My Journey From Spanish School to the San Lucas Mission

Written by Kamron Legred

Before starting my volunteer work at the San Lucas Mission in Guatemala, I spent four weeks studying Spanish in the towns of Antigua and San Pedro La Laguna. What began as just a first step to improving my language skills and proficiency in preparation for living in Guatemala for the next 6 months quickly evolved into a transformative experience that deepened my understanding of Guatemalan culture and strengthened my commitment to the mission of accompaniment.

In Antigua, I was introduced to the structure and rhythm of the Spanish language in Guatemala through immersive one-on-one daily lessons. My welcoming and giggly maestro (teacher), Miguel, always made me feel confident with my Spanish speaking even when I knew I was choppy and sounded like a Spanish caveman. Miguel not only guided me through the technical part of learning the language but also shared personal stories about Guatemalan history, his traditions, and daily life with his wife, four cats, and two tortugas (turtles). I also was lucky to stay with my caring “host mom,” Carmen Leticia (who let me call her Mama Leti). She and I spent time conversing on various topics at the dining room table as she shared stories from her small but loving family and provided me with delicious traditional Guatemalan food, such as dobladas, caldo de res, and of course plenty of tamales. From these conversations with both Miguel and Mama Leti, I gained valuable cultural context that reminded me that language is more than a tool for communication as it operates as a bridge to truly understand and connect with people.

My time in San Pedro also offered a highly intimate experience. Living with a local family there I really began to experience the generosity of the Guatemalan people. My host parents, Ana and Edgar, showed hospitality in every moment they spent with me. Whether it was teaching me how to make homemade tortillas, taking me on hikes to local lake viewpoints, or even just laughing at my mistakes in Spanish while we ate our meals.

Both of my immersion experiences taught me patience and humbleness, which are qualities that shape how I now approach my volunteer work in San Lucas. Similar to working at the Mission, learning a language is an act of service in itself.

Now as I begin my work at the Mission, those weeks of immersion school prepared me in more ways than I anticipated. The Mission emphasizes working with the community. Through learning Spanish, I learned to slow down, to listen before acting, and to recognize that real change happens through relationships. In just my first two weeks here at the Mission, I have been greeted by so many loving and welcoming people. It’s almost mesmerizing how easy it has been to adjust into my new temporary home of San Lucas due to the hospitality of my new community.

Communication was something I worried about a lot before coming into my new volunteer position. After my fourth week, I still did not have the confidence that I would be able to speak fluently and efficiently enough to connect and bond with the people of the San Lucas community. To my surprise this turned out to be entirely false. What I have come to understand is that communication extends beyond the language. My time in immersion school helped me realize that genuine connection often depends more on intent, body language, and mutual respect than on trying to perfect my grammar or fix all of my vocabulary. In the times that my Spanish words and efforts failed me, a smile or just a shared laugh often conveyed more than the actual words. These exchanges with my peers taught me to listen and also observe the language, not only to focus on what people say but actually to how they say it. This kind of awareness is invaluable to my work at the Mission. Understanding others depends on more than just talking, it involves empathy. Language is an ever developing learning process that comes with a lot of time, focus, practice, and curiosity.

I believe that multilingualism is one of the greatest acts of solidarity. By making the effort to speak Spanish, even very imperfectly, I show my willingness to meet others where they are and to share a form of connection with others. Each conversation I have now, whether it’s with my colleagues or members of the community, ties me back to my Spanish lessons in Antigua and San Pedro. My conversations remind me to communicate with openness and the desire to understand. From the people I’ve gotten to know during my Spanish School journey such as Miguel and Mama Leti to the families I’m meeting now in San Lucas, I’ve been shown that accompaniment begins with understanding, and understanding begins with communication. As I continue my time here, I hope to not only keep learning the language, but also deepen my connections, grow respect for others, and share the experiences of life that come with it all.

 

To learn more about becoming a Long-Term Volunteer like Kamron, click here.