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Man on a Mission
The plane ride from Charlotte to Guatemala was only about 3 hours and 15 minutes. The bus ride from the airport to Canton Paxot, (pronounced “Pah shoat” II, however was more than 4 hours—all off pavement, after leaving the airport and around hairpin turns where only the horn served to alert others we were coming. The road was mostly uphill through a pass cut into the mountains, resulting in walls about 30 feet high in most places.
When we arrived at about 11 P.M. our bags were spirited away by our greeters. Some would say that these people, who were small in stature, (The tallest I saw was at most 5’6” ) were working on adrenalin -carrying bags that all weighed right at the limit of 50 pounds. I would have agreed before spending time with and among them. I learned that it was daily hard work that equipped them for this task.
I joined Max Kern along with 16 others on a trip to the mountains of Guatemala to help build a church for these beautiful people of Mayan decent. It was often hard to distinguish men from boys; if they could carry something, they helped. Since the women were at most 5’ tall, it took a close look to tell women from girls.
We went to build a church for these poor people - less fortunate that we are.
By our standards they were poor - very poor, living in a house consisting of one room for sleeping. As the family grows, they add additional rooms as separate buildings around a courtyard with a separate building that serves as a kitchen.
We saw dogs, a few cats, turkeys, ducks, chickens and pigs - all running free and they were peacefully co-existing! This seemed very strange to me, but, as time passed, I came to believe that it was this way because of the way the people peacefully co-existed and that this attitude of harmony carried over to the animals. It was truly impressive.
We went to a place where they don’t speak English; in fact they don’t speak Spanish according to our retired Spanish teacher who could understand only a few words. They spoke “Quiche” (pronounced kee chay). We had an interpreter, but in his absence, the people were very patient in attempts to communicate with us. We ate what they eat, although Max said that they probably don’t eat as well as we did.
We took a lot of school supplies for the community school - which is essentially outdoors. We also took tools, (that’s why the bags were all at the max weight), clothing, treats and gifts along with money to buy materials. We were equipped and prepared to “do for them” what they couldn’t afford to do for themselves.
Well, we “did for them” - got up at 6 a.m. stopped for a quick breakfast at 8:30, a quick lunch around 1 P.M. and worked until dark—around 7 P.M. or so. And we accomplished a lot and felt good about our impact on the project and hopefully on the community - showing them that people from the U.S. cared about them.
But they “did for us”, too! I doubt they will ever know what they did for us. (It sunk in slowly with some in our group getting it before others, but eventually we were all touched by their generosity. We shared from our bounty and they shared from their meager means (reference “the widow’s mite”).
We each had our individual experiences with the people of Paxot II, and I can only describe my own.
For example, small children, maybe 6 years old, were allowed to play outside in the community after dark. I saw a small boy pulling on the leg of a large dog and the dog only watched him as the boy appeared to be trying to put the dogs back leg behind the dog’s head. Later, after the boy left to go home, the dog went across the street and into a different house. I think most dogs would have bitten the boy. Chickens, ducks and turkeys would walk within easy reach, only watching where you were walking to safely walk on by.
Just as I believe the harmony among the animals comes from the way the people live, I was touched by the beautiful spirit of these “poor” people.
Did I say poor? I wish I could bottle what they have. They don’t have material wealth, but they are always smiling and laughing.
We worry about promotions, big houses and fancy cars, cell phones, computers and “blackberries”. They have to work from day to day just to keep food on the table.
I have witnessed living proof that joy comes from within. I lived it for a time and I aspire to achieve that joy in my daily life.
I would highly recommend such a trip and suggest that you talk to Max Kern for details.
Thanks Max, for the privilege and experience.
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