The Mir Pace high school mission trip to Tamahú was an incredible experience. I could talk for days about how greatly this trip impacted my views of the world and my outlook on life, but what was even more remarkable was how much we were able to help the people in Guatemala. Whether we were building houses, distributing goods, or even playing soccer, everywhere we went there was an opportunity to make a difference.

One of the most memorable and heartening experiences came on our last day in Tamahú. After a long week of building houses, there were still boxes and boxes of soap, shoes, blankets and bags to hand out. Directed by Father Rick, a few of us went on an hour-long hike through the mountains to a very isolated village consisting of no more than fifty families. When we arrived, curious children gathered around and women gave us warm corn drinks. Everyone in the village eventually packed into the small, dimly lit church where Father Rick led a mass. This mass, which was spoken in either Kekchi or Pocum, had a remarkable atmosphere. Chills ran down my spine as the people started saying their prayers out loud, everyone going at a different pace. I could see through the looks on their faces just how strong and important their faith in God was. After this mass, we organized ourselves to efficiently distribute goods to every family. I worked with Father Rick and a man from the village handing out boots and sandals. Every single person was able to get a brand new pair of shoes. Each family also received more than fifteen bars of soap, a few blankets, and a couple of tote bags. Allie and Jessica did a great job occupying the kids passing out bubbles and taking pictures, while John showed the villagers how to use the hand sanitizers that were donated. By the look on their faces, I could tell that the people of this village were overjoyed to have us there.

The feeling of reward and accomplishment that I felt after was truly indescribable. It made me realize how much we have in the United States and how much we could contribute if we really tried.  

Strong-muscled people with black hair and caramel skin, carrying straw baskets of freshly picked produce. These were the Guatemalans I had seen in photos and been imagining since I found out that I would be traveling to Guatemala in April. The purposes of my trip to Tamahú, Guatemala were to begin building cinderblock houses, live with a Guatemalan family, and be fully immersed in Guatemalan culture.

As we've settled back here to life in America, many of us still find ourselves reflecting on the trip, our lives, and theirs. The houses we constructed were just outside of Tamahú in the surrounding mountains, primarily inhabited by Mayan Indians. Unfortunately, this group of people tends to have even fewer resources than the Guatemalans who live in villages and cities throughout the country. Still, many Guatemalans live in a serious state of poverty. Someone who lives at the top of a mountain must walk for as long as three hours in order to reach the nearest town. I cannot imagine walking for so long, as I felt out of breath after my 25-minute hikes to my worksite. Often times when I walked past someone in the mountains, he or she would glance back at me or stop and stare for a little while. As I sluggishly made my way up the mountain each day, I wondered what they were thinking.

Another aspect of the trip that I thought was eye-opening was watching the family who prepared our meals work together. There were at least seven women of varying ages, some with young children, working at a time. They greeted us with warm smiles as we walked through the kitchen door to hand them our dirty dishes after each meal. The small children were equally happy to help. Seeing this generous, happy, hard-working family work together to prepare our meals was one of the many ways that helped me realize how privileged a lifestyle I live.

As I sit here on my couch, I am terribly sad that I am not in Guatemala. I hope I am able to return someday, as the people are cheerful and generous in a way I rarely see in my everyday life. While our i-Pods and new jeans bring us instant gratification, simpler things in life, like smiles and hugs, delight Guatemalans.