflection by James Compton

Well, we're all in that end-of-trip funk as we travel from Atlanta to Roanoke on our last flight of our journey. It only seems appropriate as the final blog post to look back on our adventures and everything we learned.  As college students, we are all familiar with Buzzfeed lists that make procrastinating for studying way to easy (if you don't know what these are please check them out), so in similar fashion here are 20 things we learned in Guatemala:

1. "Sí" is the answer to everything. It will automatically inform whomever you may be talking to that you are an American who panics whenever someone speaks Spanish to you and you have major regrets for not believing you Spanish teacher when he/she said Spanish will be very useful. 

2. "Cuanto cuesto" means 'how much do I cost,' NOT 'how much does it cost.'

3. Guatemalans will by all means make sure you are comfortable and treat you with utmost hospitality. 

4. Next time you go to Guatemala, use the word 'chilero.' I'll let you figure out what it means. 

5. Nothing will bond a group of friends like late night card games and crazy dares in a small motel room. 

6. You can be a role model wherever you go in the world. Children don't look up to you because you are the same race or social class; they look up to you because in their eyes you know everything and are a lot more fun than adults. 

7. Americans eat too much too often. We were served a small breakfast (keep in mind that 'small' in American portions means 'enough' in portions of other nations), a sufficient lunch that was the main meal of the day, and a regular-sized dinner. Each meal I looked at my plate and thought I would be hungry the rest of the day, but after that meal I was prepared for a food coma. 

8. Guatemalan cooks know what's up. 

9. An excellent driver combined with a wonderful gringo-mobile makes for memorable car rides. 

10. We don't know enough about the struggles of Guatemala. 

11. We know even less about the hope there is and the many heroes that are fighting for justice and human rights in Guatemala. 

12. And we know even less about the best way to go about supporting these heroes and their causes. 

13. Spend in a week in Guatemala with CEDEPCA and you will know about these struggles, know about these heroes, and know how to support the efforts in Guatemala. 

14. Delirious students makes for dumb jokes that are always funny. Meh. 

15. Pepto Bismol is the eighth wonder of the world. 

16. There is a Guatemala Human Rights Commission based out of Washington D.C. You should go follow their Facebook and Twitter page right now. 

17. Being educated about an issue is the best way to support it and find a solution. 

18. Guatemala is beautiful. That includes the land, the people, the food, and the culture. 

19. Playing fútbol with 7 Guatemala children on a large gravel surface with stones being used as goals with be one of the greatest experiences of your life. 

20. There are two universal languages: laughter and fútbol. 

21. You have the opportunity to make a difference in this world. Don't blow it. 

Day 5

Student Reflections by Ginny Adamson, Austin Cooke, and Krissy Colvin

Ginny:
Well, hello everyone. Buenas noches from Guatemala! Ginny (A, not T-T) here. At the end of the week, there are so many things that we have experienced and that have been on my mind. Trying to decide what to write about, I feel like I'm in one of the fabric shops here- I have no idea which one to choose.

Every time I try to write down my deep, personal reflections, they seem much more shallow. Entonces, I will stick to a description of an event that had a profound effect on me- and all the rest of us.

This morning, we had the privilege of visiting Kaminaljuyu, an important site for the Mayans. Although part of the site was destroyed with the urbanization of the surrounding area, some of the most important parts were preserved. Some of these, like The Acropolis, were excavated, and we were able to see some of the results from that research.

However, another key aspect of the park is very much alive. The park welcomes people of all religions, as this site is sacred to many. And it is easy to see why. Surrounded by trees, rolling green hills, and the mounds of the important sites, this park becomes an oasis from our busy world.

This idea of separation becomes very apparent in the Mayan worship ceremony we witnessed. This ceremony had rituals completely distinct from, and just as unique as, our own Sunday morning ceremonies. To begin, a setup of the altar: there is a large circle, with a small circular hearth in the middle. This hearth has four more around it, corresponding with the cardinal directions. In order to call down the spirits of the Sun, Air, Wind, and Ancestors, they burn different offerings. The ones we saw started with sugar- they would pour sugar onto the hearth in specific patterns. After this, they would add balls made of pine resin, and different types of wood and herbs. These elaborate, organized piles were burned and prayed over, with the goal of communing with the different Spirits, in order to give thanks and worship.

The main thing that struck me during the part of the ceremony we witnessed was the way one participant prepared. First, he took his wallet and phone, things of the outside world, and put them down. He then wrapped a bandanna around his head, and a special belt around his waist. Then, he grabbed a cigar at least an inch and a half in diameter, about six or seven inches in length, and lit it. Some others already had them- there was a group of people using this same altar, and they all seemed to have different parts to play in the ceremony. We had to leave before this man could start burning his offering, but I could have stayed and watched all day.

The most important reminder I took from that visit is that all beliefs are valuable. Seeing how Christian and Mayan people use the same sacred place in different ways really inspired me. If we can just realize that the sameness of our beliefs outweighs the differences in our ceremonies, perhaps one day we can value all religions and beliefs equally.

This is only one of the many thoughts that I'll be carrying home with me. All I can say to Guatemala in return is "hasta luego", because I will most certainly be back.

With Love,

Ginny Adamson


In writing this, I want to begin with a simple metaphor that I feel describes our situation adequately. A lot of the issues that we have been taught about this week are things that we already knew about. Spanish takeovers, US intervention, we have heard it many times. But now they're so much more real to us. Up until this point, it is like we have been hearing yelling through thin walls. We are aware of its presence, but it is not anything that has seemed our business up until now. Being in Guatemala has changed that, and I will explain why.

First, let me quickly recap the things that we have learned are Guatemalan problems this week. First, hospitals and schools have the same problem. Those that are public are no good - those that are private are too expensive to be viable for many people. We learned that the Guatemalan nation is very machismo, or manly. This means that women's rights are terribly undervalued, and rape and femicide are rampant. We learned that Guatemala is hit with a myriad of storms every year that devastate its landscape, it has four active volcanoes, and it sits between two tectonic plates and is upon three major fault lines. Guatemalan human rights are also in serious danger. Those who stand up for themselves are silenced by people in power, and the land of many peoples are threatened by big businesses. To top that off, a new strategy is being taken against those who are leaders in their communities against injustices: criminalization. Criminalization is not the killing of those that lead, but their jailing - cutting them off from their people and draining their families of all resources so that they are not dead, but broken.

Today we learned two new major things. First, Guatemalan migration is extremely common. Those that immigrate to Guatemala have been persecuted out of their homes, and are often broken physically, mentally, and spiritually. Those that emigrate to the US (the most common area) are persecuted, and often find it very difficult to support the families they left to help - if they even make it. These people are at our doorstep. There are no thin walls here, we hear about these people's struggles daily. The second thing we learned today is extremely sobering. Today, we were supposed to have a speaker from La Puya, a Mayan community which has been locked for two years in a struggle. A mining company has been working there, poisoning the water supply and evicting people from lands which are rightly theirs. The people have thus blocked the road, and have been protesting for two years keeping the company out of their lands in their many attempts every few weeks to drive mining tools into La Puya. But today, the company went again, and our speaker had to stay to continue the struggle. This time the company brought riot police, and the people were tear gassed. Men, women, children, and the elderly were beaten as the mining tools were pushed past the blockade. This as well does not sound from behind a wall. It is loud because it is real.

This mission trip is not one in which we performed much physical labour, it was for our education. We learned what it is to be in Guatemala, and it has absolutely taught me something important. These are not problems between us and them, these are not problems between the haves and have-nots, and these are not problems between the United States and Guatemala. These are human problems. Because we made up these walls.

Once this realization is made, the yelling that was behind something increases in volume, it becomes deafening. Because we are among those who brought the tear gas and weapons, and we are among the people who scream in pain as they are mercilessly beaten. As Cooper House heads home, I hope that I and my friends can talk to people about this, and bring attention to it. I hope that I can meet people, and talk to them, and make them feel uncomfortable as I do. I hope I can make people angry at these atrocities. I hope I can start people yelling.

Because we are all human. And these thin walls do not exist.
-Austin Cooke


An Open Letter to Guatemala:

Mi amor,

Thank you. For your eternal hospitality, your rich culture, your stories shared, and the memories made here. You will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you for reminding me right after graduation that I do not have be in a formal institution to continue learning, and for granting me the opportunity to learn from you.

Thank you for welcoming me with warmth, open arms, and all the tortillas I could ever ask for.

Thank you for reminding me that this is just the beginning, and that there is always a reason for hope.

Thank you for humbling me, and forcing me to feel uncomfortable or angry at injustices at times, so that I may remember that there is always a fight to be fought. And along with that, thank you for sharing your sorrows along with your triumphs, and reminding me of what passion looks like.

Thank you for allowing me and my friends to sing loudly in public with only a few (well-deserved) stares, and thank you for bringing us closer together. I am eternally grateful for the laughter you have brought us and know that when I think of Guatemala, there will always be a smile on my face.

Thank you for your patience as I struggled with Spanish and thank you for validating my struggle as I strive to be better at conscious, intentional, and inclusive language.

And finally, thank you for making my first week in the "real world" one of the most memorable and meaningful of my life.

While there is no way I could possibly repay you for what you have given me, know that you will remain in my thoughts and my prayers, and that I cannot wait to return to the land of the eternal spring.

Con todo mi afecto,
Krissy

Day 4

Reflection by Jessie Butler

"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief." This quote from the Jewish holy book known as the Talmud was applicable to our fourth day of our Guatemalan Adventure in more ways than one. From beginning to end, we learned about the grief, sadness and corruption that has plagued Gautemala for centuries. Through our many adventures, I saw today in four distinct layers.

The first layer was when we got a reviting lecture from a professor at CEDEPCA, teaching us about the Guatemalan problems and joys since 1492. This was the base layer of the day, so we knew the history of this gorgeous country. We then travelled to the CEDEPCA office for the day to learn about their different ministries, creating the second layer of the day. The first was the women's ministry that helps women advance in patriarchal society. Through education and fellowship, these women learn and pray together and better their lives each day. We then learned about the disaster relief ministries who help those prepare for, fight through, and learn from natural disasters. Finally, previous Virginia Tech and Cooper House graduate who works at CEDEPCA told us about the Young Adult Volunteer program.

Our third layer came after a delicious lunch with the CEDEPCA staff when we did a tour of the city. Our first stop was a cemetery. After driving through and seeing the graves, we got out of our van, walked through the rest of the cemetery and found down below in a valley, a heaping, smelly, vomit-inducing pile of garbage. Around the pile of trash, you could see ant-sized figures rumaging through the garbage. These ant-sized figures were local Guatemalans. In order to make money to buy food, these Guatemalans sifted through these piles of trash, trying to find recyclable materials. They then take these finds to a local office to hopefully make at most 50 Quetzals (the equivalent of about 7 American Dollars). To say this image was disturbing, heart-wrenching, and down right sad would be an understatement. We then drove more through the city. We saw an entire mountain side of tiny, aluminum-sided shacks were five, six, seven, up to ten people live in one room. This third layer was very eye opening and intense, to say the least. To see this large scale of poverty and corruption was something I was not anticipating.

The fourth and final layer was added back at CEDEPCA when we got a talk about the human rights action in Guatemala by a guy named Rob. This final layer hit us like a bag of bricks. The sad, heart-wrenching stories he shared with us were ones of government corruption, genocide, environment destruction and conflict, on top of conflict, on top of conflict. It is almost something I cannot put into words. The small glimmer of hope was added at the end when he told us about everything he is doing to help these issues. Rob is a small glimmer of light in this otherwise dark abyss. After this talk, we all got on the bus, mentally, spiritually and emotionally drained.

This is where the previously mentioned quote comes into context. Through all of the sadness, through all of the pain, and through all of the conflict, we must not be daunted. For me (and I think for many of us on this trip) God is the reason to not be daunted. In everything we have seen and in everything we have experienced this week, God has been with us. Through the laughs, through the tears, through the joy and through the pain, God has been there. If there is anything that this trip has taught me, it is that God is here, all around us regardless of where we are. It is through God that we must see and be the sliver of hope, the flower on top of the trash, the smile in the crowd of frowns. We have all experienced God SO much this week that, even in times of pure, unadulterated sadness and grief, we must not be daunted.

Reflection by Sarah Pierce

Many times in my life I have had troubles when it comes to God and religion. I had so many questions. Being here, in Guatemala, I have found that it doesn't matter what certain religion, but that we are with God. I feel closer to God. 

I keep thinking back to the beatitudes and how people are handed everything that they are going through being weak, hungry, etc. and they are the most blessed people. The people that I have heard the stories of have gone through sometimes many horrid situations, and have had rough times, but they are still moving forward with their lives and they are still fighting for what they believe so strongly. Everything that I have learned today regarding Guatemala's history and current issues helped me to realize my fears for what everyone goes through and how I want to help them in someway shape or form. It also brings about so many emotions seen, felt, and expressed, etc. Anger. Sadness. Surprise. Guilt. Happiness. Joy. All at once. Sometimes that makes it so hard to wrap my head around reality. Especially when I think about how many things that I grew up thinking, before this week, may not always be right.

I don't think that I will ever be able to forget the feelings I had after walking through the cemetery and coming out at the top of the drop off and looking down trying to make out what is at the bottom and then realizing that the bottom is covered with trash and people. I found out that they were looking through the trash for recyclable materials to sell and make money, and even for food, all day then they walk home and walk back early the next day. 

With all I have felt today, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, I felt that I have learned so much and also have so much more that I want to learn.

Day 3

Reflection by Stephen Good

Lines.  Lines were what greeted us in the morning at ADISA.  Straight lines sectioned off a brown roll of paper, apportioned to make paper bags- our task for the beginning of the day, and one that proved to be difficult.  It required precision and patience to make an effective bag- one would be remiss to say that anyone in our group perfected the task.  More practice was needed.

Some people at ADISA spend their time in the workshop fashioning artisanal goods with their hands, like the bags we made.  Lines on paper became folds, and folds became connections, and eventually connections became goods.  The craftsmen benefit from a purposeful trade as well as a salary; ADISA also profits from the assortment of objects that are made.  Coasters, jewelry, bowls, ornaments.  Everything in the small shop began as a line but turned into much more.

Each person we encounter took a different path to Guatemala.  At Cooper House, our paths became one after meeting at the airport, to then remain similar for the duration of the trip.  Though at ADISA, we met people with very different stories.  One woman was a traveling physical therapist, who was nominally from New York, though she struggled to identify any physical place as home.  California, Denver, Guatemala.  A line tracing her path jumped from place to place before arriving at ADISA.  Our paths crossed momentarily, but by the end of the morning, we were off to different places.

Santiago was our home for a day.  But our journey brought us back to Guatemala City this evening.  We completed the requisite five-hour car ride through a heavy rain.  Lake Atitlan's shores had become our temporary home, and each sharp turn in the road, a beautiful view of the lake was afforded.  Crops were grown in rows on each side of the road,  and they sprawled across any land that wasn't too steep to plant upon.  The road winded through the countryside, up and down mountains.  curves and steep grades became familiar.  With each bump in the road, everyone who was sleeping was temporarily awakened.  Just a blip of consciousness among many restful minutes.  And with each town and village passed on the trip, a glance out the window provided a volatile connection with the people on the other side of the rain-washed glass.

Our line of travel snaked its way between mountains, mountains concealed by fog brought in by the storm.  We weaved our way through forests until our path made a gradual transition from rural to urban.  The transition happened as night was turning into dusk.  Roads that at the beginning of the day were only lines on a map, became real, became permanent.  They were now the line behind us, marking our past, a line that would be foraged again tomorrow.

Reflection by Brannon Blount
Today I saw God a lot in the people at ADISA. What would normally seem like a party for the students, turned into something greater. The party was for the therapy dog because she was retiring from service. There was a small piñata, but the children viewed it as something magical. Each kid, regardless of their ability to actually swing at the piñata, made a joyous attempt at breaking it. Finally the piñata broke and the candy fell out. All the kids ran up to gather candy. The volunteers were also assisting so that each child would have at least a piece of candy.

God was definitely with us as we were on the bus for over four hours. The roads were curvy and it was raining heavily. There were a few cases of car sickness, including myself. Regardless of the difficult journey, we made it  to Guatemala City. That journey on the road showed me that God is always with us. I believe God watches and protects us, even when we can't see but five feet in front of us. We just have to trust that he knows what is best for us, even when we want it differently. God will continue to guide us during the rest of the week.

So far, this trip has been very memorable. For starters, yesterday I celebrated my 19th birthday. It was interesting to experience a birthday in a different culture. The Happy Birthday song was sung in Spanish and the cake was not a typical vanilla cake, instead it was very moist and had strawberries and chocolate syrup. I am very grateful to have made it 19 years. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would have spent my birthday working with people in ADISA in a beautiful country. I can not wait to see what God has in store for me during the rest of the trip and the rest of my life.

Day 2

Reflection from Lisa Hill

Today was filled with faces.  Faces of children on the streets asking for quetzals, faces students smiling and welcoming us to their class, the face of the principal as he showed us his school and shared his passion with our group.

We spent the morning traveling from our hotel in Panajachel across Lago de Atlitlan to the town of Santiago, Atitlan and the afternoon working with ADISA, a school for individuals with different abilities, both developmental and physical.  While crossing the lake, the views of mountains and volcanoes were refreshing and consuming.  I quickly became lost in the scenery and forget about the individuals that live in the mountains and drink from the lake.

While reflecting on the day, I am working to keep a balance in my mind, a balance between beauty and pain, a balance between God and humanity.  There is beauty all around us in both the scenery and the people but there are still the imperfections and pains of humanity.  There is beauty to be found in each individual we pass on the street as well as hardships and inequality.  The balance comes with recognizing the shortcomings and having faith in the possibility of a better future and finding your calling to make the changes.

ADISA has already begun to transform the minds and hearts of the communities they work in.  By integrating students who have different abilities into the community, they are now viewed as assets and are valued as humans instead of seen as a burden.  There is a balance between understanding that an individual has a physical or mental disability and pitying them.  There is a difference and a balance to be found between seeing the beauty of Guatemala without acknowledging the problems and becoming consumed by need without faith and hope.

I go forward in our experience working to keep my eyes open for both God's love and for the work that he is calling me to do in the world.

Reflection by Sarah Gobble

 "Faith is believing in spite of the evidence and watching the evidence change."

Today, we learned about a lot of  "evidence" and a lot of "change".

Many times, the evidence can be in the form of inevitable hardships of life, political corruption, violence, poverty, or abilities not deemed useful by the majority of society.

Today, we met people who believe regardless.

Here are a few of those people with an often unspoken faith that spoke volumes beyond anything we believers often hear.

In Santiago, we stopped by the edge of el Lago de Atitlan where several women were washing their clothes. They were knee deep in the lake, scrubbing their clothes on the rocks with children playing at their feet. These women looked like some of the strongest women I've ever seen. Some young, some old, they carried their baskets full of heavy laundry on their heads and pressed the clothes on the rocks until the muscles in their arms were visibly bulging. It was hot, they had children to keep an eye on, their skirts were soaked, they were surely exhausted by the trek up and down hills to the lake while carrying such a load, many of them with grey in their hair and many laundry loads ahead of them, but they didn't stop. The Holy Spirit's presence was overwhelmingly present in the perseverance of these women and their strength be rooted in the amazing strength of our God.

In el Parque de Paz, or the Park of Peace, we learned about 13 martyrs, including children, who were killed in 1990 as a result of military brutality and corruption during the country's civil war. As our leader, Emerson, told us, they were tired of soldiers terrorizing the people when they should be protecting them. These people had enough faith to stand up for peace and the possibilities of their homeland. They believed in a better way even though it was dangerous to believe. Though they were killed, their legacy radiates through the people of Santiago and this belief of restoring peace and love in their home is extremely evident despite all the historical evidence telling them otherwise.

At the top of nearly 20 feet of steep, shallow, cobblestone steps, I saw a crippled man with two crutches under his arms stand before the alter of Santiago's cathedral and bow his head in prayer. He showed me that God's house of worship and God's unifying love should never be exclusive to those healthy enough to climb to the top of the steps or who have the money to place in an offering. God's love is for all. His faith changed the evidence of the reality of his disability...and I think it changed me as well. Quiet, humble, devotion. Miraculous faith.

Through the unreserved hugs, smiles, and enthusiasm from the children with special needs and young adults at a public school for special education, there seemed to be no evidence of reasons not to believe in a life of acceptance towards the unique people they were created to be. Through the passionate leadership of the school's principal, the reasons to believe in a better future for these individuals shined through the challenges they face due to lack of government funding, small salaries, a society hesitant to integrate these individuals. This passion came from his calling to love God's people, regardless of their abilities. By following his calling, along with the other teachers and volunteers, faith and belief are actively reforming lives and future generations.

Behind the beautifully crafted jewelry and baskets within the small rooms of ADISA, were people with stories of tragedy, hardship, victory, and redemption. These people with various disabilities took the evidence of their limitations and turned it into art to earn an honest salary in a society which would typically tell them it's impossible. One a victim of the massacre in el Parque de Paz, others with stories unknown, they found something to believe in the midst of their hardships and work diligently daily to fulfill their goals and to reform exclusive, limiting attitudes of society.

Today, I was reminded that faith is not dependent on life's circumstances. However, faith can change how we live in the midst of these circumstances. Thank you, God, for the capacity to believe in spite of all evidence.

Day 1: Take off....

For over a year now, we've been talking about and planning for this adventure to Guatemala. It all started when Kathy Carpenter (who is also with us on the trip!) came to Cooper House as a guest speaker last year to talk about mission and service in the church. We had a lively discussion about the purpose of mission trips, where we go wrong, and how we do them with integrity. She shared about her many experiences in Guatemala where she has seen the power of God's presence and grace, especially in the midst of suffering. After our discussion, Molly Morris, one of our student leaders, spoke to me in the kitchen, "Ginny, I really think we need to Guatemala next year!" And so it began....

Our presbytery, The Presbytery of the Peaks, has a long standing relationship with a Guatemalan non-profit organization, CEDEPCA. CEDEPCA, the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America, "is an educational non-profit that works to transform lives by offering education, accompaniment and safe reflection spaces to women and men of diverse Christian traditions and communities." It was on a Presbytery trip in 2000 where Kathy first served with CEDEPCA and fell in love with the people of Guatemala. She now serves on their board and has developed deep relationships through the years with folks connected to this amazing organization. We will be building upon these connections as we travel this week.

"So, what's the purpose of your trip?"

I've heard this question many times over the last few months and our group has spent a lot of time considering what our "mission" is in Guatemala. I'll start by telling you what it's not. We are not going to convert people to Christianity. We are not going to participate in building projects for which we have no skill. We are not going to "help" the poor people there. We are going to be transformed and to witness to the transforming power of God that is already at work in Guatemala. We are going to learn from people who are committed to and engaged in making positive sustainable change. We are going to see Christ in the face of the other. And we hope they will see Christ in us.