A remote area in the Cuchumatanes Mountains in Guatemala.
The guerilla organization fought the Guatemalan military there for more than 30 years (1960-1996).
As part of the Peace Accords signed in 1996, programs have been started to help improve economic development, education, health care and clean water.
The Huista region, like most of northwestern Guatemala, is deeply indigenous, very poor and predominantly agricultural.
The region was hardest hit by the traumas of war and the instability of the Guatemalan government in the 1980s.
Building Bridges-Improving Lives Mission trip offers Nebraskans chance to transform lives By LISA MAXSON Catholic Voice
Sleeping on hard floors and using outhouses for almost two weeks might not sound like the ideal experience, but for Dr. Kristine McVea, the Archdiocese of Omaha's IXIM mission trip to Guatemala is one of the highlights of her year.
"I just really love it and enjoy the opportunity of being able to share the experience with other people," said McVea, who went on her fifth IXIM trip with the archdiocese June 24-July 5.
McVea was one of 35 people, ranging in age from 18 to 75, who spent 12 days in the Diocese of Huehuetenango, located in the northeast corner of Guatemala.
During their stay, group members installed water purification systems, provided medicine and medical care, helped paint a church and continued to foster the growing relationship between the people of Guatemala and the people of the archdiocese.
Originally Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss was scheduled to go on this year's trip, but he had to cancel to be with a dying relative.
Father Damian Zuerlein, pastor at St. Columbkille Parish in Papillion, organized the program in 2003 after his own experience of working with Hispanics at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Omaha.
"I think it's when we encounter the other who's different from ourselves that we begin to learn about ourselves. We learn about what we believe, why we act the way we do and we also encounter Christ in the stranger, in the other," Father Zuerlein said. "I really wanted to provide that opportunity for others to have the same experience I had."
IXIM, pronounced "ee-sheem", is a sister diocese program between the Archdiocese of Omaha, the Diocese of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, and Guatemalans from there who live in Omaha and Schuyler.
The program is based on solidarity and building relationships, said McVea, a mission leader.
"It's all about developing relationships with the poor, actually living, working, walking with them and understanding from their perspective the challenges they go through," she said. "It does involve service and giving, but not in a paternalistic way and really more of a way of you growing to love people and wanting to help them in a way that really respects their dignity."
San Antonio Huista
The Nebraskans visited San Antonio Huista, a remote area in the Cuchumatanes Mountains.
It was there that Nebraskans helped paint the village's Catholic church. A crew of about 30 people - half from Nebraska and half from the village - spent three days painting the church's interior and exterior.
"Luckily a guy from there had a spray system to do the upper part of the church," Father Zuerlein said.
Another major project of the group was installing two water purification plants - one in San Antonio Huista and one in a nearby village - to help bring enough clean water to service the entire community.
Plumbers and construction workers from the Archdiocese of Omaha worked side-by-side with local Guatemalans in putting the plant together.
"They (the Nebraskans) really tried to take a very hands-off approach because they knew that the people who were going to be down there in the community were the ones who would need to fix it if something broke," McVea said. "It was really exciting to have the dedication ceremony and the blessing and to be able to go in and get your first taste of that nice, clean water, which they did not have access to prior to that."
Medical assistance
With a number of volunteers from the medical field, the missionaries were able to provide thousands of dollars worth of donated medicines to nearly 400 patients. The missionaries worked with local health promoters and parish nurses to help them educate their people about hygiene, hand washing and using the clean water available through the purification center.
McVea said dental disease is prevalent in Guatemala, due to the lack of fluoride in the water and a lack of toothpaste and toothbrushes. To help with the epidemic, group members also provided a dental treatment to children that consisted of a fluoride varnish that could be brushed on children's teeth throughout the year. They also taught the children how to brush their teeth and provided thousands of donated toothbrushes and toothpastes.
A small group of educators spent some time at a local school, learning about their school system and helping build a sister school program between the nine schools in Huehuetenango and those of Omaha. Currently St. Cecilia School and St. Vincent de Paul School are paired with two schools in Guatemala. The students exchange letters and some of the Omaha schools gather donations for their Guatemalan peers.
Building up women
Father Zuerlein said one of the main impacts the Archdiocese of Omaha has had on the Diocese of Huehuetenango is the sponsorship of the Disciples of the Good Shepherd, a group of young indigenous lay women who have decided to lead a consecrated life. The women live in community while they get an education. Many entered with a first grade education, but go on to get a teaching degree and take theology classes at university level.
The archdiocese has been sponsoring the women's education and recently helped pay for the construction of a new and larger house for them.
McVea said many women's circles and organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Omaha have adopted one of the consecrated women. They pay for their education, write letters and pray for each other, she explained.
"It was great to be a part of that for these beautiful, beautiful women who will eventually return to their communities and help with empowering women and help them see their way in the church," McVea said.
Because the goal of the IXIM mission trip is to build a relationship between the dioceses, communication continues between both dioceses and the Guatemalan people who live in the Archdiocese of Omaha. As part of the partnership, Nebraskans have been asked to care for the Guatemalans in the archdiocese who are from the Diocese of Huehuetenango. Missionaries will continue to stay in touch with the people of Guatemala through letters and phone calls, Father Zuerlein said.
Even though the mission trip is difficult because of cultural and language barriers, McVea said it's all worth it.
"I don't know anyone who has taken that leap and gone and regretted it," she said. "I think everyone just feels like they're glad they went and that it was really affirming and a life-transforming experience."
