Christopher here…has Lia done an incredible job with this blog or what!?! With this only being my second entry, I’m very thankful for all of her work, and insight, she’s so faithfully been posting. And, I’m really excited to be sharing this piece with you. We’re often asked, “why Guatemala?” So, here’s why...
As Lia and I wait (and wait and wait) for Noemi, among the many things I notice is that I’m constantly blown away by how Guatemala has come into our lives with such wonder, intensity and purpose. This country, more specifically this little girl, clearly chose us. I’ve been replaying the many moving experiences we’ve had over and over again in my mind, from the past seven years of visiting this dangerously beautiful country. It is a gorgeous land of amazing people and stunningly, dramatic simplicity. We have been blessed to experience many dazzling destinations folded into this planet, yet Guatemala holds an incredibly special place for us.
We were truly privileged to have our lives changed during our 7-month “Salva Vida” (Life Saver) journey in 2000, when we drove from San Francisco to Costa Rica, and then back home. It was on this trip that Guatemala, and really its people, stole the show and our hearts. Its beauty is way more than skin deep; it was the way the people spoke to us, with how they show up in life: joyfully, graciously, simply and filled with a huge spirit of thanks.
I’ll never forget the day we arrived in Guatemala; we ended up crossing the Mexican-Guatemalan border without really meaning to (a whole other story). We wound up in the town of Malacatan and soon walked its tiny main street looking for a dinner spot. After a great meal filled with warm hospitality, we strolled back to our hotel. Suddenly, live exuberant music filled the air. We came upon an outdoor assembly of folks with their hands in the air, swaying, singing and women clad in black sobbing, even wailing.
Lia and I, not having been to church in several weeks, were curious and comforted. As we approached the sunset event and tucked ourselves into the back of the congregation, we were instantly aware that we indeed were the only gringos. Person after person looked to us and offered their inquisitive smiles. The pastor welcomed us. Men immediately stood up to shake our hands and receive us as one retrieved chairs for us. Children giggled and engaged us, asking us English translations for Spanish words. Widows, presumably from the intensely sad “disappearances” stood and offered their pleas and their praise. Wow, this was intense.
We sat in awe. Most importantly we were engulfed by God’s grace and love, so far beyond what we could have ever orchestrated for the night. What a welcome.
And, there’s more, lots more; I’ll share the one that sealed the deal. On our return from Costa Rica, four months later, we stopped in the magical colonial city of Antigua, intending to visit for a few days. We so fell in love that we ended up staying in Antigua for 3 weeks and nearly began a search for an apartment; and we had begun devising a business idea to sustain us—again, another story. Ultimately, we did not to stay because Lia had a client meeting in Cabo San Lucas, in about a month, and we needed to be there. That’s the first time I met our dear friends, Nadia and Kenny who now live in Singapore with their new daughter, Jasmine.
Here’s the thing, on our first night in Antigua, our Explorer got broken into. In the early morning hours, a front desk clerk wrapped his knuckles on our door saying something about Rex’s window being broken. It was the only night of the entire trip that I didn’t park our family member in a secured car park.
After a two-day window replacement excursion to Guatemala City, we returned to the ancient Central American capital of the New World. It was here in Antigua we learned something really important about ourselves. Of course, we could have been bitter about the rip-off (and believe me, we had moments of sheer frustration and anguish), and it was challenging not to be. Or, we could choose our response, which my wife astutely pointed out, is what really defines people.
So, we added up the value of what we lost in one bag—a “catch all” duffle bag—and realized it was more than the annual average income of a Guatemalan. We found this fact absolutely heart-breaking. And, after filing our police report, Lia and I landed on wanting to do something for someone(s) in Antigua, matching the value of what we “lost.”
On the next day, we took a city tour and asked our guide about giving to this community. Elizabeth Bell, an American living for years in Antigua—and very active in the community—referred us to the Godchild Project, or Familias de Esparanza (families of hope) as it’s known in Antigua. We went over to check out the facility and were moved by what we saw. Families, children and staff building, teaching and learning together in this growing compound with the sole purpose to serve those seeking freedom from circumstance…their poverty.
We were mesmerized by the sight of the families showing up with such hope and wide smiles, in search of improving their prospects for housing, education, health care, etc. The staff was fantastic and we immediately signed up. That day in April of 2000 we met Rene Antonio Selen Valasquez and his mother, Maria Elena and his grandmamma, Rosa. And, our life was changed. Its people gave us a new perspective; a perspective that we needed to know and embrace 7-plus years later, on November 17 when Noemi chose us.
On our trip down to meet Noemi in February, we returned to Antigua to visit Rene and family. This was our third time to be with them; we visited in 2002 as well. He’s 14 now and keeps the family blessed by Common Hope with his commitment to education, the primary accountability factor of the program. We are the ones blessed. Yes, this photo is from our recent visit.
As Lia and I wait (and wait and wait) for Noemi, among the many things I notice is that I’m constantly blown away by how Guatemala has come into our lives with such wonder, intensity and purpose. This country, more specifically this little girl, clearly chose us. I’ve been replaying the many moving experiences we’ve had over and over again in my mind, from the past seven years of visiting this dangerously beautiful country. It is a gorgeous land of amazing people and stunningly, dramatic simplicity. We have been blessed to experience many dazzling destinations folded into this planet, yet Guatemala holds an incredibly special place for us.
We were truly privileged to have our lives changed during our 7-month “Salva Vida” (Life Saver) journey in 2000, when we drove from San Francisco to Costa Rica, and then back home. It was on this trip that Guatemala, and really its people, stole the show and our hearts. Its beauty is way more than skin deep; it was the way the people spoke to us, with how they show up in life: joyfully, graciously, simply and filled with a huge spirit of thanks.
I’ll never forget the day we arrived in Guatemala; we ended up crossing the Mexican-Guatemalan border without really meaning to (a whole other story). We wound up in the town of Malacatan and soon walked its tiny main street looking for a dinner spot. After a great meal filled with warm hospitality, we strolled back to our hotel. Suddenly, live exuberant music filled the air. We came upon an outdoor assembly of folks with their hands in the air, swaying, singing and women clad in black sobbing, even wailing.
Lia and I, not having been to church in several weeks, were curious and comforted. As we approached the sunset event and tucked ourselves into the back of the congregation, we were instantly aware that we indeed were the only gringos. Person after person looked to us and offered their inquisitive smiles. The pastor welcomed us. Men immediately stood up to shake our hands and receive us as one retrieved chairs for us. Children giggled and engaged us, asking us English translations for Spanish words. Widows, presumably from the intensely sad “disappearances” stood and offered their pleas and their praise. Wow, this was intense.
We sat in awe. Most importantly we were engulfed by God’s grace and love, so far beyond what we could have ever orchestrated for the night. What a welcome.
And, there’s more, lots more; I’ll share the one that sealed the deal. On our return from Costa Rica, four months later, we stopped in the magical colonial city of Antigua, intending to visit for a few days. We so fell in love that we ended up staying in Antigua for 3 weeks and nearly began a search for an apartment; and we had begun devising a business idea to sustain us—again, another story. Ultimately, we did not to stay because Lia had a client meeting in Cabo San Lucas, in about a month, and we needed to be there. That’s the first time I met our dear friends, Nadia and Kenny who now live in Singapore with their new daughter, Jasmine.
Here’s the thing, on our first night in Antigua, our Explorer got broken into. In the early morning hours, a front desk clerk wrapped his knuckles on our door saying something about Rex’s window being broken. It was the only night of the entire trip that I didn’t park our family member in a secured car park.
After a two-day window replacement excursion to Guatemala City, we returned to the ancient Central American capital of the New World. It was here in Antigua we learned something really important about ourselves. Of course, we could have been bitter about the rip-off (and believe me, we had moments of sheer frustration and anguish), and it was challenging not to be. Or, we could choose our response, which my wife astutely pointed out, is what really defines people.
So, we added up the value of what we lost in one bag—a “catch all” duffle bag—and realized it was more than the annual average income of a Guatemalan. We found this fact absolutely heart-breaking. And, after filing our police report, Lia and I landed on wanting to do something for someone(s) in Antigua, matching the value of what we “lost.”
On the next day, we took a city tour and asked our guide about giving to this community. Elizabeth Bell, an American living for years in Antigua—and very active in the community—referred us to the Godchild Project, or Familias de Esparanza (families of hope) as it’s known in Antigua. We went over to check out the facility and were moved by what we saw. Families, children and staff building, teaching and learning together in this growing compound with the sole purpose to serve those seeking freedom from circumstance…their poverty.
We were mesmerized by the sight of the families showing up with such hope and wide smiles, in search of improving their prospects for housing, education, health care, etc. The staff was fantastic and we immediately signed up. That day in April of 2000 we met Rene Antonio Selen Valasquez and his mother, Maria Elena and his grandmamma, Rosa. And, our life was changed. Its people gave us a new perspective; a perspective that we needed to know and embrace 7-plus years later, on November 17 when Noemi chose us.
On our trip down to meet Noemi in February, we returned to Antigua to visit Rene and family. This was our third time to be with them; we visited in 2002 as well. He’s 14 now and keeps the family blessed by Common Hope with his commitment to education, the primary accountability factor of the program. We are the ones blessed. Yes, this photo is from our recent visit.
And, last year we picked up another family member, Mayra. Our dear friend Marilee Wingert introduced us to this industrious soul. Marilee and her husband, Steve, are amazing people; they've started a foundation to serve women in Guatemala. Mayra, yeah, that's her on the right in this photo, goes to college now and we can’t wait to meet her as well.
Who would have thought we’d have a Guatemalan family like this? Please, let me be clear, the purpose of telling you about this miraculous Guatemalan connection; it is not to extol our virtuous character! Oh no, it is to praise the God of wonders.
Thanks for reading. If you’re curious about Common Hope, please visit http://www.commonhope.org/
Thanks for reading. If you’re curious about Common Hope, please visit http://www.commonhope.org/
If you're curious about sponsoring a young woman to advance her education, please let me know.
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