Secure the Soul Christian Piety and Gang Prevention in Guatemala Kevin Lewis O’Neill UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Secure the Soul Secure the Soul Christian Piety and Gang Prevention in Guatemala Kevin Lewis O’Neill UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. University of California Press Oakland, California © 2015 by The Regents of the University of California Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data O’Neill, Kevin Lewis, 1977– author. Secure the soul : christian piety and gang prevention in guatemala / Kevin Lewis O’Neill. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-520-27848-6 (cloth : alk. paper) isbn 978-0-520-27849-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) isbn 978-0-520-96009-1 (ebook) 1. Gang prevention—Guatemala— Guatemala. 2. Church and social problems—Guatemala— Guatemala. I. Title. HV6439.G92G923 2015 364.4—dc23 2014024593 Manufactured in the United States of America 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 In keeping with a commitment to support environmentally responsible and sustainable printing practices, UC Press has printed this book on Natures Natural, a fi ber that contains 30% post-consumer waste and meets the minimum requirements of ansi/niso z39.48–1992 (r 1997) (Permanence of Paper). To Sridhar, to Usha For Archana, for Ignatius Contents List of Illustrations ix Prologue 1 Introduction 9 Forgiveness 25 1. Insecurities 33 Hamsters 58 2. Reality 65 Pangs 89 3. A Calling 96 Service 120 4. Left Behind 127 Captivity 151 5. Forsaken 158 Adrift 182 Epilogue 193 Acknowledgments 195 Appendix: Notes on Research 201 Notes 205 Reference List 247 Index 277 Illustrations 1. La quema del diablo / 2 2. The daily news / 10 3. Los desaparecidos / 14 4. Guatemala City, Zona 3 / 16 5. Grim reaper / 21 6. Prisoner transport vehicle, Pavoncito / 35 7. Pavón / 44 8. Siman department store / 73 9. Hotel Camino Real, Guatemala City / 77 10. Call center signage / 107 11. La Paloma / 128 12. Barey, North Carolina / 133 13. Captive / 159 14. Forsaken / 180 15. Walking / 183 ix