OK, so I’m going back in time about two months but I really wanted to write about my first MAT experience as Mission Awareness Trips are really at the heart of CFCA and represent what our organization is all about. For those who don’t know, I will explain a bit about what a MAT is. A MAT gives sponsors the opportunity to come and meet their sponsored child and family in person, learn about CFCA, visit the homes of sponsored families, and observe and explore the hosting country. It is really a life-changing experience for sponsors who have been receiving pictures and letter from children in another country for years and years, but in a MAT, the relationship becomes “real”. There really is a child at the other end receiving benefits every month, waiting anxiously for cards and letters, and praying daily for their sponsor. And I say all this without having experienced it in its true form. I have not had the opportunity to visit our families sponsored child in Mexico. I simply witness this remarkable exchange between sponsor and sponsored child as an outsider.
As part of my volunteer responsibilities, I work as the translator for Mission Awareness Trips, helping with the planning and organization of the week’s activities along with the MAT coordinator. MATs are generally between 20-30 sponsors, but because of Bob’s walk starting in December, there was no limit put on this particular one. Over 70 sponsors attended making my first MAT experience an unforgettable one (and quite busy as well).
I arrived at the airport to pick up the sponsors with Dani, another CFCA volunteer. We were coming from our Christmas trip in Santa Rosa, Honduras. Because of the number of sponsors coming, we took one group to San Lucas in the afternoon leaving the other group in Guatemala City in the hotel. I accompanied the first group along with Bob. After dinner at the Hermano Pedro Project everyone headed to bed early. Usually, the HP project can provide rooms for all sponsors on a MAT but because 70+ were coming, we booked a hotel in town. I stayed with the group in town and we were able to walk around and I showed them a bit of San Lucas.
The following day we visited a subproject in Cerro de Oro which is about 30 minutes away from San Lucas. There the sponsors were entertained with a number of presentations by sponsored children. We later split into groups and visited the homes of sponsored families. The home visit is a real eye-opening experience. The sponsors are able to see the reality that the families are living in. The mothers talk to the sponsors about their families, what they do, and their experience with sponsorship program. They are very excited to have visitors and are extremely hospitable.
Monday of a MAT is probably the most exciting day. Beginning very early in the morning, the sponsored families start to arrive in San Lucas. Some of the families come from so far away that they must leave the day before just to get to San Lucas in the morning. One family I met traveled over 12 hours. The sponsored families are then met by their sponsors and the hugging begins. It was incredible for me to watch these families, from different parts of the world, many of whom had never even met, crying with joy upon seeing one another. During this visit, I was translating for one family who had 3 sponsored children. Many sponsors bring special gifts for their sponsored children. The family I was working with brought backpacks filled crayons, markers, coloring books, candy, and games. I spent much of the morning helping explain UNO to the young Guatemalan boy. Not only do the US families bring gifts but the sponsored families occasionally do as well. The mother weaved the name of her child’s sponsor into a beautiful cloth and the father hand-made a bag as well. At times I found myself caught between working/translating for the families and just watching and being swept up in the emotion of the whole encounter.
In the afternoon, sponsors and sponsored families are invited to come forward to give a testimony about their experience of the day and or sponsorship in general. It’s so interesting how both sponsor and sponsee are equally grateful for one another. Everyone had such wonderful things to say and you can see that the MAT experience is already changing lives. Later, in the outdoor gym there were cultural performances done by children from all different subprojects. Even sponsors got up on stage to participate. Mass followed and was dedicated to Bob and Christina who were to start their walk in the morning. After mass, the sponsored families headed back home. This is always a sad time as everyone must say goodbye, not knowing if they will ever meet again in person.
Although exhausted from an eventful day, the sponsors stayed up for one final activity call the Mayan Prayer. This is a special prayer lead by Bob which is based on the beliefs of the Mayan people. The ground is covered in pine needles (a sign of celebration), flower pedals, candles, and more. The prayer includes songs, “Love the Children” in this case, lighting of candles, and prayers facing each of the four cardinal directions. I’ll leave it at that and simply encourage you to make a MAT to learn the rest. Everyone was anxious now for bed because the walk was to begin in the morning…4:00 in the morning that is.
With fireworks blasting overhead and the mariachi band singing away, the Walk 2gether Second Pilgrimage of Faith was about to kick off. All the sponsors were there along with special staff from Kansas to document the event. A prayer was said by Father Juan from the local parish and at 4:00 exactly the walk began. The streets of San Lucas were filled with people and fireworks continued to explode everywhere. Although still dark, I could make out many of the banners and balloons that had been put up all over the town. It was one big party in the streets. Each new town that we entered brought with it a fresh group of walkers. We were thousands walking down the narrow roads of Guatemala with shouts and cheers breaking the calm of that Tuesday morning. We stopped every 10 kilometers to rest and eat. When we arrived at the 30km marker, we all had lunch in Patulul. I stopped there to lead the sponsors on another home visit, while a few sponsors toughed it out and went for the full 40. It was an incredible day for all involved and it was just a taste of what was to come in Honduras.
Wednesday was spent in Santiago Atitlan. Presentations were performed and we visited another home. There we met a sponsored aging who made baskets (check the link for photos of this visit). We also went to the church and learned a bit about Fr. Rother, a martyr who was assassinated during the civil war in Guatemala (1960-96). The sponsors were also able to shop in the town market.
Thursday we went on a tour of the San Lucas Parish projects in town. We visited the women’s center, the coffee plantation, clinic, and the reforestation project. In the afternoon we returned to the parish and listened to a talk done by Fr. Greg Schaffer. I have now heard him speak to sponsors twice and he is simply an amazing man. He has dedicated his entire life to the people of San Lucas and just last week he celebrated 50 years of priesthood. If you would like to know more about Fr. Greg or the San Lucas Mission
click here.
That evening was New Year's Eve and the HP staff put together quite a little party. Good food, drink, mariachi music, dancing, and finally, firework. A perfect end to great week in San Lucas.
Friday we left early to Antigua, Guatemala. Here the sponsors were able to eat and shop for a few hours before we went to the Guatemala City for the final dinner. Saturday morning we drove the sponsors to the airport group by group and said our goodbyes.
My first Mission Awareness Trip was unforgettable and I’m excited for the
14 (!) more that there are this year in Guatemala!
Please note that due to the very slow uploading program at blogspot, I have posted links to a facebook photo album with all the pictures from this MAT. Check it out!
Mission Awareness Trip December 29, 2009
The idea of the games is to get the kids out and have them get to know one another. CFCA talks a lot about how we are one big family from the sponsors to the sponsored children, from volunteers to CFCA staff. These events really foster that idea and most importantly they are a lot of fun!
