Week 3 Day 3

Today continued my own personal experience in the myth of Sisyphus, carrying endless buckets of rocks and sand up a hill so steep no American would dream of building a house upon it. While the work is hard, it is certainly rewarding, as we can see continued progress on the house. An exciting benchmark is finally building walls that stand taller than yourself, a pleasant reminder that we are building something bigger than ourselves both physically and spiritually. Interaction with the children and family has been one of the most important parts of the trip, keeping us light-hearted and amused amidst all of the hard work.

My time here in Guatemala is certainly a blessing, as I had not planned on coming here again until about 2 weeks ago. I had the opportunity to attend a help week last summer and had an amazing experience. But with finishing up college and gradution and uncertainties about the future, I had not planned on attending this year. But since I didn't land that six-figure job right out of college, I jumped on the opportunity to attend this summer, paired with the flexibility and kindness of our fearless leader, Fred.

In building the house and reflecting upon what we are really doing here, I was reminded of a passage I read in Evelyn Waugh's novel "Brideshead Revisited." In the last passage of the book, the protagonist Charles kneels and prays before a tabernacle in a chapel, a culmination of his long jorney to faith. He says "I thought that the builders did not know the uses to which their work would descend. This flame... could not have been lit but for the builders. And there I found it that morning, burning new among the old stones." We will never truly know what effect this house will have upon the family. We will not be here to check in on them or experience its effect in their lives. But it is somewhat comforting to know that we cannot fully know the grace that will come from a stable shelter in the family's life, just as the builders of the chapel could not name all the souls that came to know God through their hard work in laying its stones.

For me this experience is the opportunity to take myself out of the routines of American life, and attempt to affirm that Christ can be found anywhere in the world. This week I face this test through the sacrifice of physical labor and a personal connection with the impoverished family. There is something very spiritual about a hard day's work. These Guatemalan's experience this fact every day. In their daily attempt at survival, they are faced with a more confrontational realization that what they have, or what they do, is not enough and that they need God's grace and love. Their toil is not in vain, for even amidst their destitute conditions, they do not despair. Their faces are often filled with joy and laughter one would be hard pressed to find in the wealthiest of neighborhoods in America. While most of us are able to distract ourselves with the comforts of our lifestyles, out here there exist no such comforts, and there is a more potent and direct connection to Christ.

Experiencing Guatemala is an exciting adventure, and I am glad to be able to come back and explore more. The landscape is both harsh and lush at the same time. The views are dominated by intimidating volcanoes that surround the populous valleys. One of my favorite moments of both years here is the car ride from the airport in Guatemala City to Antigua. During the trek, one is able to see all sides of Guatemala, from the shopping centers of the capital, the poverty on the outskirts, the flourishing countryside, to the charming colonial atmosphere of Antigua's cobblestone streets and Spanish Empire ruins. The country's beauty is second only to its kind people, who are thankfully known for speaking Spanish very clearly and slowly, compared to their Mexican neighbors, allowing me to brush up on my spanish. It is amazing how quickly you can learn after being immersed in the culture for even a short period of time.

So long for now, and thanks for reading

--Adam Broering