Rain hitting a palm leaf roof was a new sound for one of Central Rural Electric Cooperative’s linemen as he wired electricity inside a family’s home in Guatemala.

Jerry Cundiff wired homes for electricity in Guatemala with 18 volunteers from other electric cooperatives in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Colorado through the Energy Trails program in December.

“The people here are so nice and so appreciative of what we’re doing, they’re great to work with,” Cundiff said.

The Energy Trails volunteers wired approximately 200 structures in 38 villages in the mountainous region of Alta Verapaz in north-central Guatemala during the 14-day mission. 

On Cundiff’s first day, his team of four volunteers wired five homes. 

“The first home was a learning experience, it was made of concrete,” Cundiff said. “The second house was a wood house, which was much better because it’s what we had tools for.”

Volunteers installed breaker boxes, light sockets, outlets and switches, as well as meters on concrete poles outside of the homes. 

“The first day, we didn’t have ladders so we had to use these makeshift ladders some of the locals had,” Cundiff said. 

During the second day of work, Cundiff stated they had to drag the dead electrical line through the jungle and two local children helped.

“The kids here are wanting to help and the people are very nice and thankful,” Cundiff said. “It brings tears to your eyes, just having light will make a difference in their lives.”

3 facts about Guatemala

1. According to cia.gov, Guatemala’s top exports are bananas, coffee and palm oil.

2. Guatemala’s Volcano Tajumulco is the highest point in Central America.

3. Guatemala is 108,889 sq km, making it slightly smaller than Pennsylvania.