Going to Guatemala was one of those trips that stunned, shocked, and educated. I walked away, believing in the good that people have in them to elicit change, while being educated on some of the ugly deeds brought to this country by my government.

I arrived in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala for work to document a group of college students who were on an immersion trip. I was quickly familiarized with the concept, “working in solidarity” with the local community. Our group was not there to give something; they were there to work together because of shared value, toward a common goal. 

The university group amazed me with their big hearts and hardworking efforts. My first day with them, I witnessed them building a house. Before arriving in Guatemala, they’d raised money for supplies to make the construction happen for a local family in need. They had carefully transported the wood up a steep hillside. For two days, they worked rigorously, alongside the family and local community members, in the sun and intense heat, on construction the dwelling that was almost completed. Days following, we crossed Lake Atitlán, and visited weaving and pottery communities. 

We went from San Lucas Tolimán to Santa Anita la Union, a community of coffee farmers set amongst the backdrop of rainforest, waterfalls and volcanos in the distance. The group worked with a coffee co-op, De La Gente Spanish meaning “from the people” and were able to sell coffee (receiving up to 250% more than they would selling through options normally available to them) and provide for their families all year long.

In Santa Anita, our group stayed with the families in the community. Not only did we stay with the families, we were welcomed like we WERE family. We cooked & cleaned, planted & harvested coffee & honey, played & listened, and learned more about them that we could have ever imagined.  The dinner conversations covered topics that generated from curiosity to those with serious intentions. The struggles of this community varied from being guerrilla soldiers when war when was a part of their life, to supporting their families with their shade-grown coffee crop while completing with big coffee producers. This group of humans had integrity and heart. Their endurance and faith absolutely baffled me. 

When I left, everything I thought I knew about myself and my country had been questioned.

Every time that happens, I feel so grateful for experiences that challenge me to see the whole from a new lens.

-a wanderer-