For years I’ve wanted to go on a mission trip, but the right time, place and fellow travelers never aligned. Just as I ready to cross it off my list, my nephew Adam told me their family’s Lutheran church in Cincinnati was planning an intergenerational mission trip to Guatemala this summer.
I asked if I could join their family – Adam, Carolyn and their two girls, Nora, 12 and Lily, 7 – and got an enthusiastic “Yes.” The result? An amazing (and often exhausting) trip of a lifetime.I was one of three dozen travelers ranging in age from 7 (Lily) to 73 (me). We spent 7 days in rural Guatemala working with DIG (Dream, Invest, Grow) to help build and paint a 3-room school, install smokeless stoves and assist with vacation bible school.
As many of you know from firsthand experience, mission trips can be challenging and rewarding on many levels depending on the destination, mission and sponsors. Our trip was top-notch across the board, with comfortable housing including a swimming pool, hearty food, meaningful work and warm fellowship under the guidance of Rita and Geoff Doppenberg and their families.
Add to the mission trip a mix people of all ages, and the benefits expanded exponentially.
Get three dozen older adults together and eventually the conversation is likely to turn to cataracts, hip replacements and other physical ailments. Change the schedule in midstream as ours often did and I imagined the anxiety level rising if I was just among my peers.
Not this group. Children are pros at playing and their energy is contagious. The ride to our work site was about 80 minutes up a mountain standing in the back of a pickup truck. The ride was grueling for me and on occasion when I was offered a seat in the cab I took it. But when I had to stand in the pickup I focused on the children waving and yelling “Hola” and found I was able to enjoy the ride. (Also, having Adam by my side helped too, as shown above.)
Work breaks were informal – meaning when you were tired you found a seat in the shade and rested. “Let’s do some yoga,” I said to Lily during one break (yes playfulness is contagious) and we had fun on the ground with no worry about getting dirty since we already were.
Remember that quote by George Bernard Shaw - “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Well children can fix that.
Yes, some multi-family vacations go off the rails and end in drama and divisiveness, but in most cases a big trip brings loved ones closer.
“When family members of all ages explore new destinations, try different activities, or simply enjoy a meal together, they create shared memories that last a lifetime. These experiences form a bank of stories and laughter that family members can reminisce about for years to come.,” according to Vai Travel.
Every night when we gave our “highs” and “lows” (and sometimes silly “buffaloes”) many parents shared their delight in watching their children work hard without complaining or a nudge.
My niece Carolyn certainly felt the trip strengthened their family bonds.
“The values we have been trying to instill in our kids came alive in a real and tangible way for our children. We’ll be able to look back on our time in Guatemala as an example of how we are all called to care for one another and how we can continue to do that in our daily lives back home.
“The trip also afforded time for families in our church to come together for fellowship and get to know each other on a deeper level. It can be challenging for families with busy schedules to find time to connect but this trip gave us time together to share truly meaningful experiences that have bonded us together.”
Like many older adults, I try to keep abreast of technology but there’s always something new, which is why it’s helpful to have younger people around. Adam helped me with a Guatemala customs app and Carolyn introduced me to the “Translate” app.
Some of the boys quickly learned how to install the smokeless stoves and when it came my time to help, they guided me through each step.
And we were all eager to learn about the Mayan culture and the faith journey of the Doppenberg family (who subscribe to the quote “Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do…”), which led to many engaging conversations among young and old.
Finally, one word of advice. Being one of the oldest (or in my case the oldest by almost 20 years) means sometimes having to ask for and accept help. Like many of my peers, I am uncomfortable in that role. The first morning I found a coffee mug in the kitchen inscribed with “You Go Girl” and that became my mantra, along with my husband’s parting words – “remember to pace yourself.”
Still, my can-do energy was not always enough. I needed help getting my suitcase over cobblestone walkways (thank you Adam and Evan), extra electrolytes to deal with the fatigue of working outdoors (thank you Carolyn), and so many other assists along the way (thank you to all my fellow Guatemala travelers).
For older adults an intergenerational trip has its challenges for sure, but the rewards are immeasurable.