Reflections: This is my final blog from the mission trip
to Guatemala.
After a day in Antigua, Guatemala and seeing the sites we
all had a wonderful chance after dinner to reflect a bit on this amazing trip.
We completely were in agreement that Transformational Journeys and our leader,
Candace run the best cultural mission trips that we have ever come across. We
unanimously were appreciative of the patience and teaching skills as well as
the friendliness we received from our masons/teachers.
We unanimously spoke of the love of the people and
willingness for them to share and open their lives to us. In the U.S., a child can't just go up to a
stranger and get a hug, take an impromptu art lesson, have strangers read a
book to them while edging closer and closer to the stranger and then even
sitting on that stranger's lap. We are taught that strangers may hurt you,
a/k/a "Stranger Danger". In
the little town of San Jose, Guatemala, kids openness with us was a daily
occurrence. Neighbor kids would peek
their heads through windows watching us work and then be offered to join in and
help. Their excitement was wonderful. We mixed mortar with the kids, let them
take a few shots with our cameras and smile as they saw themselves, we taught
them how to "measure twice, cut once" when cutting a cement block. In our reflections we spoke
of the wonderful food we were given and how hard it is to get something to the
dinner table be it the process of making the corn into masa for tortillas or
raising the chicken we would eat. I will never go into a local grocery store
again without appreciating how much is involved to get that food to the market
and then to us. We were impressed by the "real people" of Guatemala
and their desire to still make the world a better place. We met leaders such as
Jessica who, though she is one of the younger adults, has gained the respect of
the elders as she teaches them about health. She leads them to understand the
benefits of the new cook stoves not only for their health but also for saving
fuel which is better for the environment as well as reducing the cost to buy
the wood. I think back about Mario, one of eleven children, who has huge open
holes in his jeans and not to be in fashion.
I also note he has no shoes and then I come back to my
community where people complain they aren't getting their way while they forget
what they already have. In my community
the issue is not no shoes or even one pair, but 15 pair or more. People honk at me to get going even though
the light is still red. I throw my
clothes in a washing machine, yes, that's right!
I don't have to stand in the river at 6:30AM after
already making my tortillas for the day. As I hear my bell ring that the dryer
is done and I can just pull the clothes out, I am appreciative. Yes, we all
take for granted what we have. All of us.
I would like to be more mindful with every decision I make and how it
may affect another and that will be my task moving forwards. I can't change
every sad situation I see. I can try to make a difference one step at a time,
one hour at a time, one day at a time, one situation at a time, one person at a
time. As I get back from trips I start
to go into my "what do I need to get done" mode. I will try to not
take my own life so seriously as so much of the little day to day aggravations
are really nothing compared to what so many people in the world go through.
Yes, the daily aggravations to me are still valid. I hope to look at them with different eyes so
that I can pay attention to what really matters. It's food, shelter, clothing and love.
Have a great &
green day!
Pat
No comments:
Post a Comment