In order to properly describe the work and career of a member of this community, it is often necessary to put that work in the context of the individual’s whole life. Work is often related to family and friendships and flows out of a combination of interest, upbringing, and opportunity.

     Such is the case with Abraham Hernandez and the members of his household. The principles of family, faith, and service clearly provide a sturdy foundation for his work and theirs.

     Abraham, husband to Candelaria and father to seven children, is the head of carpentry for the Parroquia. As carpentry chief, he oversees all of the parish’s carpentry needs in the construction and maintenance of its projects. In addition, he guides a group of apprentices in learning the trade with the hopes of moving on to develop their own businesses.

     Apprenticeship is a valuable parish program, and Abraham has had a large role in its success. Over the years, he has worked with over 300 apprentices, teaching through hands-on experience everything that is carpentry, which is how he himself learned. He has had up to forty students at a time, though his current group is an easily manageable eleven ranging from thirteen to thirty-five years old. Normally they are youth, occasionally including residents of Casa Feliz. Some apprentices come and go, testing it out and seeing if carpentry is for them. Others remain with him, working and learning and hammering out the hopes of a future career. Abraham has the pleasure of knowing that many of his old apprentices are now successful carpenters of their own with businesses in San Lucas, the capital, and other communities. He takes pride in their success, and they take pride in their teacher, returning from time to time to share with him the plans and blueprints of their current projects.

     Abraham regards the apprentices as working students. They spend a half-day studying and a half-day working. Current projects include the repair and maintenance of Casa Madres, which currently houses visitors and volunteers; Casa Padres, where Father Greg Schaffer lives and has his office; Casa Feliz; and the parish school. They are also assisting in the construction of the new clinic. Most of their work is on-site and away from large carpentry shop. Since carpentry overlaps the larger picture of construction, there is much cooperation between the work of Abraham and his apprentices and that of Lucas Xirúc, head of parish construction. At the time of this writing, Abraham’s crew is doing no woodwork; they are painting the clinic and Casa Madres as well as working with metals in preparation for the construction of a large fence in front of the new clinic.

     When asked what his favorite part of his job is, Abraham says, "Everything." He loves carpentry and loves working with apprentices. Carpentry to him is clean work; it has clear goals, plans, and operations.

     So far, this describes only the surface of Abraham’s life in terms of the externals of his work. His apprentice program and his dedication to work for and serve the Parroquia take on their full meaning only when seen in the context of his whole life and in the context of his family and faith. Diving a little deeper than his employment, one encounters the details that illuminate the integrity of his life.

     Abraham grew up in Casa Feliz and served as a carpentry apprentice himself; he has had a deeply personal knowledge of what it means to both serve and be served. Understanding poverty through his own childhood experience, he challenges his apprentices to work hard and work honestly for their pay, pay which he provides out of his own pocket when the parish has financial difficulties.

     Head carpenter for the parish, Abraham is also a leader in the broader faith community. He humbly participates in many of the parish’s activities and shares his faith and life experiences with youth.

     Candelaria, his wife, is also a model of service. She spent several years cooking in the Parroquia’s kitchen, serving the priests and the many volunteers and visitors. Staying home now, she serves her children. Many people have said from personal experience that to dine at Candelaria’s table is to be served, affirmed, and appreciated.

     Their children are also well schooled in the art of service.

     The youngest four, Hilda Sarina, Monica Vanessa, Abraham Junior, and Carolina, are still in school and are dedicated to their studies as well as to their family. Abraham Junior, in addition to his schoolwork, is in his father’s apprenticeship program.

     The next oldest, Floridalma, attends a nursing school in the city of Quetzaltenango. She began her work as a nurse’s aid in the parish clinic and will return to continue at a higher level the work that led to this opportunity for her.

     Crisanto is a skilled woodcarver, creating engravings, statues, crucifixes, necklaces, and candelabra. His work is excellent, and although he works quickly, the demand for his skills has created a waiting period after ordering. The quality of his art is well worth the wait.

     The eldest of the seven children, Rigoberto, keeps the books at the parish clinic, serving those who come from across the region for the clinic’s unique opportunity of affordable health care. On Sundays, Rigo teaches scripture and faith concerns to children. He is a member of the youth group La Voz de Cristo, which meets at his home. Though not its official leader, Rigo definitely carries a leadership role in the eyes of the over forty younger group members.

     Rigo’s wife, Blanca, also has a servant heart in her work as one of the clinic’s three dental technicians. In this context of family, faith, and service, their one year old Gregorio Miguel, "Mikey," will certainly grow up with a similar passion and desire to serve.

     The entire Hernandez family is often very visible at Mass on Sundays and weekdays. Various members prepare the church for worship, proclaim scripture, distribute Communion, serve at the altar, sing, play musical instruments, and collect the offering. Their involvement in the community’s worship and in various parish youth groups highlights the source of their desire to serve: their faith and their commitment to live Jesus’ teaching of active love for neighbor.

     This family is the context and foundation that must be considered when speaking about Abraham. Because the whole of his family life is focused on faith and service, so is his own personal life; so is the nature of his work. His work is not just a job. It is not simply clocking in and out, grabbing a paycheck, and heading to an easy chair that beckons from home. His work is an expression of his life and his faith, a natural outflow of what it means to be Abraham Hernandez.