Guatemala 2008
In June of 2008, seven St. Martin’s teens joined with seven adults for an unforgettable 12-day journey to the Guatemalan highlands …
Leah Spalding
Preparing Bags for Seedlings, and Climbing a Volcano
One of the best experiences I had on the trip to Guatemala happened in San Lucas. We all sat around a big pile of dirt, and we had to put it into bags. Now, I don’t really like dirt, yet I thought this was one of the best parts. We filled the bags and talked, all of the adults and students, together. We just talked about everything and anything, and it felt like we were all just people having a conversation, as opposed to Adults talking to Teenagers. And while all this great bonding was happening, we were helping the people of San Lucas rebuild their rainforest. It’s such a great feeling to be helping people and to enjoy doing it.
Another memorable experience happened on our first full day in Guatemala. We climbed a volcano. We had no idea what we were in for when we started walking up the almost vertical slope. On our way up the mountain, we had two guides to help motivate us. Even though they spoke next to no English, it was fun communicating with them. When Allie, Sammy, and I were about to quit, we sat down next to the road, and some kids were coming down the mountain with their animals. One of the guides started talking to one of the kids, and then he turned to us and said, “Ten more minutes.” We were all extremely happy, so we got up and started walking again in the oxygen-less air. We didn’t get to the top for another three hours. Even though this probably sounds like it could have been the worst part of the trip, the point was we all did it together (except when the adults drove by in the back of a pickup truck).
After ten breaks and four hours of climbing, we finally made it to the top, where the most beautiful lake was supposed to be. Unfortunately, when we got there, it was too foggy to see anything. But we stayed for a while and watched a Mayan service. The service involved a circle of sugar and coal, with wood in the center, and candles, each color representing something special. Later, as the fire was about to go out, all the fog cleared away, and we got to see just how beautiful the lake was. Suddenly the four-hour climb felt worth the trouble. It was an amazing experience. How many people can say they have climbed to the top of a volcano?
Memories of Guatemala
Photo Gallery
Lasting images from the 2008 trip to the Guatemalan Highlands by St. Martin’s teen and adult parishioners.