My journey to Guatemala with my fellow parishioners at Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel was nothing short of transformative. I stepped off the plane two years ago with the knowledge that I would build a home for a family in need and learn more about the amazing impact From Houses to Homes has made in the lives of so many.  I left with a deeper appreciation of and dedication to my faith, an extraordinary new Guatemalan family, and a burning desire to return to the place that pushed me to discover the true meaning of strength, humility, and community. Returning to Guatemala this year was like returning home...home to a place of beauty, and to a people who epitomize the deepest joy, selflessness, and gratitude of the human spirit. Just as I have been thanked by the families I have impacted, I thank God every day for the gifts this ministry has given to me.  Te amo, Guatemala, mi hogar y la canción de mi corazón.

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As I am beginning the next chapter of my life I knew this was my time to take a leap of faith and join the Guatemala Outreach Ministry. The team welcomed me with open arms. As I was able to experience over the weekend through an ATV Tour and coffee plantation tour, Guatemala is a beautiful country. On Monday morning we arrived at our work site with our awesome From Houses to Homes workers (Edgar and Teo) and were introduced to our family, Carmen (Mom) and four of her six beautiful children. (Dad and the 2 oldest children were working). Our site was filled with the presence of our Lord, love and laughter. As the walls of the home went up the invisible walls came down. Awkward handshakes were replaced with warm hugs and high fives and strangers became family. At the final ceremony I was given the honor of presenting to the family the keys to their new home.

I pray that the Lopez-Queslex family home continues to be filled with the presence of our Lord, love and laughter for many years to come. It was truly an honor and a privilege to serve God through this ministry. 

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Architecturally, our site was a disaster! To begin, there was a three-foot boulder precisely where the rear wall of the home was to be built. In addition, the site for the home was elevated ten feet above the location of the materials, and the perimeter of the new home, at times, left only 18 inches of space around which to walk. As Julio, our local From Houses to Homes worker said, “This is one of the worst sites in many years!”

Though, with challenges in life often comes God’s grace and abundance. On day one, we secured a jack-hammer for that nasty boulder. On day four, eight extended family members showed up to create a “bucket brigade” to carry thousands of pounds of cement up the hill to pour the home’s floor, one bucket at a time. And lastly, on day five, paint rollers with extension polls appeared to get those “hard to reach” portions of the exterior. Few of these gifts ever appear in Guatemala, let alone all three in one week!

Our journey this year epitomized the answer to this question: “Where is Jesus presenting Himself to you?” The answer was obvious: EVERYWHERE! Our challenges were not architectural; our challenge was to see the grace of a loving God, and that we did!!!

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  As a young person going through the transitional period of a college education, more often than not I am told to focus on myself. Not necessarily that I should ignore those around me, but that my priorities should be my education, my goals, my finances, and whatever else is necessary to ensure my success down the road. While these are not of themselves bad things, there is clearly something missing when they become the central focus of my life and prevent me from looking beyond myself and my own needs.

How many times in the Gospel does Christ preach to us about the poor? This year, the day we left for the trip happened to coincide with the feast day of St. Lawrence, a 3rd century deacon and martyr of the Church who, when the Prefect of Rome demanded the treasures of the Church, presented him with the poor entrusted to his care. Not only is there a true richness in the poor, but Christ Himself, who tells us: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” 

Our week spent in Guatemala was nothing short of that: an encounter with Christ. Our first building day reunited us with the From Houses to Homes workers, with whom we have developed close friendships over the years. Their joy is contagious; they are what make the construction of these houses not only possible but fun. Whether you speak Spanish or not, they generously share their laughter, hard work, and compassion with you. The work is not easy - yet even after we volunteers are winded after a couple of hours, the workers continue until they have completed the task, no matter how grueling. And though we only get a week long glimpse of their lives, it is incredible to think that they carry out the same process week after week for just about the whole year.  The most touching aspect of the trip, however, is always the time shared with the families for whom we build. If there is one thing I learned in this trip, it is that no matter their situation, children smile just as much and just as big in Guatemala as they do in New Jersey (or just about anywhere else I have been). To see the pure joy of these children is an experience unlike anything else in this world and a truly humbling one. It can be easy to become attached to our possessions, but at the end of the day we still find happiness without them. Life, while it may often feel difficult and burdensome, is a gift from God, and for that reason is a source of joy and a sign that He loves us. It was truly a blessing to have Fr. Jhon with us for the week, not only for his priestly ministry, but because he was able to bring this joy to so many children with the soccer balls so generously donated by the Notre Dame parish family.

As a result of my week spent in Guatemala, I feel more committed to seeking the love of Christ in humility and finding ways to bring it to those I encounter on a day-to-day basis. I am so grateful for the support of the Notre Dame parish family and the opportunity to serve in Christ’s name. Please pray for the families for whom we built and From Houses to Homes. God bless!

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Photo above taken at From Houses to Homes Kemna ‘Oj School where more than 15 children are being sponsored by Guatemala Outreach ministry participants (including 7 who committed to sponsor this past trip).
 
To find out more about Notre Dame's Guatemala Outreach Ministry, click HERE.  

To find our more about From Houses to Homes, click HERE.