One year

In one sense, time passes quickly. In another, my old life seems so far away now. It's been a year of constant change. The longest I stayed in one place was a month, and usually I stayed less than a week. I've taken courses in organic agriculture, Spanish and Portuguese, and worked in conservation and rural poverty alleviation with small NGOs in 4 countries (twice with the same one in Guatemala).

I have a lot more to learn, but I think the experience has given me a good overview of rural life and the state of agriculture and the forests in tropical Latin America. I've also learned something about how small NGOs operate, and how I may be able to use my computer background in conservation and rural development work in the future.

I've learned to live more simply, without some of the material comforts and conveniences I was used to, and with more willingness to accept the generous hospitality of my friends. I also made many new friends in places I visited, and have had many good conversations that have stayed with me.

The work continues. The effects of anything I've done may not be visible in terms of the actual living conditions in the communities. But real change takes more time, and it seems that the value may be in the heart that is put into the effort. This is a different way of thinking than that of the business mindset, with its emphasis on short-term "results." I think the important things are desire to please God and the quality of relationships formed in the work, even when external improvements are not obvious. It is a temptation to give up because our efforts seem futile.

I may have planted a few seeds this year but these will need to be cared for, by myself or by others, in order for them to eventually produce the desired fruit.

So how can I continue to be a part of this work? It seems that the things of greatest value can't be paid for. Nature and the poor can't pay, the small nonprofit organizations have few resources and the larger ones may be controlled more by their own bureaucratic and professional self-interests than the actual needs in the_field. I think that small is beautiful, but in the nonprofit realm this means submitting to much less income and a much simpler life.

written by  cjones on September 9, 2008 from San Lucas Sacatepequez, Guatemala
from the travel blog: so-journ
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