I want to share a little bit about our trip to Guatemala through a series of short articles. It’s always so hard for me to know the best way to share our experiences, but I’m excited about doing it this way. The people we meet on these trips and the things they teach us, without even knowing they are teaching us, change us. It’s the best part about traveling! This post will be the first of a series. I share these lessons in no particular order of importance, just sharing what’s on my heart at the time.
One of our favorite things that we did in Guatemala this last trip was installing solar panels. Going into the humble homes of faithful women and families changed me. They taught me in so many ways, ways I wasn’t expecting to be taught.
These homes we visited were the most humble of homes in all the world. They were often a small makeshift mud or tin hut, with one or two small rooms, dirt floors, cluttered with a bed and their most basic necessities. These small quaint homes often housed 6-8 people, sometimes more.
Every single home we went to welcomed us with open arms and smiles, a kiss on the cheek, and an invite to come inside and sit down. They would move things around, have us sit on their beds, bring in stools to sit on, all while saying please please come in, sit down.
Not one of these faithful women apologized about the size, cleanliness, or condition of their home. Not one. They all flung their door open and welcomed us in without hesitation. Their concern was about us not themselves or a possible judgement that might be placed. I couldn’t help but see and feel the Savior’s love through them. I found myself thinking, that is exactly what the Savior would do.
They taught me.
They taught me how to welcome people to my home. They taught me to be more humble. They taught me to not worry about others’ judgements. They taught me to welcome people into my home without apology or excuse. They taught me how to be more like Christ.
It’s amazing how hard it is to break bad habits, but since coming home, I try so hard to welcome people to my home differently. Not with a hesitant hello, followed by an excuse or an apology for a less than perfect home, but with open and welcoming arms just as they did, and as He would.