By Torren Nanz
Belmont University, Class of 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn — Spring break 2010 found fifteen students from the Nashville Presbyterian Student Fellowship serving our neighbors in Guatemala. For many of us, it was a severe culture shock to be in a country where English is not the primary language, although by the end of the week we were amazed at how much Spanish we had picked up. Of course we also had to be cautious of everything we ate and could only drink bottled water, but the part of the trip that left the biggest impression was the people.

We worked alongside a crew of Mayan workers in Santiago Atitlan to construct a hospital and were served lunch every day by ladies from the Mayan community. The community was so welcoming to us, and it was evident that, while they have had their share of tragedy, they are some of the happiest people in the world. The town was buried during a mudslide in 2005 and political turmoil still festers from the recent civil war, but they showed incredible resilience, continuing life in the tradition of their ancestors: living simply, loving each other, and showing respect for the land with which they have been blessed.

On the job site

When talking with the hotel staff one night, we asked them if they ever wanted to come to America and they told us that they are perfectly happy where they are. The Mayan people are one with the land, and it is understandable why they are so attached to it. Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful places in the world, cradled by two volcanoes and filled with exotic plants and wildlife. Sitting out on the dock at two in the morning, the still water reflecting the night sky beckons one to imagine, “What was this land like five hundred years ago, before the Spanish came and forced their ways upon the Mayan people?” It was a call to know God’s beauty, in all its glory, untouched by human hands.

It was an experience that cannot be retold in words or in pictures, but is one that we can all know without even going to Guatemala. God’s love is evident everywhere, although sometimes it takes an experience like Guatemala to eliminate all the distractions. No cell phones. No email. No TV. Even things that we deem to be good, such as schoolwork or careers, can get in the way of knowing God. The Mayan people, while they did not share our faith, showed us how to love deeper. They showed us how to love without distractions.

Don’t get me wrong; there is sadness in Guatemala. There are children who are hungry, there are stray dogs roaming free. There are hundreds of bodies that have still not been found since the civil war, but there is hope. God used us as a vessel to show the people that in the midst of hard times, there are people who love them. There are people who are willing to give their time and money and to listen to their stories. Despite all of the sorrow, there is still hope. It is what called us to Guatemala and it is that hope that will continue to call us back.