September 10th, 2026Giving Before You Have Enough
Guatemalan Generosity Inspires Calgary Youth
A group of Calgary youth were touched by how Guatemalan community members helped those in need – even before they themselves were economically stable.
Last May, seventeen youth and adults embarked on a learning tour which was organized by MCC Alberta and hosted by SEMILLA Latin American Anabaptist Seminary*. Charlene Lauzier (Foothills Mennonite Church), Kienna Krahn (Foothills Mennonite Church), and Margo Ratzlaff (Calgary First Mennonite Church) were three of the youth leaders that accompanied the group. For Ratzlaff, participating in the learning tour was a process of “knowing what you don’t know”.
During a visit to San Juan’s market, the group learned that businesses had formed “artisan cooperatives" to equalize revenue opportunities. San Juan vendors had pooled their products with other artisans who sold similar goods, whether that product was honey, herbal medicines, textiles, or chocolate. After agreeing on a set price for the product, members took turns working a joint stand. As a result, all vendors benefitted from more time to produce or source their goods instead of working a market stand every day. Instead of competing with one another’s businesses, San Juan vendors decided to look out for one another, ensuring their neighbour had the same chance to profit as they did.
In Guatemala City, another instance of generosity surprised Krahn. “We were split into groups getting ingredients in a busy market,” she says. Suddenly Krahn’s fanny pack came open, dropping a few coins onto the ground. She noticed the money fall but decided to leave it behind in order to keep pressing forward with her group. Krahn heard a voice from behind her, saying ‘Take it, Take it, take it!’ A local woman was holding out the coins to her. Krahn reflects that this stranger, who likely needed the money more than she did, “could have easily taken it.”
For Lauzier, the trip has spurred her to consider returning to Guatemala to offer her own gift of teaching. During the group’s visit to the largest market in the city – Mercado La Terminal – they were introduced to Puerta de Esperanza (“Door of Hope”), an organization that provides an educational and safe space for children who grow up living in the market which their tour guide described as “dangerous.” Puerta de Esperanza not only offers a shelter, but also an education for the children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school.
The group’s visit to Puerta de Esperanza has left a lasting impression on Lauzier. “We were there for such a short time, but [going back] has really lingered in the back of my mind… Seeing all the kids in the school and also seeing all the kids in the community I think was one of the most impactful things.”
The SEMILLA learning tour showed the youth group that giving is possible, no matter how much you have. Lauzier seeks to offer the gifts she has, knowing that working with Puerta de Esperanza would enrich her own learning as well as the children’s.
*SEMILLA is an Anabaptist seminary based in Guatemala which promotes theological education all over Latin America. MC Canada’s Witness Support Network serves to support Semilla through prayer, donations, and intercultural learning, just as Semilla has supported cross-cultural experiences for Canadian learners over many decades.
To learn more about SEMILLA and its learning tours, or to donate, please contact Danika Gingerich at danikawarkentin@gmail.com, or follow this link.
Photo 1: Margo Ratzlaff learning to spin cotton at a San Juan cooperative business. Photo courtesy of Jessica Evans
Photo 2: Back row: Margo Ratzlaff (2nd from the left), Charlene Lauzier (4th from the left), and Kienna Krahn (5th from the left) stand with the rest of the youth group from Foothills Mennonite Church and Calgary First Mennonite Church. Photo courtesy of SEMILLA