Descubriendo Guatemala

What a week it has been!  It seems hard to believe that I have been in Guatemala for a little over a week.  So much has happened; it seems that I have been here for a longer time.

I arrived in San Pedro Carcha last Wednesday, after traveling a very scenic route through the mountains with long-term EMM workers, Galen and Phyllis Groff.  Find out more about the Groff’s work through their blog: http://groff-guatemala-missions.blogspot.com/

Last Friday, I left to spend time with Wilmar Caal and his family near Chiquixji, a remote little K’ekchi’ village.  Wilmar’s father, Felipe, works with a sustainable farming organization to improve farm productivity throughout Central America while caring for the natural environment.  The family grows coffee and cardamom as cash crops.  Maize, beans, and other vegetables and fruits are raised for their own sustenance.

Last Saturday, I was able to help harvest some of the family’s maize crop.  I was a fun morning.  I pulled ears off the stock, bent the stalk over (a sign that it was harvested), partially husked the ear and then hurled the ear through the air to a pile in the middle of the field.  I did that over and over again all morning.  Then the full ears were loaded into sacks (to a weight of about 150 pounds) and carried out to the pick-up truck.  All in all it was great exercise!

   

North Americans may say such harvesting is inefficient compared to modern self-propelled grain combines.  However, these machines cannot maneuver the steep slopes I did that morning.  Neither can a combine operator enjoy the sounds of nature, carry on a conversation with nearby workers or enjoy the breathtaking view I experienced while working.

 

On Monday and Tuesday, I participated in the harvest of cardamom.  It reminded me of picking strawberries in Pennsylvania: back-braking work.  A plus is that harvesting cardamom is in the shade; a minus is that, while eating a cardamom berry is excellent breath freshener, it does not compare to popping a vine-ripened strawberry into one’s mouth every so often while working. 

Besides fieldwork, I enjoyed the children I interacted with in the community.  Children too young for school, follow their parents into the field.  After he worked up enough courage to talk with me rather than simply smiling a cute smile while I asked him questions, I was able to have fun Spanish conversations with Chester, while harvesting cardamom.   I also enjoyed playing marble games and drawing pictures with Brian, Chester, Cristy and Litzy (not pictured) at the Caal's  home. 

At the K’ekchi’ Mennonite Church of Chiquixji, I was invited to play guitar with the musicians at the first service I attended and played in all the following services as well.  It was fun and I felt warmly received by the congregation.

 

 The first time I ever attended church in rubber boots!

 

I left my time with the Caal’s pondering their way of life.  I have been studying the book of Ecclesiastes this past week and conclude that all in all, the K’ekchi’ Christians may have a better grasp on the important matters in life than many Christians in developed countries.   For the K’ekchi’, family and friends are the most important.  Parents and grandparents are present to teach the younger generation; parents are present to hear the first words uttered by their children and share in their creative games and quest to explore the world.  Most modern parents have traded this exciting adventure for a “professional” career, permitting someone in a childcare center or the secular media to influence their children.

 

Felipe feeding the ducklings with his grandson, Brian.

Some other fun facts about my past week:  I finally have a guitar to play!  Wilmar and I went guitar shopping this past Thursday and we found a quality instrument for a reasonable price.  I am looking forward to playing it throughout my year here.

Wimar, testing a guitar in Coban.

My new guitar!

I can also add the American Redstart,

Azure-crowned Hummingbird,

Great Kiskadee,

and the Yellow-faced Grassquit to the list of new birds I have seen here in Guatemala.

 

Next week, I begin my preparation and plans for the coming growing season at the Bezaleel School.  I will be collaborating with some other workers who are involved in various agricultural programs throughout Alta Verapaz.  I am looking forward to getting out into Guatemalan agriculture!

Ya empieza mi aventura

I have finally arrived in Guatemala!  My dream of working in Latin America has begun... I remember days in the college classroom when sometimes, instead of listening to my professor, my mind would wander off into a land where I would work in agriculture and be forced to speak Spanish all the time.  It is hard to believe those dreams are coming true.  God is good.

My flights went smoothly and I had a nice taxi ride to Semilla, a guest house and Biblical education center operated by the Anabaptist Churches in Central America.  I have been relaxing and taking in the beauty of my immediate area.  Semilla is a beautiful campus.  I love the Latin American architecture that brings the outdoors indoors by including balconies and spacious porticos on every floor.  I have also noticed the abundant birdlife in the area.  There are many of the same birds here as in Pennsylvania, such as the Turkey Vulture (of course), Savannah Sparrow and Mourning Dove.  

Then there are other birds that mirror their Pennsylvanian cousins, 
including the Blue-Gray Tanager and White-winged Dove.

I was happy to get a close look at a White-eared hummingbird that loves the Yellow-Red Clock Vine flowers in the courtyard.  This morning one of these hummingbirds hovered within a foot of me as it collected gnats off of the shrubbery.  Good riddance- I- love hummingbirds!  

I have also been enjoying the people I am learning to know here.  Yesterday afternoon after a nap, I wandered down the stairs into the first floor balcony and found some boys playing ping-pong.  They eagerly invited me to join them.  I did and it was fun, although I had to divide my concentration between watching the ball and processing all the Spanish phrases they rattled-off at me.  A couple times I had to ask Angel, the fastest speaker, to repeat his questions to me more slowly, which he did with a smile and slight roll of his eyes.

Then this afternoon, I was chauffeured to a shopping mall to purchase some necessities before leaving the city.  I enjoyed the trip and the neatness present in much of the city.  Multiple times I saw city workers sweeping the litter off the side walks and the mall had two workers caring for a rose garden.  There are recycling receptacles everywhere.  Though the city is interesting, I am eagerly looking forward to traveling into the countryside and seeing more agriculture.  That trip will begin tomorrow, Lord willing.  I will inform you all how it goes.

Entrenamiento

Praise the Lord that I have 100% of my funds raised already!  What a confirmation this is to me that my service at Bezaleel is God's plan for me.  I will be able to leave for Guatemala on October 1, as I have been hoping to do.

Currently, I am participating in an EMM training retreat from September 10 until September 23.  I am enjoying learning to know other young people who are  going to different parts of the world to serve God.  The time to focus on God is wonderful.  I feel the need to concentrate on my relationship with God, not simply serving God with my actions but also spending time with God in prayer and scripture memorization.

A scripture that has impressed me the most lately is Philippians 4:4-9  

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I was given this passage as my sending from the church I attended while in college.  I realize that I must strive to not be anxious about my future but focus on what God is doing now.  Instead of worrying, I will thank God for the many blessings I experience and trust Him for the future.  

That is easy to write and say but much harder to do!  I will be working to trust God more each day.

The promise of a new day. The beginning sunrise after a morning jog with the guys at training. Beautiful!  I am thankful for my new friends here at training who are encouraging me to seek God in new ways.

Estoy agradacido...

Thank you to everyone involved in making my Guatemalan fundraising meal as success!  To those who planned, prepared and attended, thank you.  How blessed I feel to have the support of so many people as I prepare for a new adventure.  Praise the Lord that I have almost 50% of my budget raised so far!

Beyond the fundraising, this event was another of God's confirmations to me that I am walking in His will and blessing as I pursue this assignment.  Hearing the stories from those who have worked at Bezaleel made me realize how much the needs of the school match my passions.  I heard of the great agricultural region in which the school is located.  Agriculture is an important part of the school curriculum and daily life.  (And it will be my primary focus as an agricultural instructor at the school).  I will also be able to interact with students through playing music, soccer and simply talking together.

In the morning worship service before my fundraiser, the theme was 'back to school.'   This is the first year I am not returning to academia as a pupil.  One of the Scripture verses my pastor used stood out to me:

For I know the plans I have for you,

declares the Lord,

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

Plans to give you a hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

How can I be God's servant to fulfill this verse for each person I encounter at the Bezaleel school?  I may be officially called a teacher this school year, but I am still God's pupil everyday.  I must consider how to serve God everyday, in the here and now while at home or work, and beyond during my new adventure in Guatemala.  I am excited for what I will teach and learn in the coming year!

Vengan! Les esperamos!

You are invited to a 

Guatemalan Support Meal

for Stefan Hess!

Come out for an evening of fellowship, good food, learn what Stefan will be doing in Guatemala at the Bezaleel school and hear from those who have already served at Bezaleel.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Drop-in between 5:30 and 8:30pm

Hear Stefan and friends share at 6:30 and 7:30pm

Event to be held at Living Light Mennonite Church

2625 Safe Harbor Road

Washington Boro, PA 17582

This event is by donation.  Checks can be made payable to Living Light Mennonite Church

and designated for Stefan Hess-Guatemala

De una escuela a otra (From one school to another)

Dear Friends, A milestone for me occurred this past spring when I graduated from Delaware Valley College with a bachelor's degree in Agribusiness.  It feels good to be done with college!  I enjoyed my college studies, but now I am ready for a new challenge - to share what I have learned in school, but also to continue exploring the mysteries of God's creation.  For the past few years, I have been learning Spanish in school, on farms where I have worked and in local Hispanic congregations.  I have sensed God's leading to minister to Hispanics in Latin America.  That calling will become a reality in October. While in school this past year, I learned of the need for an agricultural instructor at the Bezaleel Education Center in Guatemala.  This is a secondary school among the K'ekchi' people.  The school farm has the dual purpose of providing instruction to the students in the practical arts of agriculture as well as producing food for students and faculty.  I have accepted a one year assignment with Eastern Mennonite Missions to serve as an instructor at the Bezaleel farm from October 2012 until October 2013.  I know God is leading me to Bezaleel for this next year and I excitingly anticipate what I am to learn and share while there. Please continue to pray for me regularly as I embark on this new adventure.  Consider how God desires that you support me throughout this next year, whether through prayers, encouraging letters/emails, and/or financially.  Regular updates regarding my work at Bezaleel can be found on this blog. Contributions toward my assignment can be sent to:  Living Light Mennonite Church 2625 Safe Harbor Road Washington Boro, PA 17582 Please make checks payable to Living Light Mennonite Church and designate for Stefan Hess - Guatemala in the memo line. Thank you for the role you have played in shaping who I am today and may God richly bless you! Sincerely, Stefan Hess