Since our last point of contact to the outside world, so much has happened with the rag-tag group of college kids that started this journey together. We all shared experiences going out into the community of San Lucas and working to better the lives of the people who live here. The projects we worked on spanned from sorting locally produced coffee to constructing wooden homes for families, to picking and shoveling dirt for the building of a road. The work was undoubtedly hard, but rewarding for all involved. We were all able to see progress in the projects at hand, and that progress directly correlated to the improvement of lives here in this quaint Guatemalan city.
The projects we worked on and events we attended have brought about unprecedented personal growth for each team member. The group was able to visit the city graveyard and see the impressive and colorful tombs. By walking through the rows, we learned how death can truly be a celebration of life and hope for what is to come. The next morning, we climbed a nearby summit to watch the sun rise over lake Atitlan. Although the climb was a struggle for some, we all persevered to the top and experienced the breathtaking view together. Finally, we all gathered today after a long day of building to play soccer with the native workers that we toiled with all of the projects throughout the week. Our team showed that on every leg of the trip, we were moved and shaken to grow, even outside of our comfort zone.
Day in and day out, we have come closer to this community in solidarity. The Ash Wednesday service was a beautiful experience topped off by our small contingency of the Gannon family being warmly embraced by the local peoples. Additionally, playing soccer with our fellow workers showed that even though language may divide us we can still interact with fellow workers in a simple game, even though we may have been much less experienced. By fully immersing ourselves with the people of San Lucas, we have come to know a new culture and outlook on life. Although this trip will soon be coming to an end, our shared experience in San Lucas will always be carried with us, even as we walk our own paths into the future.
Until next time San Lucas,
Ryan
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