I love traveling to different places in the world. It is fun to learn about the unique and different cultures in each place I visit.

I think about what my life would be like if I was a kid in that country…

I especially wanted to go to Guatemala because I knew it would be like no other place I have ever been and it is an experience that my mom will not be able to have so I wanted to bring back some pictures, gifts, and stories to share with her. My experience in Guatemala was unique and different to what I am used to and when I got home it made me think of all the things that I have to be grateful for.

Before going to Guatemala, I was grateful for my family and friends of course,

… but now I am thankful for so much more:

I am thankful for our government that provides services like education, safe roads and clean water.

I am grateful that I get to go to school and play sports while some kids in Guatemala work in coconut farms before and after school.

I am grateful for our doctors and hospitals and my health.

I am blown away by the efforts of the Hart family over the last several years to work with the people who live in Chiquimula. They have helped bring fresh water to the town, helped many kids go to school and helped the school build bathrooms. I was really happy that I got to help at the medical clinic. I enjoyed meeting all the kids even though I don’t speak Spanish and playing soccer with them. I liked counting pills and put them in bags so that people could get the medicine they needed.

There were times when I really missed my family and the United States and I did have two really hard days in the middle of the trip when I got sick. But I got better, all thanks to Mrs. Stinson and Mrs. Hart. I did really enjoy hiking the Pacaya Volcano and staying at a beautiful lake. In all, I had a really great experience at Guatemala.

Ps. Thank you so much to the Stinson Family!!! You made me feel like a Stinson. I also had a lot of fun with the Montvilles and the Nassifs. I was glad we got share so many memories together. Thank you a lot to Mason and the Harts for including me on this trip. It was an amazing trip that I will remember forever.

Gracias, Mac

From your H(e)arts 4 Guatemala Family:

Mackie -

We could not be more proud of you for your bravery and willingness to take this adventure without your family because you felt a stirring to “see the world”. We all saw a few things that we thought we would share with you and your family that showed us all the spirit of adventure, willingness to be brave, and your true grit during out time together:

• A total willingness to put yourself out there and do all the hard things that were asked of you.

• At age 12 - traveling for 13 days - without your parents- to a foreign country is brave no matter what.

• Returning from Cooperstown with your baseball team early to jump on a plane to Guatemala! The joy you had giving out your “Chagrin Tigers Baseball” pins to many of the children in Chiquimula and the joy they exclaimed when receiving them! Beautiful to see you share of a piece of your h(e)art with them!

• You sharing your mom’s gift and lesson of “mental toughness” to each one of us on the days we needed it.

• You jumping in and teaching basketball, starting games, and trying to break down the language barrier with sports, a few Spanish words, and a smile.

• Building a stove for a family in rural Guatemala while braving extreme heat, not feeling well, and fire ants. Your smile when you were able to present the stove to the family was a highlight for all of us!

• Your insightful questions even before we went on the trip about the government, importance of school, barriers to children attending school, and my favorite - when Juan Carlos was putting our luggage on top of the bus - and you wanted to know how could I make sure the luggage would not fly off!

• Allowing us to change your identity to “Greg Stinson” on our trip since traveling with a “Mac” and a “Max” proved difficult at head count time!

• You taking all the medicine, drinking all the fluids, and listening to all the silly cheers and encouragement we could muster to get you to feel better when you were sick.

• Your smile while watching the Home Run Derby in Spanish brought the light back to your eyes -after feeling so crummy - and let us all know you had turned the corner.

I know you are happy to be home, but we were so happy you were there!

You are welcome to join in anytime - Greg - I mean Mac :)

The Harts, Stinsons, Montvilles, & Wasserman-Nassifs