What happens now? We’ve spent a week in a distant place, in a foreign culture, far from our homes. We’ve experienced new ways of living, praying, and serving. We’ve received smiles, hugs, warm beds and open doors. How should this impact our lives upon our return? These were critical questions that recurred throughout our final day in Huehuetenango on Saturday.
Our first adventure of the day was a trip to the Zaculeu site with many of the Disciples of the Good Shepherd. Among the remnants of a community from 1500 years ago, we strengthened our connection to each other as a team dedicated to continuing to the support the community that lives here now—both Iximeros and Disciples.
On our way back to the retreat house, where we would spend the rest of the day, we stopped by the first water filtration system worked on by Ixim. Carlos del Valle, a member of our Huehuetenango leadership, told the story of how Ixim helped the water plant grow to the point where it can now produce 2,000 five-gallon jugs of water each month. This water is sold at almost half the price of any other water, and is sold only to families. This was a reminder that Ixim’s work exists beyond the 12 days of the mission trip to serve the people of Huehuetenango continually.
Our final activity was a visit from Cardinal Ramazzini, Bishop of Huehuetenango. The cardinal encouraged us to take the love we’ve received during our time on mission and plant seeds of hope in our own homes. He implored us in particular to work with and care for migrants, especially those from Huehuetenango who live across the Archdiocese of Omaha.
In a mass following his words, we were each given a mission cross by Cardinal Ramazzini. Upon receiving it, he told us to receive the cross of Christ. We pray that each of us might take to heart the call to serve as Christ did, through suffering and difficulty, not just on this mission, but in our homes, parishes, and communities.
