Q'eqchi

To be deeply touched by something - to have it fill your heart and break it simultaneously. This is how I define the moments that should wake you so abruptly to self realization that you know your exactly at the place you need to be. The times where you've felt you had the heart of God; if only for a moment.

The Q'eqchi people are an indigenous group in the mountainous region of Alta Verapaz,

Guatemala. They compose a large area, but in reality are a fairly small culture. I lived as a part of one of their communities in San Pedro Carcha with a friend who served alongside me for the past month. We lived in a home with a woman named Eva Luvia, her daughter Iris and grandson Isaac (who we called Chaco most of the time). Our work with the organization ODIGUA, was centered around agroecology and women's empowerment within the communities. They connected with many families from each community to help them learn to cultivate their land, become self-sustaining, become community leaders, and better take care of the earth.

The first two weeks, we quite literally hiked all over creation to the houses of different

families-- helping them plant their crops in small plots of land on the mountainsides, and accepting hospitable meals of frijoles, tortillas, caldo, and coffee from each family; something that would become a consistent trend for our month of work. Hospitality is very

important to the people of Guatemala and I discovered that the status quo remained unchanged even in the most secluded areas around where we were staying. They offered freely the food that they had worked tirelessly to produce and found great joy in giving to others.

During our time working in planting with the people, their ability to farm on a slick,

muddy mountainside in the pouring rain was a natural wonder. At first I thought it was the rubber boots they wore; but when I had started wearing rubber boots and continued to slip moreso than walk down the trails, I decided it was probably a me problem. It was amazing what they were able to accomplish with the conditions they had. Even the women who wore tiny sandals to work and walk everywhere, did it with ease. They maintained a deep connection with the earth in this manner. Despite this, litter is a large issue in the area as plastic bottles and bags were introduced to the society before a public disposal system; and many people don't know that the litter is harmful to the environment. This is a part of the agro education that ODIGUA provides.

As much as I loved the planting and the time it provided to coexist with nature, I loved equally the connections I formed with children. Chaco--who lived in the house we stayed in-- was a frequent playmate and had the most contagious laugh. He was a five year old endless ball of energy that either made fun of me or called me 'mi corazón' and I miss him dearly for it.

Bea was my 9 year old neighbor that took my hand from the moment we met and made it her mission to show me around the town. She lit up any room with her bright spirit; I could've grown up with her and not known the difference. As for the other children in the communities-- they served as a form of comfort as the language barrier was not as profound.

What was most commonly spoken was the language Q'eqchi that is a mayan language rather than latin-based; so in other words we did not learn much of it during our time there. This coupled with our foreign status could ostracize us at times within the communities,

but not when it came to the children. The staring eyes of children were filled with nothing but curiosity. They loved to play with anything and everything so that there was never much need for communication. Two girls found out about my collection of flowers and proceeded to take me around their property to collect every one we could find--even putting some in my hair for me. In the moments when I was especially tired, they were pint-sized reminders of God's grace. Little whispers that there was no expectation of me.

In my last week of work, as we had meetings with the communites of their personal reflections on the work being done, a woman stood recounting her gratitude for the difference it made to maintain her own crop. To be able to provide for her family in this way had impacted her confidence and way of life. Our last couple of weeks were composed of meetings such as these, and the handing out of care packages we had assembled. In some ways I learned more from these periods where the women would share, then I did from the planting. Thinking about the

context in which we were in, it was incredible what they were doing. Many of these women-- who were never given the opportunity to have an education, to read or to write, or to be leaders in any capacity-- stood in front of everyone to introduce their thoughts and ideas. More of these women are becoming facilitators within their communities as part of ODIGUA's work. It took time for me to recognize the prominence of women's empowerment occurring that is becoming a catalyst in development in each community. It took time for me to understand that the mindset we had in service was never about fixing this people to our idea of what would make them better. It was always to preserve their identity while bringing positive development to their quality of life. A huge part of this is credited to them becoming an integral part of the work.

I was taught about a different structure of civilization through the style of life and situations I experienced but I was taught even more by the stories of unforgettable people. The ones that stuck in my mind for the picture of beauty and brokeness they painted of their culture. I was told once that when I struggle to put an experience into words, I can write letters to the people that impacted me. So that is what I'll do.

Frederico and Carlos-

Your love for what you do, and the people you do it for is evident in your dedication. Even with an inconsistent paycheck you both remained working with ODIGUA to further its advancement and provide your valuable skillsets. I will miss the joking environment you both created and especially the jokes with the Q'eqchi people that we only understood 1/3 of the time.

Luvia Dolores-

At a point when I was exhausted with being a public annomoly as a foreigner, your words came like an answer to my prayer; reminding me that not everyone viewed me that way. And those that did had well meaning intention. You were one of the first people I was

able to connect with in the communities and for this I am saddened to miss your wedding. It is a beautiful reality that you are marrying for your personal choice and for love at age 26, in an area with the majority having arranged marriages. Solely the invitation was a privilege to receive- and further evidence to me of how your love as a people has no boundaries or exclusivity.

My Neighbor Sylvia -

You radiate warmth and your spirit is ceaselessly bright. It is still a wonder to me how you made your presence like a home. In finding out about the loss you experienced of your father and your husband, I was ignorant of your pain. You simply live in the present with so much gratitude for the life you lead, and joy in all the cherished people surrounding you; but there was also more I never had the chance to see. You embodied the Q'eqchi culture-- that the people around you are not individual but común (q'eqchi for family). You were my family from the very beginning. You embodied it, in that you never allowed your pain or worry to be the master of your mood. Your faith that was the center of your peace was beautiful to see lived out.

Eva Luvia-

You were never granted a life that you didn't have to work for, or that you could find rest in. For that my heart hurts for you. You did not have a choice in getting married at fourteen and having children soon after, or never having the opportunity growing up to learn to read or write. Your stories have taught me half of what I have come to understand about the Q'eqchi culture, and for that I am grateful for all those difficult conversations. Your courage and determination is a powerful example to me. You worked tirelessly to learn how to read late in life, just to be able to read the Bible. You taught Q'eqchi classes and became a leader in the communities without any form of training, and are studying now to gain your degree in theology. I have the utmost respect for the love you have for your culture, and how you have no desire to be anywhere else in the world living any different life. Alta Verapaz is a beautiful place to call home, and I am thankful for your home that you opened up to me during this month.

Gratitude. A word that does not get the credit it deserves for the way it changes your mindset. I could paint this experience as picture perfect moments if I wanted to, but the reality was that it was hard. It was hard to wake up in the morning and immediately speak in a secondary language. It was hard to get stared at every time I walked outside. It was hard to try to find a way to stay warm in the cold and rainy nights. But it was beautiful to be immersed in another culture. It was beautiful to spend each day hiking in vibrant green rolling mountains. It was beautiful to watch the tired lines in faces, transform into broad smiles. It was beautiful to have conversations that wrecked my ignorance. It was not always a conscious recognition of giving thanks to God, but He gave me all the strength I needed to find a joy that consistently outweighed exhaustion. And it was rooted in gratitude.

To the Q'eqchi con Cariño.

~Sara

Prayer Requests:

1. For ODIGUA and their continued efforts in their new projects for the coming year; such as schooling for teenagers, opportunities for women to process their trauma, and installing water tanks for the communities

2. For the continued development in each community and increased confidence in Christ for each woman.

3. For the process of organizing and preparing for my travel to Quito, Ecuador and the beginning of my internship there with The Dunamis Foundation.

4. Special thanks to all the people that contributed to my funding and are the reason that I have everything I need to serve!