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San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala |
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Youth experiences from the trip. |
| Spending 10 days in San Lucas was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. The people were welcoming, the town was beautiful, the work was fulfilling and I didn't mind that I had to make due without many daily luxuries. I could have stayed for a lot longer and I plan on returning as many times as I am able to. I have built friendships and gained experiences that will last a lifetime. |
| Flowers, culture and a warm welcome were all the features of Guatemala. Going on this mission trip was definitely a great experience. Riding in the back of pick-ups trucks, digging trenches, Tuk-Tuk rides, and playing with the kids were all the highlights of my trip. Out of all my good experiences, there were a few bad, having a sensitive stomach did not help. However seeing the people who reside in Guatemala with the biggest smiles on their faces, even while living in poverty changed my view of life. The trip made me ask myself; What do I need? What do I want? This trip helped me figure out my true values in life: Family, Friends, Shelter and Faith. |
| The trip to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala was overall amazing! Guatemala is such a beautiful country and the people add to that beauty. Everyone was kind, caring and genuinely happy that we were there to help. Also, the friendships that I made in Guatemala, whether it was with the people in our group or with the people of Guatemala, will last a lifetime. I would never trade this experience for anything and I highly recommend that others give it a shot. |
| Traveling to Guatemala this summer was a once in a lifetime experience that truly opened my eyes. I learned so much about myself and about what I am able to do. I pushed myself to work hard and eat what I was given. The images that I saw in Guatemala made me realize that I am so thankful for everything that I have, even though most of the time I do not show it. |
| Coming to Guatemala with no expectations was good. I was able to soak in the entire trip without any standards. We worked really hard and I was not expecting so much manual labor. The community was very welcoming and I immensely enjoyed meeting with many Guatemalans and others. Serving poverty here made me realize that I want to help in my own background. I discovered that in the mist of poverty, the people are still very content and happy. Going shopping in the various markets was also an adventure. I learned to bargain and get good deals. I loved getting to know the culture and experiencing what it means to live and serve with the poor. On the other hand, it did get a little difficult at times. Eleven days is a long time to be away from home and in a third world country. It is also hard to fell comfortable in such conditions for the very first time. However, I am very glad I came and would never regret any of it. |
| Going on this trip was the highlight of my summer and my life. Coming to Guatemala I had pictured the poorest of the poor. However, were stayed in a nice hotel with the exception of the bugs and a change in the bathroom routine. The biggest difference I saw in the culture was the Guatemalans happiness. Though they are materialistically poor, you would never thing that it affected them given by their huge smiles, which made my day. Saying a simple "Hola" or playing with the kids at the mission is all it would take to reveal the joy on their faces. Seeing how the Guatemalans live their life makes me cherish the treasures that most matter: Shelter, Food, Family, Friends and Faith. |
| Some people wonder how there can be a God when there area people living in poverty while others have more money than they could ever use. If those people could go to San Lucas, I believe they would perfectly understand. There is an indescribable beauty in San Lucas, not only in the gorgeous mountains and the lake that surrounds the city but in the houses made of scraps of metal and the dirty streets as well. There is beauty in each child's smile and each "Buenos Dias" greeting as you walk down the street. These people are so grateful of God's gifts and so willing to share what little they have with others that they are, without a doubt, the richest people on earth. I have learned so much in Guatemala these past two years and have begun to consider San Lucas as my second home. There is no doubt in my mind that I will return next year and far into the future. |
| As I traveled to Guatemala, I expected the people surrounded by poverty and lack of social justice, to be completely beaten down by the circumstances. Instead I found the people to be happier and friendlier than many people in the world not inflicted with poverty. The notion that I would be the one to pick these peoples spirits up faded, as I realized I could be the one to learn a lot from their positive demeanor. Through being immersed in their culture, I got to observe, that despite their misfortunes, they were some of the most kind and faith-filled people I have ever met. The children surprised me the most with their extreme enthusiasm for school and church. I watched the children scream back to the priest in excitement and belted out their songs. The same excitement was true at the school were I helped teach English one day. In addition, we were sincerely welcomed by the people of San Lucas. The words "Hola" and "Buenos Dias" followed us around the town coming from those of all ages, the words were always accompanied with big smiles. They had even exercised patience at my feeble attempts at Spanish. Because of their kindness and openness towards us they enable me to see that what the people of San Lucas lack in money and material possessions, they make up for in Character. |
| Between the crazy truck rides, beautiful land, joyous people, amazing culture and group bonding, the trip to Guatemala was on e of the most incredible experiences of my life. By going to San Lucas Tolimán, I saw happiness in poverty first hand. It made me realize what was truly important: Food, regardless if you don't like it; Shelter, no matter how nasty the shower as long as there is a roof over your head; Faith, how could there be a doubt when you see the happiness in this poor country; and most importantly Family. My group was my family on this trip, and we have some of the tightest bonds I've ever experienced in a group. Despite our differences, we came together over prayer, soccer, Harry Potter, drinking multiple liters of Pepsi, playing with the kids, and digging trenches. Another group told us "If you love Jesus, Dig!" And we dug. A lot. The work we did was so meaningful. I didn't want to leave. I love it in Guatemala, and I plan to stay for a longer time in the future. I think anyone who has been there can see why. |
| There are far too many things that I got out of this trip to list. The memories and friendships I gained out of this trip are amazing and will last a lifetime. The calices on my hands will symbolize success every time I glance at them. I am very grateful of my time in Guatemala. There was never a dull moment. Everyday things such as smiles of the people, honorable work, and growing friendships are all less then 1% of the full experience. I could not have asked for a better group of people to share such a wonderful time with. I am very blessed; God has taken my hand and walked me through such a wonderful trip. My faith has never been stronger! |
| Beautiful vegetation and friendly easily mitigated the poorer conditions in San Lucas. Within eleven days, our mission team installed water pipes, prepared a construction site and watched a garden spring up from our labors. Through all of our hard work, we saw God's work being done in San Lucas, and had opportunities to meet other people. I really enjoyed growing closer with our mission team and learning from people ion different states, both geographically and figuratively. The Guatemalan people always returned our greetings with a smile, demonstrated the exceptional strength of their family relationships and allowed their deep spirituality to flow through the town. Experiencing those beautiful qualities first hand made me realize that poverty is less of a permanent condition and more of a mental state. In San Lucas, I did not find poverty as I had expected. Rather, I learned that even though we live much more comfortably here, we can be in as much or more poverty than the Guatemalan people. |