Three Lessons I’ve Learned in Guatemala

Written by Elizabeth Leighton

Deciding to move to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala to become a Long-Term Volunteer, my main goal was to solidify my Spanish fluency. But after almost nine whole months living in Guatemala, the Spanish language lands lower on my list of takeaways than I had anticipated. Today, I would like to take the opportunity to share three life lessons that I have learned being a Long-Term Volunteer at the San Lucas Mission.

Lesson 1: We All Have Time to Slow Down

Quite frequently while walking down the main street in town, I get caught behind a family strolling at a more leisurely pace. For a moment, I pause and tell myself to just follow along behind them. “Where do I need to be in such a hurry?” I ask myself. But that moment of introspection typically lasts for about eight seconds until I decide to slyly overtake them.

The slower pace of life here doesn’t always jive with my efficient American bones. However, over time I have begun to appreciate it. There’s even a name for it: “La Hora Chapina” or “Guatemalan Time.” It essentially means that things will happen when they happen, likely later than their scheduled time.

In the U.S., sometimes it feels as if everything we do is already preprogrammed; our schedule is set and there’s no deviating from it. Time goes fast and we want to be productive with the small amount that we have. However, we are cheating ourselves of so many opportunities and interactions when we let efficiency dictate our decisions.

This “Hora Chapina” mentality doesn’t mean that Guatemalans are not punctual. Every Sunday like clockwork, the church pews are filled by 4:50 pm. I have learned to arrive early for 5 o’clock Mass, or else I’ll have to stand in the back of an overflowing church. Guatemalans can be punctual, but they are punctual without sacrificing real human connection and the fullness that life has to offer. After Mass has finished, churchgoers gather outside to talk and eat dobladas on the street. Yes, they arrive on time, but they don’t beeline home once the hour-long mass is up. They allow for a moment of “convivencia” or “shared time together”.

So I challenge us all when we catch ourselves in such a hurry to stop and ask: “Why am I in such a rush? What is taking me away from appreciating the people and the journey along the way?”

Yes life is short, but it is also long. So let’s remember to slow down a bit and not let this beautiful life pass us by.

Lesson 2: Put Others Before Yourself

Something I have come to love and appreciate about Guatemala is the level of service that many people have for one another here.

In the U.S., we think that going out of our way to help other people isn’t always worth it. It’s often viewed as a sacrifice of our own precious time. Here, it’s not that way. If you ask a favor of someone, they will likely say yes with no hesitation.

On the Fourth of July, the Guatemalan staff of the Visitor Program set up elaborate decor, wanting to celebrate a special day for the visitors as they had chosen to be in Guatemala as opposed to the U.S. They wanted to have it set up before we had breakfast at the Mission, which is at 8 am. I was sitting in the sala or living room with some of the Visitor Program staff including Nelson, Alex, Emerson, and Fernando while they were scheming their plan for setup. They decided that to have enough time to set up everything, they were going to show up at 5:30 am.

Fourth of July decorations at the Mission “bibliotecta”

I was baffled.

I told them, we appreciate it, but you don’t have to go out of your way to do that. I explained that the Fourth of July is a big holiday, but I think the visitors would rather everyone rest than have the decor ready for breakfast instead of for lunch.

However, Fernando explained to me, “Liz, this is something we like to do.”

I think “going out of your way” isn’t a concept here. Helping out a sibling, a neighbor, a friend, or an American visitor isn’t out of the way, it is the way. Fernando explained to me how his aunt pulled an all-nighter preparing tamalitos, a traditional Guatemalan food, for his cousin’s wedding. Not because she felt like she had to or someone was making her, she simply just wanted to. It’s an act of love.

Fernando and Liz in San Lucas

Number 3: Gratitude is Everything

I could not tell you the number of times I have heard the words “Gracias a Dios…” during my time in Guatemala. The simple translation is “Thanks be to God…” Those were not words that I was used to hearing in the U.S. It is very common now for me to ask someone “ ¿Cómo estás?” or “How are you?” and they respond with, “Gracias a Dios, estoy bien,” “Gracias a Dios trabajando,” “Todo es Gracias a Dios.”

Even if you aren’t religious or spiritual or a Believer, there is an argument for the benefit of gratitude. Every single relationship, opportunity, and prized possession of ours is truly a gift. But with the hecticness of life and our many material belongings, it can be difficult to acknowledge how blessed we are.

The smallest shift in perspective can truly change everything. I will be eternally indebted to Guatemala and the amazing friends I have made along the way who have taught me this lesson.

When I initially came to the San Lucas Mission, I thought I would spend six months as a Long-Term Volunteer. I’m now going into my tenth month here, and will head home just in time to spend Christmas with my family. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned in Guatemala, and will keep them close to my heart, even when my heart isn’t in this beautiful country anymore.

Interested in experiencing Guatemala for yourself? Click here to start planning your trip today!