Borderlands: 250 “Shout Outs”, 4 Weddings, 41 First Communions and 6 Baptisms

I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to the sound of bullets cracking off but then I remembered it’s just firecrackers which people find entertaining to shoot off at any hour for any occasion. Oh good. I had one more hour of sleep before my alarm would go off. One hour later I surprisingly was able to pull myself out of bed and prepare for the long, “cold” haul up the Cuchumatanes Mountains. It’s always easier to wake up early when you get to do something fun, opposed to work. Today I had the opportunity to go with William López and his crew who work for the Catholic Radio and Maraton radio program. Later that morning, 250 people would arrive to give their “shout outs” on live radio to loved ones listening ‘live’ in the United States.

The morning began with an incredible sunrise. Four brave souls sat in the bed of the truck wrapped in blankets. I was the fortunate one who got to sit in front of the truck with Victorino. Turns out that Victorina actually lived in Bellingham in 1987 with a job picking blueberries.

We drove till the road seemed to disappear. The vegetation changed gradually with each switch back up the mountains. Finally we reached the end of the road. People had told me it was going to be “very cold” in the Cuchumatanes. I took it for a grain of salt because people always think it is cold here and it is a shivering 60 degrees. That said, I have to give them credit and thank Cecy and Mack for the gloves and beanie, because the air was definitely chillier and thinner than I expected. We arrived at Pajuil Paiz, an aldea of the municipality of Aguacatán at dawn. The gracious women speaking K’iche served us breakfast before the crowd showed up. Everyone in our group kept talking about how flavorful the tortillas were. Considering they have been eating 10-20 tortillas a day for their whole life, I think these people can be tortilla connoisseurs. Apparently, the maiz takes a year to grow in Pajuil Paiz opposed to three months in the valley of Aguacatán, giving the prior a richer flavor.

By early morning, the crowds started pouring into the Catholic Church. The women and children were dressed in beautiful and brightly colored traje. The “radio crew” introduced themselves to the packed out pews and even passed the microphone to me to explain in Spanish to the crowd why a gringa was in the house. Then one by one, women, men and children lined up to have a moment on the microphone to say hello to family in the United States. The messages were transmitted by radio and streamed live onto William’s blog that people then listen to in the United States. It was an emotional day for many as the power of radio brought families together.

I can’t end this blog without saying what happened after everyone had a chance to speak on the microphone. First the priest married four couples! Then 41 children had their first communion. This was concluded with the baptism of six infants. Apparently, if you have all the community and the priest in one place, why not check off the whole to do list? Actually the reason why all this occurred today was because of the radio. Today was a celebration for Pajuil Paiz. It was a time that loved ones in the States had the opportunity to listen to all the important events, voices, and music of their native home.

250 “Shout outs”, 4 weddings, 41 first communions, and 6 baptisms later, I’d say that was a productive day.

Volcano in background near Xela.

Represent with the American flag. Apparently lots of houses here have the American flag to remember family in the States or those who return put it up on house.