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Imagine a Mayan village 6,000 feet up on the side of a mountain that can only be reached from the nearest town by a rocky 1 1/2 hour drive up the side of a mountain. That town is Chicaman, which is a 6 hour drive on roads that are full of speed bumps, rock slides and steep winding curves from the capital city of Guatemala. On top of that, for our team, there are over 3 hours of flight time required, plus lay overs and drives to the airport. Needless to say, if you want to meet these beautiful Mayan villagers in the Quiche region of Guatemala, you must be ready for one intense journey.
Pam and Bart Biddle have made this tumultuous trip literally hundreds of times with their family over the past 16 years as they’ve worked in this region. During their time here, they have become fully aware of the plight that faces this region. Through their ministry team in Chicaman, they continue to provide medicine, nutritional training and other educational programs to these people, as the Quiche region is the most illiterate region of Guatemala and unfortunately has the highest infant mortality rate of any other region in Guatemala.
The clouds literally rest on the huts of these 25 plus villages that dot the Chicaman region, which has only had electricity since 2014. The Chicaman people live off rainwater. In dry seasons, they must walk for over 2 hours for water. The villagers proudly boast of large families; the mother typically stays home and cares for the children. Many families live off of $300 per year, earned through various migrant endeavors. A lack of finances contributes to malnutrition and this poor diet often leads to health risks, such as intestinal parasites and amoebas, which would be preventable with proper access to medicine and healthcare.
Even in spite of these circumstances, which would instantly suck the life out of most of who live in America and other prosperous nations, these villagers are full of true life. Laughter, smiles, and loud passionate music fill the hills of the Guatemalan mountain sides and their growing, supportive families remain the foundation of these villages. Children are cherished and seen as a blessing. The men work hard inside and outside the home and the women are humble, beautiful and dedicated mothers and spouses. In the face of what most of would consider unthinkable hardship, these villagers exude peace and contentment.
It is because of the deep connection Bart and Pam have with this region, and the lack of opportunity and income that exists here, that Tapestry has chosen Guatemala as it’s “launch country.” Tapestry hopes to create sustainable income through the women’s artisan pieces to encourage a sense of dignity for each women, and that satisfaction that comes from personal growth and being able to make a contribution. It also serves to alleviate the unnecessary suffering so many villagers currently face.
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