Personal Narrative: My Journey To Guatemala

Four years ago, my life took a path I had not imagined. I was presented with the opportunity to travel to Guatemala and help indigenous Mayans in some of the most poverty stricken regions. Now this may sound like an ordinary service trip to travel internationally and give charity to a stranger and feel good about yourself, but the experience was much more. Yes, I built stoves in homes, handed out water filters, food, chickens, and participated in eye clinics; but the immersion and interaction within their culture proved to be life changing, even despite a complicated language barrier. Like most children, I had many aspirations of future career possibilities such as an engineer or astronomer while growing up. Similarly, I discovered many young Guatemalan children have dreams and wishes for their futures as well. Sadly, many of them do not have the financial support to participate in basic schooling, and instead help their families by tending to fields or selling …show more content…
In Guatemala, residents of smaller communities are grateful for what little they are able to obtain, including food, shelter, and clothing, to which we usually categorize as basic necessities. Their smiles reflect the joy they find in life despite unfavorable living conditions. Seeing this on a personal level has helped me recognize that material items, with which much of the human race seems to be obsessed, should not define true happiness. Things are just that, they stop working or fade or rust and are no longer of any value. If your life is all about things, then maybe your life becomes of no value. Conversely, living a life of value can be achieved by loving your neighbor and the world by sharing resources and virtuous spirit rather than destroying relationships through greedy and selfish motivations. Sometimes you realize that in helping others you help