A Visit to Guatemala

Early Wednesday morning, in the middle of Spring Break, our family of four boarded the plane at IAH for a three-hour flight to Guatemala City. Soon after setting foot in the country, we loaded into vans to drive the 20 miles (which can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours) from the airport to Santa Lucia Milpas Altas, a volcanic region in Guatemala’s highlands. There, we visited Hope Academy and Hogar Miguel Magone Orphanage. My spouse, Matt, and I had both visited before, but it was the first experience for Emma and Lily, our ten-year-old daughters.

Hope Academy, a bilingual girls’school, was founded in 2019 with just 15 girls in its Kindergarten class. Now the school covers PreK3–6th grade, with over 160 girls enrolled. In many developing countries, girls do not have the same access to education as their male counterparts. In Guatemala, male students have first access to the limited classroom seats, and girls can take whatever seats remain if their parents can afford the transportation and supplies. Hope Academy fills this gap, providing a top-notch education, transportation, healthy meals, and all supplies for each of its female students. The teachers and staff actively remind each student that God has a plan for their lives, a future filled with hope.

The girls in Hope Academy are absolutely incredible. Many of them live in Hogar Miguel Magone orphanage. They’ve been separated from their parents because of instability in their homes, most often violence or extreme poverty. But you’d be hardpressed to discern this reality by interacting with the girls. They are bright-eyed and full of smiles. They are curious about everything and quick to give hugs. This time, Emma and Lily were able to meet the student our family sponsors. Alexandra is ten years old and in the fourth grade, the same as our girls. It was such an incredible experience to see the three girls connect. Since it is an intentionally bilingual school, Alexandra was able to speak tentative English as the little trio of new friends passionately discussed each other’s favorite colors, foods, and hobbies.

While we were at Hope Academy, each class shared a brief presentation. Some sang songs in English while others performed traditional Guatemalan dances. In the PreK classroom, four-year-old Briana stole our hearts. Briana’s class sang “If You’re Happy and You Know it, Clap Your Hands.” Well, everyone in the class except Briana sang. Briana stood in the middle of the group, with a scowl on her face, and her hands clenched at her sides. She was not happy. And we knew it. After the presentation, the teacher told us it was usually free play time, and Briana was mad that she couldn’t play while we were there. Briana felt no need to entertain us. She wanted to play. Of course, Matt took this as a challenge to make Briana smile. Soon enough, they were giggling together, and Briana’s smile spread across her whole face. Matt’s smile was even bigger.

Emma and Lily are ready to go back to Guatemala next Spring Break. This brief trip had a tremendous impact on our family. It was a reminder that God is at work everywhere. A reminder that our faith calls us beyond our comfort zones to learn from and laugh with others. A reminder that there are incredible people all over the world who see a problem and respond with passionate, unbridled hope.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV)