GUATEMALA
June 19 to 26, 1997
In June of
1997, three students, an adult couple and Fr. Bill Kenney
left on a Third World Experience in Guatemala. After a year
of planning and preparation Elizabeth Payer, Anna Maguire
and Tara McGandy along with Charles and Lucie Langlais and
Fr. Kenney boarded the airplane in Ottawa for their week
long journey to Guatemala. This Third World Experience would
take this group to San Critobal high in the interior
mountains of Guatemala. Arriving in Guatemala City after a
long flight, the group rented a Landrover and found their
way to their Hotel for the first night
On our first
day in Guatemala, we met with Sisters Julia Hamilton and
Connie Kaufman. They were our gracious hosts for our week
long stay. Following the Sisters jeep we began our long
drive through some of the most beautiful country surrounded
by high mountains. At one point we reached the height of
10,000 feet, an area that had been given the name Alaska,
due to the cold temperatures.
After a four
hour drive we arrived in San Cristobal and settled into the
convent. In a short walk around the town we visited the
Church which is the second oldest Church in Central America.
Part of the original Church still exists. At the end of a
busy and full day we retired for a welcomed sleep after
watching a movie on Guatemalan refugees.
The next days
were spent in visiting
Cantones - village areas around San Cristobal;,
lavaderos – washing
areas that our Parish Mission Committee has supported over
the years; local Churches, and a bakery which the Sisters
helped to set up.
On Sunday we
attended mass at the local Church where Padre Luis
celebrated the mass in Spanish. We also visited another
Convent in Momotanango (place of the altars) where we
purchased native articles in the local market.
Our trip
also included visits to the various projects that the
Sisters support with help from Mission Committees like the
one in our parish. We saw the great work done in the medical
clinic despite the minimum amount of supplies.
Padre
Luis, the local parish priest is a remarkable man who has
gone through some powerful experiences during the turbulent
times when over 200,000 Guatemalan people disappeared due to
the military and the government.. He was forced out of his
parish for siding with the native people in their fight for
just wages. It was an unbelievable and frightening story
from an incredible man who was willing to stick with his
people despite the cost to his personal life.
Our trip
allowed us to have a great experience of Central America and
of the wonderful work that Sisters Julia and Connie are
doing in Guatemala. It is a part our life that we will never
be able to forget and one that will have a lasting impact on
our lives.
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