As many Capital District residents compete to get the best deals on holiday gifts, it is easy to get lost in the meaning of giving and being generous. Two Scotia-Glenville High School students said their summer trip to Guatemala is causing them to take a reality check this holiday season.
Jess Hohenstein, 16, and Kyle Coombs, 15, said they have been speaking with fellow high school students about their trip in hopes of shedding light on how fortunate our society is, and to share how lucky they feel to live in America. Their mission trip was part of the Trinity Presbyterian and Albany Presbyterian churches, and the two say it was a valuable lesson in life.
As soon as I arrived in Guatemala, I realized how lucky everyone in America is. It is amazing how much we have in comparison to those in Guatemala, and yet what I was most amazed at was how so many of the people in their country seem happier than in the U.S. I will never forget that, said Hohenstein.
Hohenstein said she and Coombs made the trip to the Third World country with 10 other people from around the region. Hohenstein said it was mind-opening to see how hard the people work for very little income. She said luxuries like accessible hot water are not an option for most of the people living in Guatemala.
She was also struck by how different their education system is. Education is not necessarily available to everyone and it pales in comparison to the education that Americans receive.
While in Guatemala, Hohenstein and Coombs worked with a youth group in the small town of Huitan. They helped build chicken coops, which will help many of the families who live in the town. Hohenstein said while working in Huitan, she met a woman who felt ashamed that one day she had `only` managed to do laundry, prepare meals for her family, and care for her children and animals.
`I was shocked to hear about how much work the young girls and adult women are expected to accomplish in a day’s time,` said Hohenstein.
Coombs said the trip taught him to better appreciate what he has.
`The trip was a strong reality check for me about pictures of people from Third World countries that you see in the media. In person, it is almost shocking,` said Coombs.
Coombs said that he learned a lesson in how Americans take their health care accessibility for granted. He saw a car strike a young girl during his stay, and said the closest hospital was an hour and a half away, and the condition of the roads did not make for an easy journey. Coombs said earlier this year, he was in a similar situation after being struck by a car, but the difference in his situation was with just one phone call to 9-1-1, an ambulance, fire truck and police car arrived within minutes.
`It was a humbling experience for me,` said Coombs of witnessing the accident.
Hohenstein said the highlight of the trip was when her group presented the children in Huitan with two laptop computers, courtesy of the Technology Surplus Store located in the Scotia-Glenville Industrial Park. Hohenstein said the computers were a very gracious gift that was so appreciated that she cannot put it into words.
`Their generous donation was so appreciated by the Huitan youths. They plan to learn computer skills that they can then teach to others,` said Hohenstein.
Both Hohenstein and Coombs said they are planning to take another mission trip to continue their goodwill work. Coombs said he plans to join the Peace Corps after college because of the trip.“