Hollywood, CA vs. Guatemala

Well, I was a far cry from Hollywood CA last week. I had the chance to go to Guatemala for the week through the organization that I work with. Let me tell you, it certainly reinforced many of the reasons for doing this compact.

I had the chance to go to the home of a girl that Bob and I sponsor. Many of you may have seen pictures of what poverty looks like, but seeing it through the eyes of a family that lives it day in and day out is quite extraordinary. They work so very hard for so very little, but they survive. I found myself realizing that even though I have given up buying anything new for the next year, I still have the capacity to buy something if I really wanted to. These families are living this way for what will probably be the rest of their lives. This is no compact for them—it is reality. For most of them, there is not an option to leave poverty behind.

I did actually buy a few things while I was in Guatemala. There was a class of learning disabled young adults who made jewelry to sell at the Common Hope site. Most kids who are learning disabled have absolutely no chance of being able to help support their families financially. These kids get to bring home the money they get from selling their jewelry. One girl’s family wouldn’t have had anything to eat one night had it not been for the money she had made selling a few of her pieces. Needless to say, I bought a necklace and a pair of earrings. Both will be gifts I will give to someone, along with a little write up about the person who made them.
It is good to be back home again. However, I have left part of my heart in Guatemala among the gentle-spirited people who struggle to make it through each day with enough food for their family, yet offer pop and fresh bread and beans to a stranger. And I, being the stranger, gratefully accept it knowing that hospitality is part of their culture, even when it means they may not have enough food to eat for their next meal.
-Lori