Seeing Poverty First Hand
May 9
I woke up around 4:15 am and was wide awake. This surprised me, as I had gotten to bed after midnight the night before. As I laid in bed, I started to think about the trip so far in an effort to process the experience. I was thinking back to my last blog before the trip started where I talked about my biggest fear for the trip – would I experience God in this trip? I was mentally walking through the events of the previous few days, when out of the blue I hear the phrase in my mind “I want you to be baptized”. This was not an audible sound, but at the same time it wasn’t like a thought I had come up with. It took me completely by surprise. I pondered it for a minute or two, then said, “OK, Lord, I will do it.”. It didn’t make any sense to me and I wasn’t sure what it would mean, but I felt called to do so. I stepped boldly out in faith and accepted the calling.
Before the trip started, the team leader did announce that the team would have the opportunity to be baptized on Thursday afternoon if anyone wanted. There wasn’t any pressure, and it hadn’t been brought up since then.
Now, I had been baptized as an infant. I know that some people question the value of an infant baptism, as faith needs to be a personal commitment. From an academic perspective, I can see arguments for and against infant baptism. Either way, I never felt the need to be baptized as an adult. My faith is established. Now, however, I felt like God, for whatever reason, was calling me to be baptized. For new Christians, baptism is a way to establish their faith, making a life commitment to God. Since my faith is already established, I viewed my baptism not as a way of establishing my faith but as a way to recommit myself to God. The mental picture that came to mind at the time was my parents’ marriage. At their 50th wedding anniversary, they had a small ceremony at church where they renewed their wedding vows to each other. Did they need to redo their vows? Were they trying to establish their marriage? No, but it was an outward and inward display to each other and others of their commitment to what was already present. I saw my baptism in that light – an outward and inward display of my commitment to Jesus and my faith in Him.
I stayed in bed for while but then got up around 5:00 am to explore the city and do photography, with the intent of getting back to the hotel in time for breakfast with Mary Beth. As I was leaving the room, I was thinking that I probably should have my quiet time with God first. I didn’t have a lot of time to spend before I would have to go back to the hotel and I wanted to maximize the amount of time I had to explore. So I figured that I could easily just take some time in the evening for prayer. But then I decided it would be best to “tithe” my time. Just like tithing your money, where you give God the first 10% and live off the rest, I figured that I should give God the first part of my day and trust that He will provide photographically in the remainder of the time. I spent some time in prayer on a bench by the hotel’s entrance before heading into town.
I had spent some time on the trip so far photographing street scenes and architecture. Today, I focused mostly on photographing the locals.
Before the trip started, the team leader did announce that the team would have the opportunity to be baptized on Thursday afternoon if anyone wanted. There wasn’t any pressure, and it hadn’t been brought up since then.
Now, I had been baptized as an infant. I know that some people question the value of an infant baptism, as faith needs to be a personal commitment. From an academic perspective, I can see arguments for and against infant baptism. Either way, I never felt the need to be baptized as an adult. My faith is established. Now, however, I felt like God, for whatever reason, was calling me to be baptized. For new Christians, baptism is a way to establish their faith, making a life commitment to God. Since my faith is already established, I viewed my baptism not as a way of establishing my faith but as a way to recommit myself to God. The mental picture that came to mind at the time was my parents’ marriage. At their 50th wedding anniversary, they had a small ceremony at church where they renewed their wedding vows to each other. Did they need to redo their vows? Were they trying to establish their marriage? No, but it was an outward and inward display to each other and others of their commitment to what was already present. I saw my baptism in that light – an outward and inward display of my commitment to Jesus and my faith in Him.
I stayed in bed for while but then got up around 5:00 am to explore the city and do photography, with the intent of getting back to the hotel in time for breakfast with Mary Beth. As I was leaving the room, I was thinking that I probably should have my quiet time with God first. I didn’t have a lot of time to spend before I would have to go back to the hotel and I wanted to maximize the amount of time I had to explore. So I figured that I could easily just take some time in the evening for prayer. But then I decided it would be best to “tithe” my time. Just like tithing your money, where you give God the first 10% and live off the rest, I figured that I should give God the first part of my day and trust that He will provide photographically in the remainder of the time. I spent some time in prayer on a bench by the hotel’s entrance before heading into town.
I had spent some time on the trip so far photographing street scenes and architecture. Today, I focused mostly on photographing the locals.
I have added some photos from my early morning photo walk.
Fountain in a small plaza
It was during breakfast that I shared with Mary Beth my intent of getting baptized later on in the trip.
After breakfast we took the shuttle to Yepocapa, which is about 2 hours away to visit on the schools CoEd sponsors. The road to Yepocapa quickly left the city and entered natural and agricultural environments. The road was passing through the mountains, making it frequently very steep, narrow, and winding.
After breakfast we took the shuttle to Yepocapa, which is about 2 hours away to visit on the schools CoEd sponsors. The road to Yepocapa quickly left the city and entered natural and agricultural environments. The road was passing through the mountains, making it frequently very steep, narrow, and winding.
Once at the school the students gave us a heart-warming welcome. The students had laid down a bed of pine needles for us to walk on as we entered the school’s courtyard. This bed, called an alfombras, is a sign of respect. It represents the idea that the guest is worthy and doesn’t deserve to have to walk on the ground. I compare it to our tradition of using a red carpet to welcome someone. The students were cheering as we walked past them. The students showed tremendous energy and enthusiasm.
After an initial welcome greeting, the girls performed a traditional indigenous dance. As the music ended, all of the students rushed to the Go Trip team, grabbed a partner, and pulled them out into the courtyard, then danced together.
After an initial welcome greeting, the girls performed a traditional indigenous dance. As the music ended, all of the students rushed to the Go Trip team, grabbed a partner, and pulled them out into the courtyard, then danced together.
The students performed an indigenous Mayan dance
After the dancing, the school staff played a short ice breaker game. Students and Go Trip team members were paired up again, and the students took their partners through three stations. Each station was intended to provide some cultural information about Guatemala. The stations focused on native arts and crafts, food, and agriculture.
My student was Kenedy and he is 15 years old. At the arts and craft booth, he showed me several items that he had made himself. His father is a woodworker, and Kenedy likes helping his dad make things out of wood. |
Kenedy
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After the cultural presentations, volunteers and students were assigned into several small groups. The goal was to have a discussion time where the adults and students were able to share about themselves. I was the only one in the group who couldn’t speak Spanish. There were 2 staff members from CoEd in my group, and they translated everything for me.
The next item on the schedule was craft time. The next day was Mother’s Day in Guatemala, and the Go Trip team worked with the students to make cards for their mothers.
The next item on the schedule was craft time. The next day was Mother’s Day in Guatemala, and the Go Trip team worked with the students to make cards for their mothers.
Around this time, I started to get a headache. I hadn’t been drinking as much as I should have, and it was starting to take its toll. I was also starting to get overwhelmed by the language barrier. Between the two, I was starting to emotionally check out. The day had some very positive hi moments, but this was becoming one of the low points.
After lunch, we drove to a home visit with one of the Rise students. It was a short drive but was enough to get me back in the game mentally.
Once the shuttles dropped us off, we still had about a 5-minute walk up a steep, narrow road to get to the student’s house.
The student’s name is Margorie. Margorie started the home visit by introducing herself and her family. She is in 10th grade and is studying to be a secretary. Her long-term dream is to become a lawyer. Her mom was present, but her dad was working as a bricklayer several hours away. She also has 3 younger sisters. She was very calm and collected and presented herself very well. I was impressed with how eloquent and confident she was. She mentioned that her mom has been inspired by Margorie's success in school and has enrolled back in school. Her mom is now in 7th grade.
After lunch, we drove to a home visit with one of the Rise students. It was a short drive but was enough to get me back in the game mentally.
Once the shuttles dropped us off, we still had about a 5-minute walk up a steep, narrow road to get to the student’s house.
The student’s name is Margorie. Margorie started the home visit by introducing herself and her family. She is in 10th grade and is studying to be a secretary. Her long-term dream is to become a lawyer. Her mom was present, but her dad was working as a bricklayer several hours away. She also has 3 younger sisters. She was very calm and collected and presented herself very well. I was impressed with how eloquent and confident she was. She mentioned that her mom has been inspired by Margorie's success in school and has enrolled back in school. Her mom is now in 7th grade.
The host family had made some food for us, and gave us some lessons on cooking traditional Guatemalan food. We had the chance to make tortillas and fried bananas. Margorie also led the adults in a craft, making a paper sunflower.
At one point, I was sitting on a stool and one of Margorie's sisters was standing a few feet in front of me, looking in my direction. She gave a shy wave and I waved back. I then lifted my camera up and asked if I could take her picture. She said yes. Afterwards, not sure if she would understand, I held out my fist for a knuckle bump. Quickly, she reached out to return the bump.
Sometimes after getting a knuckle bump, I will pull my fist away and spreading my fingers, make an explosion sound, as if the knuckle bump blasted my hand apart. I did that this time, and the girl immediately started giggling. She then ran over to her other sisters. She said something to them, and then they all ran over to me, wanting knuckle bumps. The girl kept approaching me throughout our time there, wanting knuckle bumps. |
Margorie's sister, moments before a knuckle bump made her day
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One of the Go Trip team had brought a sheet of stickers that they shared with the girls. The girls had fun with the stickers, but the real fun started when one of the adults encouraged the girls to place a sticker on the back of another adult. That adult then over emoted, reacting wildly as they “tried” to get the sticker off. The girls thought that this was hilarious. That sheet of stickers was worth their weight in gold.
No one was safe from the stickers. Inevitably, I got a sticker on my back. I frantically spun around like a dog chasing his tail, exclaiming that I needed to get the sticker off me. At the time, I was holding my camera by the strap and as I spun the camera swung outwards, nearly clocking one of the little girls in the head. I quickly made sure that I was holding the camera more securely. It is all fun and games until a kid gets clocked in the head by over 3 lbs of camera gear.
One of the girls approached me and made hand gestures to indicate that she wanted to use my camera. I put the camera strap around her neck and showed her the basics of using a camera. She got a kick out of trying to take a picture. It was heavy and the hand grip was designed for much bigger hands, but she was determined to make it work.
No one was safe from the stickers. Inevitably, I got a sticker on my back. I frantically spun around like a dog chasing his tail, exclaiming that I needed to get the sticker off me. At the time, I was holding my camera by the strap and as I spun the camera swung outwards, nearly clocking one of the little girls in the head. I quickly made sure that I was holding the camera more securely. It is all fun and games until a kid gets clocked in the head by over 3 lbs of camera gear.
One of the girls approached me and made hand gestures to indicate that she wanted to use my camera. I put the camera strap around her neck and showed her the basics of using a camera. She got a kick out of trying to take a picture. It was heavy and the hand grip was designed for much bigger hands, but she was determined to make it work.
On the drive back to Antigua, the CoEd staff was taking a poll for what we wanted to do for dinner. We had a choice of either nacho platters or hamburgers. I jokingly made the comment that it seemed a bit sacrilegious to go to a foreign country and then eat hamburgers. The rest of the team agreed. We had nacho platters for dinner.
After dinner we had a short worship session. Afterwards, one of the members of the Go Trip team, Amber, approached me and asked if I had any pictures of a particular door in town. She is an architect and had seen a particular door several times that she found fascinating. She wanted to add the picture to her collection of neat doors. I had been photographing a lot of the doors over the past few days, so there was the possibility that I had already captured it. I told her that I would check my camera, and if not, I would try to get the image in the morning.
I told Mary Beth that I was going for a night walk to see if I could find the door in question. Mary Beth opted to go with me with the intent of getting some ice cream in the process. Another team member, David, joined us. Once on the hunt, we traced the routes that we had frequented over the past few days as we walked to various activities in town. We covered all the routes we could recall but didn’t find the door in question. At that point we stopped at an ice cream shop. The owner was there and waited on us. He was hilarious in his presentation. I was not expecting a show along with our ice cream.
Upon leaving the ice cream shop we tried one more possible route, but again, to no avail. Then it occurred to me that Amber had probably seen the door while riding in the shuttle vans and not while walking. The only road that the shuttle ran on multiple times was the road right in front of the hotel. We walked back to the hotel, at which point Mary Beth called it a night, while David and I continued to explore. About 3 blocks from the hotel, we found it. I made a mental note how to find it in the morning and went back to the hotel to call it a night.
One of the things that impressed me with the family during the home visit was that, despite their poverty, they had a strong sense of faith, family, gratitude, and joy. They showed hospitality and were warm and welcoming. One of the team members made the comment afterwards that “I have a way better house than they do, but they have a way better home.” It is humbling to see such joy despite a lack of worldly wealth. It also drove home the point how insignificant some of our first-world problems really are.
I found it very surreal to be in Margorie’s home. I have often seen pictures of poverty and shanty towns within Central America, whether in the news and media or in movies, but it has always been in the context of “over there” and that it only affects “other people”. It never resonated with me on a personal level. I have been on several trips to Mexico where poverty is also very common and have seen it in person, but only from a vehicle as I rode from the airport to our resort. Even then, there was a glass wall between me and the poverty. Now, I was standing in someone’s home, which is little more than a cinder block and corrugated steel shanty. This was no longer abstract. I was in it. And these are real-life people just like me. This experience opened a new perspective and understanding for me.
After dinner we had a short worship session. Afterwards, one of the members of the Go Trip team, Amber, approached me and asked if I had any pictures of a particular door in town. She is an architect and had seen a particular door several times that she found fascinating. She wanted to add the picture to her collection of neat doors. I had been photographing a lot of the doors over the past few days, so there was the possibility that I had already captured it. I told her that I would check my camera, and if not, I would try to get the image in the morning.
I told Mary Beth that I was going for a night walk to see if I could find the door in question. Mary Beth opted to go with me with the intent of getting some ice cream in the process. Another team member, David, joined us. Once on the hunt, we traced the routes that we had frequented over the past few days as we walked to various activities in town. We covered all the routes we could recall but didn’t find the door in question. At that point we stopped at an ice cream shop. The owner was there and waited on us. He was hilarious in his presentation. I was not expecting a show along with our ice cream.
Upon leaving the ice cream shop we tried one more possible route, but again, to no avail. Then it occurred to me that Amber had probably seen the door while riding in the shuttle vans and not while walking. The only road that the shuttle ran on multiple times was the road right in front of the hotel. We walked back to the hotel, at which point Mary Beth called it a night, while David and I continued to explore. About 3 blocks from the hotel, we found it. I made a mental note how to find it in the morning and went back to the hotel to call it a night.
One of the things that impressed me with the family during the home visit was that, despite their poverty, they had a strong sense of faith, family, gratitude, and joy. They showed hospitality and were warm and welcoming. One of the team members made the comment afterwards that “I have a way better house than they do, but they have a way better home.” It is humbling to see such joy despite a lack of worldly wealth. It also drove home the point how insignificant some of our first-world problems really are.
I found it very surreal to be in Margorie’s home. I have often seen pictures of poverty and shanty towns within Central America, whether in the news and media or in movies, but it has always been in the context of “over there” and that it only affects “other people”. It never resonated with me on a personal level. I have been on several trips to Mexico where poverty is also very common and have seen it in person, but only from a vehicle as I rode from the airport to our resort. Even then, there was a glass wall between me and the poverty. Now, I was standing in someone’s home, which is little more than a cinder block and corrugated steel shanty. This was no longer abstract. I was in it. And these are real-life people just like me. This experience opened a new perspective and understanding for me.