{"id":4879,"date":"2014-04-11T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2014-04-11T17:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com-2\/?p=4879"},"modified":"2017-10-17T13:07:16","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T20:07:16","slug":"held-captive-hostage-helper-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2014\/04\/11\/held-captive-hostage-helper-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"Held Captive: From Hostage to Helper in Guatemala"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4928\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190351\/Lacey.jpg\" alt=\"Lacey\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" \/>Fun was the point of expedition rafter Lacey Anderson\u2019s trip to Guatemala, but enlightenment was the result. Find out how a scary hostage situation and other tense encounters led Lacey and members of her team to organize aid for indigenous Guatemalans.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>When the angry mob in the highlands of Guatemala got out ropes and gasoline, and then made neck-slicing gestures with their hands, I didn&#8217;t have to speak Mayan to understand what they had in mind for us. I came to the shocking realization that this could truly be my last day alive (see the two C&amp;K articles <a href=\"http:\/\/www.canoekayak.com\/whitewater-kayak\/access-denied\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Access Denied<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.canoekayak.com\/videos\/rio-copon-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rio Copon Update<\/a>). My thirst for adventure and expedition-style boating had taken me deep into the Guatemalan highlands in an attempt to run the secretive Rio Copon, rumored to be the best multiday river trip in all of Central America. This is where our group of would-be river-liberating boaters and documentary filmmakers was mistaken for corporate meddlers associated with dams and mining, and, as a result, held hostage by four separate villages, each of which threatened live burning as punishment. Heroic negotiations and a selfless offer of one person\u2019s freedom in exchange for the lives of our group (by one of our Guatemalan companions) eventually won our release. Only then did I realize it wasn\u2019t my last day, after all.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4892\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4892\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190359\/2-Location-of-first-village-to-hold-us-hostage1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4892\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190359\/2-Location-of-first-village-to-hold-us-hostage1-720x513.jpg\" alt=\"2 Location of first village to hold us hostage\" width=\"624\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190359\/2-Location-of-first-village-to-hold-us-hostage1-720x513.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190359\/2-Location-of-first-village-to-hold-us-hostage1-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190359\/2-Location-of-first-village-to-hold-us-hostage1-420x300.jpg 420w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190359\/2-Location-of-first-village-to-hold-us-hostage1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4892\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The first village to hold us hostage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>That hostage experience was a life-altering event for me\u2014one that is difficult to describe, especially the depth of emotion I felt. Once I was safely back home, I began intense research into Guatemalan history, and discovered some gruesome facts. Modern destruction of the traditional Mayan lifestyle began with a civil war spanning from 1960\u2013 1996, resulting in over 200,000 deaths. The majority killed were of Mayan descent. Many of the remaining survivors were forced into hiding. They left their traditional homelands and resettled in other regions of Guatemala, mainly in the highlands or in the dense jungles. No longer were they able to reside in the fertile valleys of their ancestral homeland. The vast majority of human rights violations perpetrated during the conflict were carried out by state forces and military groups. U.S. involvement in Guatemala, including training of officers in counterinsurgency techniques and assisting the national intelligence apparatus, has also been singled out as having contributed to human rights violations.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4893\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4893\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190358\/3-Lacey-along-the-middle-Rio-Sauce1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4893\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190358\/3-Lacey-along-the-middle-Rio-Sauce1-720x513.jpg\" alt=\"3 Lacey along the middle Rio Sauce\" width=\"624\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190358\/3-Lacey-along-the-middle-Rio-Sauce1-720x513.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190358\/3-Lacey-along-the-middle-Rio-Sauce1-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190358\/3-Lacey-along-the-middle-Rio-Sauce1-420x300.jpg 420w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190358\/3-Lacey-along-the-middle-Rio-Sauce1.jpg 780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4893\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The author along the Middle Rio Sauce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The persecution of the Mayans continues today through the influence of large corporations (many U.S. and Canadian) and corrupt politicians. There is a huge push for mining precious metals and constructing hydroelectric dams. It just so happens that many of these resources are in the same regions that exploratory river runners want to enjoy. The Mayans once again find themselves defending their homelands, only this time they are more united and hardened by a violent past. The isolated Mayan populations are appropriately suspicious of strangers and willing to fight to the death to protect their culture and land. It\u2019s true that the Mayans of the Guatemalan highlands almost took our lives, but now I understand much more about why this clash of cultures occurred. I was profoundly shaken by the hostage situation, but, looking back, I can see that the end result was positive. Members of our multi-national team of boaters have since started two\u00a0NGOs,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.riosguatemala.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RIOS Guatemala-USA<\/a> and Associacion RIOS Guatemala, which share the goal of\u00a0protecting Guatemalan rivers while providing opportunities for local people whose well-being depends on them. (RIOS Guatemala-USA is based in the United States, while Associacion RIOS Guatemala\u00a0is directed by the Guatemalan contingent of boaters from our team.)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4896\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4896\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190356\/4-Our-international-team-of-river-explorers-left-to-right-Nils-Paul-Lacey-Neil-Josh-Peter-Max2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4896\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190356\/4-Our-international-team-of-river-explorers-left-to-right-Nils-Paul-Lacey-Neil-Josh-Peter-Max2-720x518.jpg\" alt=\"4 Our international team of river explorers (left to right, Nils, Paul, Lacey, Neil, Josh, Peter, Max)\" width=\"624\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190356\/4-Our-international-team-of-river-explorers-left-to-right-Nils-Paul-Lacey-Neil-Josh-Peter-Max2-720x518.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190356\/4-Our-international-team-of-river-explorers-left-to-right-Nils-Paul-Lacey-Neil-Josh-Peter-Max2-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190356\/4-Our-international-team-of-river-explorers-left-to-right-Nils-Paul-Lacey-Neil-Josh-Peter-Max2-416x300.jpg 416w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190356\/4-Our-international-team-of-river-explorers-left-to-right-Nils-Paul-Lacey-Neil-Josh-Peter-Max2.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4896\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our international team of river explorers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>November 2013, a year after our hostage situation, I returned to Guatemala to see how I could help with the formation of RIOS Guatemala-USA. There is much work to be done in establishing this type of organization. We began with stops at the village of Seacacar and the Sauce, places the RIOS Guatemala-USA founders selected to begin doing research and working with the indigenous population.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4897\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4897\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190355\/5-NRS-packraft-on-the-lower-Rio-Sauce1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4897\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190355\/5-NRS-packraft-on-the-lower-Rio-Sauce1-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"5 NRS packraft on the lower Rio Sauce\" width=\"624\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190355\/5-NRS-packraft-on-the-lower-Rio-Sauce1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190355\/5-NRS-packraft-on-the-lower-Rio-Sauce1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190355\/5-NRS-packraft-on-the-lower-Rio-Sauce1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190355\/5-NRS-packraft-on-the-lower-Rio-Sauce1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4897\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NRS packraft on the Lower Rio Sauce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>RIOS Guatemala-USA was considering sponsoring students from the small village of Seacacar to attend the three-year vocational boarding school at Ak\u00b4Tenamit. The meeting in Seacacar between representatives of RIOS Guatemala-USA, a representative of Ak\u2019 Tenamit, and citizens of Seacacar was very productive. Seacacar citizens expressed that they wanted our help. They realized that their village is sitting on valuable property and they were not sure how to best utilize their resources. They suggested that as a team we could come up with alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture, support their children\u2019s higher education goals, and unite in the protection of the land from corporate interests.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4913\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4913\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190352\/6a-Meeting-in-Seacacar1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4913\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190352\/6a-Meeting-in-Seacacar1-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"6a Meeting in Seacacar\" width=\"624\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190352\/6a-Meeting-in-Seacacar1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190352\/6a-Meeting-in-Seacacar1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190352\/6a-Meeting-in-Seacacar1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190352\/6a-Meeting-in-Seacacar1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4913\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A meeting at Seacacar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As of right now, the children of the village get very little education. A lucky few make it as far as 6th grade, but the rest receive little or no schooling. So, RIOS Guatemala has set up a scholarship fund to help students attend the Mayan-run boarding school of Ak\u00b4Tenamit.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4887\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4887\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190404\/Guatemala1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4887\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190404\/Guatemala1-720x514.jpg\" alt=\"Guatemala1\" width=\"624\" height=\"445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190404\/Guatemala1-720x514.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190404\/Guatemala1-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190404\/Guatemala1-420x300.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4887\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Local kids along the Rio Sauce having fun with the NRS packraft.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After the meeting at Seacacar, our group dispersed, but I decided to stay in Guatemala a bit longer. My plan was to volunteer as an English teacher with Ak\u00b4Tenamit. If you know me, this makes sense, because I worked for over ten years as a teacher. I taught science and math with a specialized license for teaching non-Engish speaking students. I thought it might be a rewarding experience to teach English at Ak\u00b4Tenamit. I also wanted to meet the students that RIOS Guatemala was sponsoring.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4899\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4899\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/8c-The-opening-school-ceremony-was-conducted-by-a-traditional-Mayan-spiritual-leader1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4899\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/8c-The-opening-school-ceremony-was-conducted-by-a-traditional-Mayan-spiritual-leader1-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"8c The opening school ceremony was conducted by a traditional Mayan spiritual leader\" width=\"624\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/8c-The-opening-school-ceremony-was-conducted-by-a-traditional-Mayan-spiritual-leader1-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/8c-The-opening-school-ceremony-was-conducted-by-a-traditional-Mayan-spiritual-leader1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/8c-The-opening-school-ceremony-was-conducted-by-a-traditional-Mayan-spiritual-leader1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/8c-The-opening-school-ceremony-was-conducted-by-a-traditional-Mayan-spiritual-leader1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The school&#8217;s opening ceremony was conducted by a traditional Mayan spiritual leader.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I volunteered for two months, living in the volunteer-housing galera (boathouse) and being fed the same food that the students ate (beans and corn tortillas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Teaching at Ak\u2019 Tenamit turned out to be an amazing and humbling experience. I am reminded of the Aristotle quote, \u201cThe more you know, the more you know you don\u00b4t know.\u201d It was a positive experience, but I discovered I had a lot more to learn about indigenous Guatemalan culture.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4891\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4891\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190400\/9b-The-view-of-from-the-galera-volunteer-housing-001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4891\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190400\/9b-The-view-of-from-the-galera-volunteer-housing-001-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"9b The view of from the galera (volunteer housing)-001\" width=\"624\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190400\/9b-The-view-of-from-the-galera-volunteer-housing-001-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190400\/9b-The-view-of-from-the-galera-volunteer-housing-001-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190400\/9b-The-view-of-from-the-galera-volunteer-housing-001-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190400\/9b-The-view-of-from-the-galera-volunteer-housing-001.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4891\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The view from the Galera (volunteer housing).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>RIOS Guatemala\u2019s mission continues to evolve as we learn more about the needs of the people. Just recently RIO Guatemala\u2013USA announced this shift in strategy:<\/p>\n<p><em>Instead of providing scholarships and sending students to the three-year vocational boarding school at Ak&#8217; Tenamit, we will fund Ak&#8217; Tenamit graduates to teach in riverside communities. A student count in Seacacar is now being conducted, and classes will begin shortly. This shift allows us to reach more students and builds trust in the community. Our teacher will also work with the local Mayan people to determine how tourism and other micro-enterprise efforts can provide a sustainable income source to expand educational and other opportunities.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4900\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4900\" style=\"width: 658px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/10b-The-School-Bus-to-class.-There-are-no-roads-to-the-school-only-access-is-by-boat1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4900\" src=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/10b-The-School-Bus-to-class.-There-are-no-roads-to-the-school-only-access-is-by-boat1.jpg\" alt=\"10b The School Bus to class. There are no roads to the school only access is by boat\" width=\"658\" height=\"470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/10b-The-School-Bus-to-class.-There-are-no-roads-to-the-school-only-access-is-by-boat1.jpg 658w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/10b-The-School-Bus-to-class.-There-are-no-roads-to-the-school-only-access-is-by-boat1-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/d2kl15j267vxtq.cloudfront.net\/duct-tape\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/31190354\/10b-The-School-Bus-to-class.-There-are-no-roads-to-the-school-only-access-is-by-boat1-420x300.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4900\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The school bus. There are no roads to the school, and the only access is by boat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Over the last few years these experiences have opened my eyes to how fortunate I am to have been born a U.S. citizen as opposed to being born in the third world. Life can be so hard for people living in developing countries, particularly for the indigenous populations. I am honored to have been put through these trying and often stressful experiences, as it has opened my eyes and given me a deeper appreciation for life and living in the moment. Some ignorance and intolerance, on my part, has been peeled away. This interesting journey began when I casually went into the Guatemalan highlands with the intent of being part of a conservation film about the Rio Copon, and ended up being part of an international hostage incident. I am sincere when I say that fun was the point, but enlightenment was the result.<\/p>\n<p><em>Go to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.riosguatemala.com\">www.riosguatemala.com<\/a> for information on how you can help make the RIOS Guatemala vision a reality.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the angry mob in the highlands of Guatemala got out ropes and gasoline, and then made neck-slicing gestures with their hands, I didn&#8217;t have to speak Mayan to understand what they had in mind for us<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4477,"featured_media":4923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[336],"tags":[371,413,342,316],"class_list":["post-4879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explore","tag-adventure-travel","tag-cat-boating","tag-cataraft","tag-rafting","post-grid"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Held Captive: From Hostage to Helper in Guatemala | Duct Tape Diaries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A scary hostage situation on Guatemala&#039;s Rio Cochon leads to positive outcomes for rafter Lacey Anderson and the indigenous peoples who call the river home.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2014\/04\/11\/held-captive-hostage-helper-guatemala\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Held Captive: From Hostage to Helper in Guatemala | Duct Tape Diaries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A scary hostage situation on Guatemala&#039;s Rio Cochon leads to positive outcomes for rafter 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