A family project in Chuinimajuyub, Guatemala

This Courts For Kids trip to Chuinimajuyub, Guatemala started with a collection of dreams. The dreams of a community to have a beautiful place for their kids to play. Dreams of our team members to experience the world, connection, and service in new and profound ways. And the dream of a family to connect with the country and people one of their members was born in. In thinking back over the 9 days we spent together in Guatemala, I still can't believe all these dreams came to fruition, and that we all grew through the lessons we learned about Willingness, Welcome, Work, and Wonder.

Saying yes to a CFK trip is a commitment to being open and willing. For the Chuinimajuyub community, they had to open themselves up to our group and be willing to do months and months of planning, prep work, figuring out logistics, and getting tons of community volunteers to participate in all the different aspects involved in supporting the project. For us volunteers from the US, saying yes meant being willing to step out of our comfort zone, hand over control, and then be open to whatever happens next. This is true for the high school and college group trips that Courts For Kids does but it takes on a new dimension with an open trip because each person is also saying they're willing to join a team that includes some complete strangers. Stepping off that plane in Guatemala City the first day, I knew none of the 16 other people I'd be spending every moment of the next 9 days with, but knowing that they too said "Yes" made me confident we'd find our way together. Once we made it to baggage claim, The Cooper, Sastre, Flaig, and Loftis families, along with myself, grabbed luggage and made initial introductions before shuttling over to pick up our final two members (Ian and Mya) and then reaching our hostel. It had been a long day of travel but there was still time for perhaps the most powerful way to bring a new team together: pizza.

Our first full day in Guatemala was also our first official lesson in the art of welcoming. We woke up, loaded the van, got our first group photo, and then started our drive to Chuinimajuyub. We headed northwest and, for 5.5 hours, we got to see the Guatemalan landscape as we wound our way up the mountains to 8,000ft of elevation, navigating some of the sharpest hairpin turns and steepest roads I've ever seen. We worked our way through Momostenango and then made one final turn onto the dirt road that took us to the community school where we'd be staying and building the court. Stepping off the bus, I can honestly say that I don't know if I've ever been met with more immediate kindness. Whether young or old, every local engaged us with warm smiles and greetings. It took all of about 2 seconds before we were overwhelmed by the cuteness and friendliness of the kids and immediately started to play together. About an hour of laughter, games, and many poor attempts at Spanish later, it was time to transition to our first organized activity, the kids teaching us how to make baskets. From there, we had our first of many delicious meals prepared by a rotating group of amazing local women who volunteered their time to care for us through the gift of food.

Each of us on the trip brought with us our own understandings of hospitality but the way that we were continually welcomed throughout our stay broadened all of our concepts of what it means to open your life to others. The director of our trip, Peter, did an absolutely amazing job of leading all aspects of this project, but I'm particularly grateful for the immersion activities he planned in the afternoons, after our work time was over. We got to do things like tour the larger community, hike to the natural hot springs that the locals use for bathing (and we even hopped in the water ourselves), visit the amazing Lake Atitlán, watch the kids participate in traditional dances, and we also had the privilege of being invited into individual's homes. Two different families of weavers welcomed us into the spaces that they live and work. They taught us about the traditional weaving methods they use that have been passed down for generations and allowed us to watch their process. It was awe inspiring to see all of the time, effort, and precision that went into making the gorgeous dresses and ponchos that these families were producing, thread by thread. One family even surprised us by serving us a traditional beverage and some of the most beautiful tostada guatemaltecas imaginable. Our group constantly felt so honored and humbled by all of the ways that the people of Chuinimajuyub opened up and invited us into their lives.

Each day, prior to heading out on the wonderful cultural exchange moments, we spent the mornings immersed in work. If you ever want a crash course in manual labor, building a court is definitely where it's at. We spent our work time intermixed with local volunteers shoveling, carrying, or handing off buckets full of sand and gravel, helping dump materials into the mixer so that the concrete could be poured, and hefting 100lb bags of cement. Every day, we were all drenched in sweat within the first few minutes and we stayed nice and saturated for the hours that followed. Our work shifts were nothing less than exhausting but I think we each realized that every drop of sweat, every bruise and scrape, every sore and stressed muscle was matched by the community volunteers working alongside of us. Doing the work together, seeing how hard everyone was going, and witnessing the sacrifices people were making (the 65 year old woman helping to grab buckets or the teachers from the school taking the day off from teaching to shovel rocks all day) was inspiring. And when you add all that to the relationships we were making with the kids and knowing that all this hard work was for them and every future kid in this community, it became easy to push through the discomfort and pain because we had a clear and noble purpose.

The hope going into any Courts For Kids trip is that you're actually able to complete the court but this is never a guarantee because there are so many factors you have no control over (weather, contractors, supply chain issues for materials, etc). Therefore, it was a proud moment when we realized that we were indeed going to finish this project. When it was all done, the community held a beautiful celebration to inaugurate the space and share with us in song and dance and food. But this trip was so much more than the fulfillment of completing the court. Our 9 days were filled with joy from moments and interactions big and small. Even in the midst of hardships like trips to the ER and numerous members being knocked completely out of commission due to sickness, we each experienced so much goodness. You do a Courts For Kids trip and you realize how important approaching life with a sense of hope, joy, and wonder truly is because you see it all around you in the community. It's manifesting in the smiles and laughter of the kids, or them bring so full of love that they make special cards and gifts for one of our team members that had her 20th birthday during the trip. Wonder emanates from the grandeur and beauty of places like Lake Atitlán and the surrounding volcanoes, and joy lives in the delight of the community moms as they jump in and play the feistiest game of basketball you've ever seen (in traditional dresses and sandals, no less). When people are willing, welcoming, and they believe in working with and for each other, a sense of wonder is created all around them. The Chuinimajuyub community has this figured out and I'm so glad that we were able to be participants in it and learn from them during our time in their community. ~Joey King, Adult Volunteer

The truth is that the help that volunteers and parents gave us was very helpful and a blessing for our beautiful little school. With the sports court, the children have more space to play and it was a beautiful experience for all of us. Greetings to the 19 volunteers, may God bless them wherever they are and keep them safe at all times. Thank God everything went well. Thank you all for making it possible for this project to be carried out. Meylin Guerra – Community member

The support they gave us at school was a blessing because it was needed and the sports court is very useful for the kids to have fun. The kids and parents had a lot of fun with the volunteers, and the volunteers also showed us their love for us. Greetings to each of the 19 members of the volunteers and may God bless your homes. Carmen Paola Calel - School committee member

The collaboration of the volunteers has made the dream of having a sports court come true. The court is very beautiful and big so that our kids can play freely and practice sports. First of all, we thank God for having put us in the hearts of the volunteers who, without their help, the project would not have been carried out. The community is highly grateful for the help provided and I am very happy and grateful for having a sports court in our humble school so that the children can exercise and practice a healthy sport as well as compete with other schools. Griselda Amarilis Álvarez – Community member

For me it was a very nice experience and I would like to thank the volunteers for making the court a reality for the kids. Now the kids have a bigger place to play. Thanks for the support that the volunteers gave us, it was an unforgettable experience. Karen Itzep - School committee member

Throughout the past week, surrender by the joyful and energetic kids, I have found myself with a constant smile on my face. The loving energy, the positivity and laughter that they bring is contagious. ~Graciela Sastre, U.S. Youth Volunteer

What I learned is that you can still by happy with so little but I also learned that family is the most important thing no matter the circumstances. ~José Sastre, U.S. Adult Volunteer

My favorite memories was the soccer tournament. It was eye-opening to see how much the sport brings the community together and I also felt like I could see the inner child in every adult that participated. ~Gabriel Sastre, U.S. Youth Volunteer

My favorite memories from the trip was working really hard building the court by passing buckets filled with rocks and sand (they were heavy, but I’m strong!). ~Joey Loftis, U.S. Youth Volunteer

I have never felt so welcomed and cherished as I have felt here, walking through the school and being greeted with huge smiles and laughs. ~Aidan Cooper, U.S. Adult Volunteer

What I understand more clearly now is how much community matters for actual stable emotions instead of just chasing health. ~Mya Wollam, U.S. Adult Volunteer

My perspective changes and I learn to value the more important things in life such as family, friends, community and culture. ~Ian Simmons, U.S. Adult Volunteer

I understand now that I strive for deep connection, love and purpose for those around me. I learn to smile and receive one back; I learn that when I am seeking friendship sometimes the best place to look is outside my home. I found within myself a deep gratitude for everything I’ve been given. ~Luke Cooper, U.S. Youth Volunteer