Return to Guatemala #2 -- Being a Madrilena (Godmother) Again

My second godchild is a Mayan boy, Lucas, who is 12 years old and lives in San Marcos La Laguna, the village on Lake Atitlan that I wrote about in my previous blog.  (My first godchild, a Greek young woman, Katerina, is known to many readers through my memoir about our relationship entitled NONA, which is available by emailing me for a copy). 

Meeting Lucas

I met Lucas a year ago when I first went to his village.  He was serving and clearing tables at the retreat center where I was holding a workshop.  I fell in love with his crooked smile (one front tooth is askew), his gentle manner, and his conscientious manner of putting down and picking up dinner plates.  I spoke with him in my limited Spanish and, somehow, we communicated.

After a few days getting to know Lucas, I decided I wanted to do something for him.  After consultation with him and his parents, I ended up sponsoring him at a private, evangelical school in a nearby village on Lake Atitlan.  Lucas loves the school and graduated to the next grade.  I noticed the change in him -- greater self-confidence and openness to me.  This year, when I returned to Lake Atitlan, I wanted to see the school and check out Lucas' performance with his teachers.

The Bethel Colegio

With Jim and Lucas' father, Juan, and younger brother, Fito (Lucas couldn't come), we took the public boat, the lancha, to San Pedro to visit the Evangelico Colegio Bethel School, a mission project of the Faith Community Church in Alaska.  The school is an impressive, three-story building that looks like an American school and offers a fine education in Spanish and many extra-curricular activities to Mayan children of the area.  The cost is very reasonable.  Please check out http://fccmissions.org/associated-ministries/guatemala.  I, a Jewish woman from Manhahattan, would never would have expected to be involved with an evangelical school in Guatmeala, but I was incredibly impressed with the mission's work and recognize that the school provides far more than what is available in the public schools of the area.

At Bethel School, we had the good forune to meet with Pamela, an American teacher, and we learned about Lucas' progress.  A good student, Lucas is an even better athlete.  We were prevailed upon to buy him a good pair of sneakers.  Once Lucas finishes "basico" (grade nine), he will either go back home to san Marcos or he will have the opportunity to go to a vocational school program with all expenses paid by the Guatemalan government.  Pamela has worked hard to set up these opportunities for her students.  Of course, I hope Lucas will go on with his education and be trained for something more than farming or fishing.  I'm not worrying about this right now since graduation is still four years away.

When Jim, Juan, Fito and I left Bethel School, we had to walk down a very steep hill to the dock.  Fito reached up for Jim's hand and I had a charming view of a tall norteamericano walking downhill with a tiny Mayan boy.  Despite being already committed to Lucas, Jim said to me at the bottom of the hill, "We may be involved with this family for years to come."

Godmothering

I greatly enjoy being a madrilena, godmother in Spanish.  Getting to know Lucas and his family has given me a connection to Lake Atitlan that goes way beyond tourism.  Teresa, Lucas' mother, gave me a beautiful hand-woven huipil, poncho, when I left.  A friend asked her how long it took to make and she replied, "a year."  For me, that huipil is worth far more than the funds I put into Lucas' education.