Guatemala: First Thoughts

Departure for Guatemala: September 15, 2010.
Length of stay: 11 weeks.
Purpose: The San Lucas Mission. http://www.sanlucasmission.org/
Goal: To gain new perspectives.

Home is soon to be behind (though, I am always happy to return), and another world ahead (and it is that new place, with all its uncertainty, that always draws me to leave in the first place).

But before my acceptance to the Mission, I was required to write a “life experience essay”, in which I am asked to answer some specific questions. Along with this task, some required reading material has been assigned as well, in which I have found a quote to guide my thoughts while I am at the Mission: “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

So the reflection begins…


Life Experience Essay

1. What do you believe are the three most important social justice issues?

Three social justice issues of great concern include: hunger, healthcare, and violence against women.

Food and healthcare are such basic human needs, and ones that the world has the resources to meet. It is simply intolerable that people suffer from starvation while other parts of the world are throwing out leftovers, or walking into grocery stores with over 20 kinds of jars of pickles to choose from. And to know that people are dying from illnesses, that would only take someone like me a drive to the pharmacy to cure, is another issue for which we must hold ourselves responsible to solve.

As for violence against women, perhaps it’s valid to say that the countries with oppressive traditions against their women are the ones to be most weary of. For, if they are able to treat people of their own country and culture with such disregard and violence, why would they not treat other countries—and those not related to them by tradition and patriotism—with even greater violence and oppression. And if the children of these women grow up learning that it’s okay to treat people like this, then yet another future generation’s education is founded in violence and injustice. Then this is what they will pass onto their children. And so, it becomes a vicious cycle.

2. What is your concept of global solidarity, and what does it mean to live our faith in solidarity?

Global solidarity begins with thinking about ourselves “intercommunally” instead of internationally. To start seeing the whole world instead of just our “corner” of it. To be a global citizen, instead of just a local citizen. I believe that to begin to understand issues of global solidarity begins with this thought process. We must think of how our commonalities—and even our differences—can bring us together. In this way, we can build relationships and strong communities with similar goals, for the success and health of the whole world, that will keep us united by, and attuned to, the world’s needs (and not just our own).

I believe that to “live our faith in solidarity” means to find our commonality to one another, whether we have the same faith or not. That commonality being defined as those simple truths such as: we all have families and friends; hopes, dreams, and aspirations; fears and uncertainties; and a mind full of thoughts, beliefs, interests, and passions. And, if we do not have the same faith, but “live our faith in solidarity”, then—because we will look for what we have in common—we will learn to respect our differences, and to seek to understand a person—another faith—instead of meeting them with only the intention to change them. “To live our faith in solidarity” is to firstly think of what we have in common, and to see our commonality as what unites and supports us in this life, and our faith.

3. What is your understanding of the concept of subsidiarity?

I believe the subsidiary approach of the San Lucas Mission is a concept based on a humble, open-minded, selfless approach to life and our interactions with others. What can we learn from one another, so to teach to each other?

We must first be a student before we can teach—we must first be a follower before we can lead. There is a rhythm here. And though I am experienced in some ways and able to part knowledge onto others, I am still a stranger to this world, still very young. I am still very much a student (and in fact will always be, for the world cannot be learned in one lifetime).

So to continue with my understanding of the concept of Subsidarity, it is to understand that we are everyday students, and that we must be humble and patient, ready to learn and to understand. And that for the cycle and rhythm of knowledge and wisdom to be acquired and passed on, there must always be a student and a teacher. I come to the Mission as a student.

4. Tell about a challenging situation or conflict caused by diversity, and how you resolved it.

This is a difficult question for me to think of a response to. I’ve saved it for the last one to answer.

People have told me that one of my greatest gifts is that I am able to be at peace with many different people. I hope that is true, for I hope that I am people-oriented and understanding of people and our differences.

That’s not to say this makes life without challenges. For sure I have been presented with challenging experiences in life, but in their effect on me, in earnest, I cannot think of such an experience that was truly significant on the issue of diversity.

Perhaps, all this said, makes me appear arrogant, self-righteous, ignorant, and small-minded. But those are things far from true. And neither am I saying that I’m incapable of experiencing challenges based on diversity.

It’s just that, I believe I’m inexperienced. Even in my travel, work, and academic experiences, I still perceive myself to be inexperienced in this world. I don’t know if I’ve really pushed myself beyond the limits of my “comfort zone.” In a way, I feel like I’ve been sheltered from certain realities, and that I haven’t been exposed to many true (unselfish) challenges.

The “diversity” challenges that some of my experiences might be able to be labeled as, in my mind have not been significant, or challenging. Compromise was easily reached, and there was no inner-struggle that I felt I had to overcome. So I wouldn’t want to try to exaggerate one of those experiences into something that was “challenging.” I think this is true of my experiences, because, yes I may be an understanding person, but also my experiences have been more easy than not, with the truth that the people and cultures that consistently surround me are more similar to me than not.

But as an open-minded, resilient, and compassionate person, I do believe I come prepared to face some of the deeper challenges of diversity, even if I’m not yet experienced in what their true depth may be, and is capable of.

5. Describe your values, and the significant relationships (other than family) that have influenced them.

First, to describe my values, I will use the image of a tattoo. For, if I were to get a tattoo, I would want it to be telling of humanity’s purpose, to be a symbol of my beliefs, and to detail my values.

The image I would choose to have imprinted on my body for life would be of a dove, carrying an olive branch. It is an image of simplicity and beauty.

I would have the tattoo drawn on my right rib cage—where the fifth and final wound was inflicted on Christ—as a representation of the importance of faith in my life. The dove itself, with the olive branch, is a universal symbol of peace and innocence. It is the purity and lack of corruption in innocence that I value. And my value of peace does not only mean the absence of war, but it is a deeper peace that includes my values of gratefulness, forgiveness, and love. The Biblical story of the dove returning to Noah’s ark with an olive branch represents loyalty, another one of my values. And most importantly, the dove also symbolizes the Holy Spirit—God spiritually active, his good deeds done through our hands in this world. And just as people are most important to God, they are a significant value of mine as well.

There have been many people and experiences that have influenced the development of these values. Of course, I have to acknowledge my family for the role they play in my life. They have been most influential in the values I listed above.

Other significant people are: my high school Spanish teacher, Barbara; my high school volleyball coach, Erika; and a professor I had—Magdaleña—while studying in Spain. Barbara was not only my teacher, but has also become a great friend to me. She was the first to inspire my international endeavors, and to inspire my value for being a global citizen. Erika—who I still call Coach—was a consistent role model during my four years in high school. In the way that she coached, treated the team, and communicated with me, I learned to value honesty, hard work, and fierce courage. Magdaleña is a professor who I will always remember. She told me something we all need to hear: “You’ve got it in you.”