While I
sit and reflect on the trip to Chiapas, the most lasting memory is the
smiles of the children in the poverty stricken village
of Chacacal. As we were driving down the road that led to
their village there was a young boy sprinting behind the van.
Barefoot and eager to meet us, he ran for at least a half mile. As we
got closer we noticed more children running as well. There was excitement in
the air. We could see it in them, later they saw it in us.
I knew
that the next few days would be filled with God's word, good stories, and hard
work, but nothing could prepare me emotionally for what was to come. This
poor community had a "special" meal prepared for us. It was eggs
and beans. They rarely ate eggs and typically reserved them for a special
occasion. They also killed a bull for us so we could have meat the next day. I
felt so loved in this village so far from home by people who did not even know
me.
We
got done with our meal that first day and everyone was sitting around
not really knowing what to do. We decided to go grab a soccer ball
(futbol) from the van. Within minutes there were over a dozen
children running back and forth kicking the ball around (still barefoot)
and having a good time. I was not able to easily communicate with anyone so
this was a good ice breaker and a way to build trust. We ended up playing soccer
for well over an hour. It was hard for me to believe that in a village in
Mexico where everyone knows soccer that they had no soccer ball. It was sad
when I realized the reason was that they could not afford one.
I
thought I knew poverty from previous mission experiences. I worked with
some Navajo on a reservation when I was in junior high, but this place made
the Navajo look like kings. The lack of running water made even
the most simple tasks difficult. For instance, to get water to mix
with the concrete the children would take a bucket to the river and bring
it back. Washing hands? Forget about it. We dipped our hands in a
bucket before we gathered around the table to eat.
We got to spend a lot of time working with the children. The
smiles and laughter coming from their beautiful faces was enough to make
me vow to return. I have never seen people with so little be so
happy. The first morning after waking to rooster crows at 4:00, 4:30,
4:45, 5:30, and 6:00, I finally decided the dogs barking too was enough
to get out of my sleeping bag. I went outside to read my Bible and there
were several people walking by. I could not help but to notice their smiles. I sat and had a good ten or fifteen
minutes to reflect on happiness. I was convicted. I realized that sometimes
we Americans tend to feel like we need more to be happy. All we really
need is to trust in God and to learn to be content with what we have;
just as they were content with what they had – almost nothing.
We
worked hard every day. At least three of us had blisters after the
first day of using their primitive tool handles in the
garden. I was perplexed the first two days by the amount
of people just standing around watching us work. Initially, I was
upset. What were all these people doing standing around watching? The
more I thought about it, the more I got it. They were impressed. They
saw something different in us. Something that perhaps they had not seen before.
They saw gringos working hard for no apparent reason. I believe this is
what stirred a lot of the excitement. By the third day of working
there were others, that had been watching the previous days, who joined in and
helped to work hard.
When we
spoke to the church everything had to be translated from English to
Spanish (thank God for Dulce!) and then Spanish to Tzutzil, the Mayan
dialect they spoke. It actually worked out well. The language barrier was
tough, but it was interesting to see how love could completely destroy such a
barrier. I felt connections with several people that I did not speak a single
word to. God was moving in Chacacal. God is working in Chacacal. There is much
work still to be done.
I would
like to thank the church for all the prayers. I would also like to ask for
continued prayer for Chacacal and the work that is being done there. The
seminary in San Cristobal has wonderful plans to help this community prosper,
but it does not come without price. It also does not come without hard work and
sacrifice. One day I hope to be able to take a trip back to Chiapas with some
more members of the church.
Thank
you again.
-Michael
Capshaw
