I feel like it would be hard to go on with any future blogs without talking about the changes in culture I will be experiencing over the coming year. I of course can only talk from the perspective of Guatemala right now, but it’s enough of a culture shift that it’s worth telling all of you about!
As you’ve probably imagined, Guatemala is not really like the States. And Quiche isn’t really like the rest of Guatemala. Where we are about 90% of the population are direct descendants of the Mayans. We actually got the chance to visit some old Mayan ruins (slight underwhelming, but still). The culture is very conservative, with women showing very little skin. Men always wear pants, standard Central American stuff. However, here the women will also wear their traditional Mayan clothes. This consists of very brightly colored, woven materials with long bright skirts. You can always tell a Mayan woman from all the other women in Quiche.
Little snapshot of Quiche
In some strange way this place kinda reminds me of home. Or at least the more rural parts of home. Everyone is so kind and is very intentional on greetings. It’s weird not to tell someone “Buenos Dias!” or “Buenos Tardes!” maybe even a “Buenos Noches!” every now and again. Just like home, asking someone how they’re doing is the norm. Everywhere there are farmers walking around with their bright produce or whatever else they make or grow. You can even see people parading their cows or horses around. For some people (city folk) on my squad this is fascinating. For me, just feels a bit like good Ol’ Mississippi. Even all the rugged vehicles (many of which I would LOVE to own) remind me of all the off-roaders and huge 350’s back home. All the security guards have giant handguns and shotguns, which even still makes me feel like I’m back in Hattiesburg. However, there are a great many differences.
For instance, I’m a good 6 inches to a foot taller than most Guatemalans. Meaning not only do I stick out in a crowd because of my hair and pale pallor, but I also am a head taller than everyone. I’ve run into so many low hanging things it’s downright hazardous. To date I’ve taken 4 different types of transportation to get around, none of which were cars. We’ve taken 15 passengers vans (microbuses), Tuk-tuk’s (little red scooter, rickshaw looking things), the bed of a pickup truck (there were 16 of us), and giant modified school buses called chicken buses (who knows why). The chicken buses take curves, mountains, inclines, and everything else in ways that would make a four-wheeler jealous. Other than that, we just walk everywhere.
The little red thing is a Tuk-tuk
The countryside is beautiful, with rolling hills and volcanoes. Just yesterday we went to a giant green lake with 3 volcanoes around it. The wild dogs around the city are almost as prevalent as the citizens. Even the food is amazing. The weather is gorgeous. Most nights I can see my breath. That is to say, there are so many things to love about this place, yet there are still many things to pray for.
The Lake with small mountain and then volcano behind
While Quiche is a wonderful place, there are many examples of darkness here. There are many children in the hospital we do ministry in that have been abandoned. One little 7 month old girl was left on the side of the road. Two 10 year old girls were left at the hospital, they don’t even know they were abandoned. Pray for these girls, little Lupita, Paulina, and Catalina. There is a thick air of paganism because of the Mayan culture. In the ruins we went to there were places everywhere where the people would burn offerings to their ancestors. However, God is moving. A day doesn’t go by where we hear amazing testimonies in the hospital. Just today we talked to Ruiz, the head janitor at the hospital, who used to be a boxer and drug user. Now he goes to church all the time and is jazzed about what we’re doing in Guatemala.
I could go on and on with stories upon stories upon stories. We haven’t even left yet, either. There will be more stories to come. Many more. I haven’t even gotten to my specific ministry this month or the overall theme of growth I’ve sensed in my team.
Continue to pray for us here, we surely need it. God moves in some funny ways, my last blog is evidence of that. I challenge you to go do something intentional today, and see the seeds you plant as you do so. It’s a pretty cool feeling. I’m sure you’ll love it.
Until next post!
Seth
