Student volunteers from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, travel to Pachun, Guatemala

After climbing two thousand meters into the highlands of Guatemala, we arrived in the town of Pachún. While most aspects of the community remained uncertain, one thing was abundantly clear: we were welcome. From the youngest children to the village elders, we received gifts of warmth, laughter, and gratitude. 

The gift giving continued through the sharing of cultural dances, music, and cuisine. It was evident that the local people were proud of their heritage which only made us more eager to learn about them. Luckily for us, the locals were excited to teach! We learned about many aspects of their daily life such as where and how to plant trees, as well as how they prepared cuisines like tamales and tortillas. However, at this time the soon to be basketball court was still a pile of raw materials, but that would soon change. 

We awoke in the mornings to the cry of roosters as the sun eclipsed over the Guatemalan countryside. As we worked we shared a taste of our own culture as the music from our favorite artists echoed all around the construction site and across the hills. 

The mission of carrying sand buckets, cement, and gravel was no easy task, especially in the hot climate. However, the music brought out a shared strength in all of us as each sequential beat made every load feel just a little lighter. 

About halfway through our completion of the court, we were lucky enough to visit a vibrant town with a bustling marketplace. The ever present aroma of postres, frutas, and business deals filled the air. ¨This is no Walmart!¨, group member Hayes Ponder exclaimed. We had also visited a local church which was over 500 years old! The mass was twice as long as the ones we have back home, but you could argue it was twice as fulfilling. The main celebrant was celebrating 75 years of religious service, and was given a tribute by the whole community. That man may not be a millionaire, but he is one of the richest people we had ever encountered. When the mass ended we got our fill of local snacks and souvenirs, and then we headed back to Pachún to finish what we started. 

A deep and fulfilling sense of catharsis was shared between us, the volunteers, and the community as we cut the ribbon to usher in the new court. No longer was the site a faraway dream, but rather, it is now a beacon of hope which continues to inspire joy in the community to this day.

Each day we were all assigned a mission to complete. They ranged from simple push up contests vs the locals (which we won of course) to learning the local folklore of the forest. In the evenings after dinner we would all circle up as a group and share our experiences, thoughts, etc. These conversations were often the highlights of our days because we got to experience the trip through each person’s perspective. One of the missions in particular was to ask a local worker what he thought about his community being chosen for the mission trip. Sebastian Fernandez had a simple yet impactful response, he said it was ¨Gods plan.¨

At the end of our stay in Pachún we were bid a fond farewell by many of the village leaders. They each thanked us for everything and we said the same thing in return. Because, what more is there to say? The entire trip was meaningful, the highs, the hardships, the memories made, and we wouldn’t have changed it for the world. Of course we were all dismayed to be leaving our newfound friends, but we were glad to share the experience. As we heard the crackling of fireworks when our bus departed, we got a final view of the court we had built. Group leader Ashton Moulliet gave the perfect final message, “The real court was the connections we made along the way.”
~ Michael DiPaola, Jesuit High School 

Volunteer Quotes:

I feel like this trip changed me for the better. It made me realize how lucky I am, also made me realize how I need to make the best of what I have, to work hard and show more love for my community. ~ Milan Stag

I learned that I am mentally stronger than I thought. I’ve never gone this long away from my family and without my phone. Knowing that I did that makes me excited to see what I can do in the future. ~ Griffin Vorhaben

Building the court with the people of Pachún has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever experienced in my life. The community taught me how to see the light in mistakes and not shut down completely ruin my work ethic and continue my work.
~ Ashton Moulliet

This trip made me realize what makes me most happy and peaceful which is helping others in need. This trip made me more grateful, empathetic and aware. ~ John Michael Maristany

My high point of the trip was for sure seeing the court get complete. All the community being there at the same time was a great sight to see. It was great seeing the joy on their faces and having so much joy for something that was in the works for so long.
~ Adrian McSpadden

Community Quotes:

I think this is a beautiful project that we've been dreaming about for years. Seeing the finished court was a very special moment, and I don't have words to express my gratitude. The goal has been achieved thanks to Courts for Kids and the participating volunteers. Sincerely, thank you. ~ Manuel Chiti Lux, Community leader

The volunteers were an example to us because they worked hard and made an effort to carry out the project, and they were all people of good character. ~ Zacarías López Lux, Community member

This project will greatly benefit our elementary school children, the middle school students, and the entire community. Thank you so much for all the support during the process that led to this moment. ~ Diego Roberto Chiti, Community leader

The cultural exchange was magnificent; we were able to see how they communicate with a little Spanish, we also taught them some words in our Mayan language, Kiche, and we also learned some words in English. ~ Elmer Ernesto Pu, Community member

This project is very important so that kids and young people can practice a sport, and now they will be able to do so. Many thanks to the young volunteers for sharing this unique experience with us and for contributing to the development of our community. God bless them because this project is important to us so that our kids realize that joy has no limits.
~ Diego Lux Chití, Community leader