A Reflection from Umstead Park UCC Youth Merry Ahang
Merry (right) with fellow youth Naomi in Guatemala.
Hi! My name is Merry and I am a rising Senior at Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina! I love to spend my time outdoors biking, running, or in the ocean. I also enjoy reading, baking, and doing watercolors.
From car washes and bake sales to generous donations from members of our congregation, we were finally able to make our dream of an international service trip a reality. After two years of fundraising and anticipation, five members from Pilgrim United Church of Christ and myself, the sole representative from Umstead Park United Church of Christ, were finally ready to journey over twenty hours to Calhuitz, a remote village nestled in the Mayan highlands of Guatemala.
There I stood, gasping for air over seven thousand feet above sea level. But I couldn’t help myself as sisters, Graciola and Ana peeked their heads out from behind a grassy bush. With my arms stretched over my head, my hands in the shape of claws, and a childish vigour that had woken out of hibernation, I charged at the children.
The sound of joyous screams filled my ears.
Soon over a dozen kids filled the hilly terrain, transforming the Casa Materna into a playground. Dr. Mario’s truck was no longer the pickup that barreled down bumpy mountainsides transporting us to neighboring worksites. It became a sanctuary I crouched behind as I worked to catch my breath, planning my next sneak attack. I had no idea what game we were playing, whose children I was playing with, or what anyone was saying. I lost track of time as we rolled down hills together, showed off our cartwheels, and as I became the source of countless piggy back rides. As I tentatively watched the sun creep behind the mountains, the kids seemed to know. As each of them wrapped their tiny arms around me, I felt my heart swell. Through my fragmented Spanish, I managed to muster out, “Mismo tiempo manana” “Same time tomorrow”.
The children of Calhuitz, their laughter, their hugs, and their screams will always stay with me. I imagine that their memory of me and the other “Americanos” will fade as their young minds absorb the vast world around them, but I will never forget how they showed me what it means to be a child again. I will never forget their fearless curiosity when they approached a complete foreigner and embraced me with their whole heart. Isabel, Ana, Graciola, and Yanette, you guys have taught me that despite borders, languages, and ages we all just want to scream with joy.
If you have an interest in public health, medicine, or simply learning about other cultures, I urge you to go on this trip. Not only did this trip deepen my interest in the medical field, it also broadened my perspective on Guatemalan, specifically Mayan culture and way of life. During my time at Calhuitz I got to work alongside the local women, performing early child home visits and preparing medical equipment, whose work within their communities has effectively lowered infant and maternal mortality. What sets an IGHA trip apart from others is the opportunity to live within the community you are serving. From the taste of home-cooked tamales and chocobananos to the loud cheers during our soccer match, the locals are incredibly welcoming and personable.
Merry Zhang