I've always understood that it is important to gain an education. The prophets have told us that it is important to "gain as much education as possible." Watching the handy man that works here and the children who go to school, you see that education is taken for granted almost everywhere you go.
In the U.S. we go to school for 8 hours a day, come home, do homework and do it all again tomorrow. After graduating high school we enroll in college to learn even more. Here in Guatemala, the kids go to school for 4 hours a day just to go, come home and go to work. They don't have any homework and they aren't really going anywhere in life. It's almost unlikely that they would even see the point in going to college.
To me that phrase "gain as much education as possible," is important for everyone, but being in a third world country I'm noticing just how important that phrase is especially for these people. The handyman who works at the hotel has no desire to learn. JC is consistently teaching him new skills that he could use in his daily life, but doesn't really care or see the need for it. He just does what he has always done and to him that is good enough.
It's hard watching these kids grow up without that understanding of the importance of learning. I've always loved learning. Learning makes you feel good about yourself and helps you to see your potential. What is there to do in this life if you didn't learn and grow and apply what you learn into your life?
The gift of learning is a very precious gift. I'm so grateful I've taken the time to gain an education and learn as much as I can. Just being here is a big learning experience for me. What a blessing it is to learn. :)
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