Team Guatemala

While on their three week mission, Team Guatemala learned so much about the people they served. They attended language school for two weeks and stayed with a host family in the old capital of Antigua, where they learned Spanish and experienced Guatemalan life. Lectures on justice and community development were held at night to challenge the team to think and ask questions about their new surroundings.

The team spent one week in the small Indian village of Chamil, experiencing closely a beautiful, simple, and radically different way of life. They partnered with the people of the village to help build classrooms for the children. They also partnered in ministry with the local church – singing, playing with children, and acting out Bible stories in Spanish, which were then translated into Q’eqchi, the Indian dialect of Chamil.

“The Lord blessed us so much through the people of Guatemala,” said sophomore Spanish major Erica Geary. “We met so many loving people with such sweet and humble spirits. One of our favorite moments was when we pulled up to the church at Chamil after driving for many hours. When we arrived, the entire village came out to greet us with smiles and hugs. It was one of the most beautiful things we have ever seen. The love that poured out from the people overwhelmed us; they had never met us, yet they loved us with such pure and unreserved love.”

One of the most rewarding and challenging parts of the trip was learning to live in true Christian community. The people of Guatemala showed the importance of relationships and what it means to live out a life of love. The people of Chamil showed the team the importance of fellowship. Every member of our team supported and cared for one another, giving the team the opportunity to see God stretching and transforming them to be the love and light for the people of Guatemala.

Posted: September 13, 2005