Day 5, our 3rd day of work at the school, came with ups & downs, as some of our work was deconstructed due to "design updates" and one of our teammates from the Texas group ended up getting a couple of stitches in his nose (thank you, Dr. Aaron Carlisle - team member extraordinaire)! But overall, the project moved forward, memories were made, and everyone experienced God moving in and around us in remarkable ways. 

After sharing some "God sightings" over breakfast on Day 6, we headed back up to the school for our 4th & final day of work. One of the projects of the week was building the forms and supports for the island in the kitchen, then mixing and pouring concrete to create the countertop. The entire team of 20 (St. Mark's 6 + Northwoods, TX 14) worked together in a huge assembly line to mix and pour the concrete countertop. Afterwards, we gathered in a big circle to say farewell to our construction crew and to share some thoughts & reflections on the week. What an amazing way to cap off our time on the worksite as one big "family"!

We made a stop by the Mission Guatemala clinic before heading back to The River House to learn more about the Nutrition & Scholarship programs from two longtime employees of Mission Guatemala. 

Tomorrow will be our final full day in Guatemala - hard to believe it is already coming to an end.

Today marks the halfway point of our mission trip, and it is amazing to reflect on all that God has already done. Each day has brought new opportunities to serve, learn, and connect with the people of Guatemala. We have witnessed God's love in powerful and unexpected ways at The River House, around town, and at our work site.

One of the greatest blessings has been seeing how God works through relationships. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, genuine connections have formed, reminding us that we are all part of God's family. The joy, faith, and resilience of the people we have met have encouraged and challenged us in our own walks with Christ.

As we enter the second half of our trip, we are grateful for the experiences we've shared and excited for what lies ahead. We ask for continued prayers for strength, health, and open hearts as we seek to serve faithfully. God is clearly at work here, and we are thankful to be a small part of His greater plan.

First day on the worksite! We are working towards completing a kitchen build at a secondary school in Godinez, about 20 minutes away from Mission Guatemala. We are serving with a youth group from Northwoods in Texas this week - there are 6 of us & 14 of them (4 adults & 10 youth ages 14-20). 

After arriving at the worksite, we met the construction crew who are helping us this week. Then, we split into small groups or pairs & started work on the various projects to be tackled this week. Lunch was served onsite (the fresh guacamole is always fantastic!), followed by a fun game of soccer for whoever wanted to participate. We wrapped up the workday in time to get back to The River House & clean up before a traditional Guatemalan dinner - Pepian - usually served at celebrations & special occasions. 

It was amazing to work alongside the Northwoods youth group and with one another today, sharing the work, but also learning more about one another & having fun. We even sat outside on the porch tonight as one big team, singing songs, praying, and sharing our "wows" (ups) & "pows" (downs) from today. Building community is one of the primary reasons that Mission Guatemala exists - and we definitely accomplished that today!

It is raining tonight and we will all sleep well after our first workday. We praise God for the work being done here this week and for the relationships that are being built along the way.

Today was our first full day in Guatemala! The morning began with a delicious breakfast at The River House, followed by an informative presentation by Executive Director, Dave Burns. We learned so much about the history of Guatemala, its cultural diversity, and the contributions of Indigenous Mayan communities, as well as the social, economic, and political inequalities that have affected these communities and their pursuit of equality. Dave also told us about the origins of Mission Guatemala and the work they have been focusing on in the communities of and around San Andrés.

Afterwards, we had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a traditional Mayan ritual with Elma, a local Mayan spiritual guide. It was an amazing experience that none of us will forget.

For the afternoon, we had lunch at a local restaurant in town, then had free time to explore, shop, and relax prior to dinner. Yes, they are feeding us too well!

Tomorrow brings our first day on the worksite. Everyone is ready to get started & to meet the work crew who will be guiding & helping us this week. We pray to build community with the people we meet & with one another, as well as to work hard and move the project further towards completion.

Day 1 - Saturday June 13
Our team arrived in Guatemala City this afternoon, early & with no issues. Paco, one of the translators, met us at the airport with the van & driver, helped us load our suitcases, and we got on the winding road to The River House at Mission Guatemala in Panajachel. Lots of traffic and a few spots of heavy rain extended our drive by about an hour. 

Needless to say, we were all happy to finally arrive and be greeted by Executive Director Dave Burns, his wife & Mission Team Supervisor Abigail Ramirez, their adorable three-and-a-half-year-old son Tai, and surprisingly, Mission Guatemala founder Tom Heaton, who is here for a few days. After getting our bags up to our rooms & having a few minutes to unwind, Dave met us on the porch to go over a few things before we had an amazing meal of taco salad with all of the fixings! Muy beuno!

Everyone is excited to be here & ready to get to work, sharing love & joy with the beautiful people of San Andres Semetabaj! Looking forward to what God has planned for us this week. Your prayers are felt and appreciated. Gracias a Dios!

Team members left to right:
Amy Adams, David Adams, Diane Newton, Aaron Carlisle, Leslie Rankin, Jeff Sampson

In just a few days, our team will be boarding a plane and heading to Guatemala for what we believe will be a life-changing journey. As we make final preparations, pack our bags, and pray for the days ahead, we are filled with excitement, anticipation, and gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
Over the coming week, we will be working alongside local communities, building relationships, sharing encouragement, and supporting ongoing ministry efforts. While we hope to make a positive impact through our work, we know that mission trips are never just about what we give—they are also about what we learn. We expect to be challenged, inspired, and reminded of God's work across cultures and communities.
This blog will serve as a way to keep family, friends, and supporters connected to our journey. We plan to share daily updates, stories, photos, and prayer requests so you can follow along and partner with us from home.
As we prepare to leave, we would appreciate your prayers for safe travel, good health, meaningful connections, and hearts that are open to serve wherever we are needed. Thank you for supporting and encouraging us as we embark on this adventure.
We can't wait to share what God does in and through our team during our time in Guatemala.
Stay tuned—the journey begins soon!

Mission Guatemala is a United Methodist related organization with a mission to help meet the basic needs and improve the quality of life of under-served Guatemalan people through health, education, and nutrition initiatives and meaningful missionary service. Founded in early 2009 by Tom Heaton, a United Methodist pastor, they located a mission site in the community of San Andrés Semetebaj and began the needed renovations to open a medical office, preschool/nutrition center and dental office. Their services have expanded over the years, staff has grown, and their core mission continues– partnering with local communities and schools to positively impact the areas of health, nutrition, and education in the communities of San Andrés Semetebaj and beyond.
Guatemala has one of the highest rates in the world for chronic childhood malnutrition. Mission Guatemala’s nutritional initiatives have included full-time school nutrition programs, and weekly lunches served in a number of community public elementary schools. Additional projects continue: medical clinic and pharmacy, dental clinic, eye clinic, feeding centers for chronically malnourished children, community development projects, vocational training programs, water filters for schools and families, fuel efficient wood burning stoves.