This Has Purpose

Christina Dargatz
Jul 10
5 min read

Updated: Jul 10

Since the beginning of Culture Chalk, we have sought to challenge the norms of travel, hosting, tour guiding, family life, humanitarianism, social work, missionary work and community living. What we've done is thrown all those ingredients into a giant melting pot and made one big soup —a soup that has erased the lines and boundaries that divided the once individual ingredients and stewed them together into something unique and delicious. (Those who have been here know!)

As hosts of organized trips and retreats, our family life often occurs at work, our work takes place within the community, and our neighbours are part of our family. Guests usually need a few days to wrap their minds around how intertwined each aspect of our ecosystem is, and once they do, the magic starts to happen.

I wanted to set aside some time to write about what we have built as a team, providing context for those who are coming or planning to come, so that our future guests' expectations are aligned with the reality of our services, ensuring the best trip possible.

Our latest completed project offers a great entry point and perspective.

THE TAVERN

Some background

The Tavern of Pacucha has long been a landmark in San Pedro: mototaxi drivers and locals use it when giving directions. It was known for being a hole-in-the-wall place to get as close to death as possible, not the kind of joint to stop in for a few pleasant social drinks or a nice atmosphere.

Situated just half a block from our family home, when we moved in, we quickly noted that the men who stumbled out of the Tavern's doors were, unfortunately, the primary example of "manhood" for the mostly fatherless youth of our neighbourhood. The Tavern swallowed lives whole and spat them out either broken, sick, divorced or all of the above; it became synonymous with the alcoholism that many local men have struggled and fought a hard and losing battle against since the Civil War that ended in the 90s. Our children, like the others in the neighbourhood, became accustomed to skirting around the occasional passed-out drunk on their way down the stairs to school or to the market in the morning.

In honour of Luis

Luis was a handsome young father. I will never forget the sound of his mother's shrill screams and wailing, heard from a few houses down from ours early one morning when his family discovered his lifeless body.

Note that during the funeral, rather than closing the bar out of respect to a family that had lost a son, father and husband to alcoholism enabled by a bar across the street, The Tavern's manager extended their hours to 24/7 for two weeks to cash in on the occasion.

We mourned with the family and committed to praying, every time we walked by that bar, that the establishment would be shut down once and for all. We were faithful to that promise, and God was faithful in answering. A few short weeks later, a transformation in our neighbourhood would begin.

It wasn't long at all. Out of the blue, the owner of the Tavern building approached us.

She saw us sweeping the road in front of the structure one morning and mentioned, "The lease with the man that runs this bar is almost up, would you like to rent it? I'd rather not renew the lease." An extra financial commitment for a dilapidated building wasn't particularly appealing; yet shutting down the bar being placed within our power made the 'yes' a no-brainer.

Just 5 weeks later, the beautiful, green place in the picture was ours!

The Tavern was no more.

But what would we do with it???

Around the same time, we were becoming increasingly aware of a situation that involved domestic abuse, extreme living conditions and overcrowding in the home of the late Luis' cousin, Ceci.

Ceci is the mother of three wonderful children.

She is a part of our core staff team and has taught Mayan history and folklore to each of the groups that have visited the Culture Chalk family hubs and Lady's Hiking Retreats.

After much consideration, we decided to create a space where Ceci and her kids could live that would also function as a classroom and a day home for other kids in the neighbourhood. While Ceci would benefit from a new home, other families around the neighbourhood would also benefit from the build. Ceci running a day home would give them time and space of their own, a gift of hours that had never been available for focused work and income.

THE PROJECT

Just like the concept of Culture Chalk, the idea of what we would do with the Tavern grew organically over the time it took to build. We worked closely with Ceci throughout the entire process. Her personal needs and dreams guided the design work, ensuring that the space would not only serve her but also our community effectively.

As the project gained momentum, many of our Culture Chalk guests contributed volunteer hours by cleaning, painting, and assisting in various ways.

A special shoutout to the many volunteers who helped make this happen and contributed in extra ways to the fixtures, design and furnishings: Stephanie, Kim, Jenny, Krista, Angie, and many more. (You all know who you are!)

In total, the project took us 6.5 months from start to finish. The inauguration occurred on July 8, 2025. Here are some pictures of the exciting and wonderful evening!

The sign outside now reads: "New Hope Home, "The Tavern's Ex."

Setting a foundation of love for the future of the neighbourhood

THE MISSION

Although the building is complete and Ceci has now moved in, we are seeking ongoing partners to help this place continue to move forward and serve the community. Local parents who can afford the daycare and classes will pay tuition, and families in need will be able to apply for a scholarship. Consider sponsoring a child and donate HERE. We are also always in need of trained English and music teachers. If you have some time to come to Guatemala and contribute your skills, please fill out our volunteer form HERE.

CULTURE CHALK

We are humbled to offer travel experiences that look outward, beyond bucket-list scenery and adventure. While we do include many of those items in our planned hub and event itineraries, it's these experiences of connection that we see bringing fulfillment to families looking to offer their children a broader worldview. Our ultimate goal is not to make our guests as comfortable as possible; however, we promise to assist through the discomfort and growth that comes with getting to know the authenticity of a beautifully developing country.