The Faces of Guatemala

By Melanie Schuman Rattigan

Of the thousands of pictures I've taken over the years in Guatemala, it's the faces that resonate most. Of course it's incredible to see mirror images of side-by-side volcanoes and yet incredibly sad to look at the homes people build from mud and sticks.

Fellow volunteers, many of whom I now consider friends, use these photos for fundraising purposes. I use them to show friends and family why these trips are so important to me. You always ask someone if it's ok to take his or her photo beforehand. It's a common courtesy. I can count on one hand the occasions someone said no. Kids smile and giggle and with the invention of digital cameras, their faces illuminate when they see their own picture - probably for the very first time. My first two visits I shot on 35mm and could not do this.

Before my first trip with Hearts in Motion, I searched for information on what the country is like. I knew it was riddled with poverty and I knew not to drink the water (or brush your teeth with it or be caught singing in the shower) for fear of "traveler's revenge."

Bathroom behavior is a commonly discussed issue on these trips for several reasons. 1) You learn right away you cannot flush toilet paper. 2) You travel with doctors and nurses. 3) You are pretty careful about what you eat and half the time, you still get sick. This is not meant to scare anyone. It's a fact of life.

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What surprised me more than any book or article could say is just how friendly the people are. I'm not saying that if I walk down the street in Guatemala City that people say hello. They don't do that where I live in New York City. Yet in small villages or even larger towns, people welcome me.

I've had the pleasure of traveling with a group that ingratiated itself in the community with hard work and dedication. Perhaps that's given me a sheltered view and for that I should be grateful. I've seen plenty of machine guns when driving by military installations and banks (these are common sights in Latin American countries.)

I don't go out alone at night. I just go out each day to help someone get medical care, a clean shirt, a new toy. In return, I bring home souvenirs in the form of photographs and the occasional stomach bug. A small price.

Click here to read previous "Hearts in Motion" blogs by Melanie Schuman Rattigan.

Melanie Schuman Rattigan is a coordinating producer for the FOX News Channel. Hearts in Motion is a non-profit 501 (c) 3, non-denominational organization that focuses on the needs of impoverished children and families. It's predominant focus is in Central and Latin America, but it also has several programs in operation in the United States. You can find out more information at

www.heartsinmotion.org