by Suzie Brauer
Life is a journey that has unexpected turns and discoveries. Such it was when we went to Guatemala for a week in June to work at the camp, teaching English to eager young students. One individual’s reflection included words to the effect that “Life is not about stuff. Stuff doesn’t bring automatic enjoyment”. After less than two days in Chichicastenango our experience undoubtedly confirmed this. What we discovered were children and adults who have very little in the way of “stuff” but are incredibly joyful and giving. Giving of excitement, love, positive expectations and eagerness to learn. And then there were the hugs and high fives. All of this so much more important and meaningful than “stuff” we have in our own lives. The week with Pura Vida was a unique, incredibly different experience that provided the volunteers who traveled down there a new and potentially life changing experience.
Life is a journey that has unexpected turns and discoveries. Such it was when we went to Guatemala for a week in June to work at the camp, teaching English to eager young students. One individual’s reflection included words to the effect that “Life is not about stuff. Stuff doesn’t bring automatic enjoyment”. After less than two days in Chichicastenango our experience undoubtedly confirmed this. What we discovered were children and adults who have very little in the way of “stuff” but are incredibly joyful and giving. Giving of excitement, love, positive expectations and eagerness to learn. And then there were the hugs and high fives. All of this so much more important and meaningful than “stuff” we have in our own lives. The week with Pura Vida was a unique, incredibly different experience that provided the volunteers who traveled down there a new and potentially life changing experience.
| One cannot deny that the five days we spent teaching two groups of young people, ages 10 to 16, English were long and packed with activity and learning. Each group had about 30 students divided into three classes. And these days included the unexpected. But that unexpected included laughter, screams of joy, hugs, and “thank yous” that were heartfelt and at times unexpected. Children eager to learn and giving up their school vacation time to do so. Parents so grateful for the scholarships that their child had received to be able to continue to attend school that they cried when meeting the sponsor of their child. How my heart warmed at all of this. | "Children eager to learn and giving up their school vacation time to do so." |
The unexpected on the last day, receiving a hug and a very long thank you and God bless you from a student I didn’t know I had touched so intensely. The boy who sang a song once with the group and then had to have the title written down to take home to his family; the teenager who brought a gift he had made, a woven tortilla cover, to thank us for all we had done; so many of the children bringing phones to take pictures of themselves with their “teacher”. Yes, those students made a life impact on all of us.
It was a distinctive experience, one I had never had. Who benefited the most? It is hard to say whether it was the children or those of us who were fortunate to have this time in a beautiful country and unique culture. One thing is for sure. The memories will never leave our minds and it was impossible to come home and not have changed in some unique way. Thank you Pura Vida for the opportunity for a new vision on life.
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