2026 Mission Guatemala - Day 1

By R. Warren

Sunday Arrival & Monday in Aguacate

Verse of the Day

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”Ephesians 2:8–10

As we began our week in Guatemala, this passage was a perfect reminder of why we are here.

We are not here to earn favor with God or rack up “service points.” We are here because of His grace. We have already received the greatest gift imaginable through Christ, and our response is simply to walk in the good works He has already prepared for us. Every member of our team has different gifts, personalities, talents, and experiences, yet God has uniquely created each one of us to serve in our own way this week.

That truth set the tone for everything that followed.

This week we are serving alongside Hogar’s Helping Hands in the village of Aguacate with Karen, Estuardo, and everyone at Hogar Miguel Magone Orphanage.

A Guatemala Family Reunion

Sunday began long before we landed.

Meeting everyone in the Dallas airport felt less like assembling a volunteer team and more like a family reunion. Our Guatemala family was back together.

After landing in Guatemala City, we made our way through customs with surprisingly little drama. There was only one temporarily lost bag…

…mine.

Thankfully, with the sharp eyes of one of our fellow travelers, it was quickly rescued before it could begin its own mission trip somewhere else.

Outside the airport we reunited with one of the highlights of every trip—our faithful driver, Freddy.

Freddy, his beautifully decorated bus, and his two canine copilots, Mole and Benji, are simply part of the Guatemala experience. Words really don’t do them justice.

So off we went…

Twenty-seven volunteers.

Thirty-eight oversized duffel bags and suitcases overflowing with donations.

One unforgettable bus.

The drive to Hotel Candelaria usually takes somewhere between 45 and 90 minutes, depending on traffic. The time matters far less than the experience.

Within minutes you develop a whole new appreciation for Freddy’s driving skills. Narrow mountain roads twist through villages while motorcycles weave effortlessly around traffic, pedestrians appear seemingly out of nowhere, and stray dogs casually wander along the roadside.

It feels less like driving and more like trying to survive a real-life game of Mario Kart—except there are no extra lives.

Preparing Our Hearts

Before every mission trip there are questions.

What will we be doing?

Will I be able to communicate?

What if I don’t speak enough Spanish?

I always joke that I know just enough Spanish to be dangerous…but not quite enough to be useful.

Those concerns quickly disappear because of the incredible leadership of our directors. They arrive days before the team, spending months preparing every detail so that when we arrive we can simply focus on serving.

Hotel Candelaria becomes our home for the week. Sixteen rooms surround a peaceful open-air courtyard no larger than a two-car garage. Climb to the rooftop garden and Antigua stretches out below with Acatenango rising in the distance.

Last night we were blessed to watch Volcán de Fuego erupt against the evening sky.

Standing there, watching fire pour from the mountain, was a powerful reminder of just how small we are compared to the majesty, power, and beauty of our Creator.

Walking the Hills of Aguacate

Today we entered the village.

As we hiked the steep, narrow paths carrying 20-pound bags of food and supplies from home to home, I found myself wondering something.

What leaves you more exhausted?

The physical labor…

or the emotional weight your heart carries afterward?

For me, it was unquestionably the second.

The poverty is difficult to describe.

One husband has been unable to work for over a year because he stays home caring for his wife after a stroke left her unable to use the left side of her body. At times she wanders away from home with no memory of where she is going or why she left.

Another woman lost her business after the pandemic. A chronic wound on her foot refuses to heal, making it nearly impossible to work. Rather than give up, she simply moved her tiny shop into her home. While we sat with her, three different customers stopped by to buy a few items.

Hope continues one small sale at a time.

Every home told its own story.

Most were multigenerational.

Every family carried hardship.

Many homes had dirt floors, walls made from corrugated metal, and windows without glass or screens. Belongings were stacked wherever there was room—not because anyone wanted clutter, but because there simply was nowhere else to put the few possessions they owned.

Yet many of these homes overlooked breathtaking mountain views that would be worth millions of dollars in the States.

A Lesson in Humility

Perhaps what impacted me most wasn’t what they lacked.

It was what they gave.

Despite having almost nothing, every family searched for chairs as soon as we entered.

“Siéntense, por favor… siéntense.”

“Please…sit down.”

Many of the people inviting us to sit were twice my age. Some were five times older than the youngest member of our team, yet they insisted on welcoming us into their homes.

Not once did I hear someone complain.

Not once did I hear bitterness.

Instead we heard gratitude.

Thank you for coming.

Thank you for talking with us.

Thank you for the food.

Thank you for praying with us.

Several families shared that although they are materially poor, they are richly blessed because God continues to provide through people willing to serve.

Those words stayed with me.

Just two weeks ago I found myself frustrated because a storm knocked out our electricity back home. For three days we joked that our house had become “an expensive tent.”

No electricity.

No running water.

No showers.

No flushing toilets.

No lights.

Spoiled food.

It was inconvenient.

Today I walked through homes where that isn’t an inconvenience.

It’s simply life.

Every single day.

And yet there was peace.

Joy.

Contentment.

Looking Ahead

This afternoon we also spent time at Hogar Miguel Magone Orphanage unpacking all 38 bags of donations, sorting hundreds of pairs of shoes, supplies, clothing, and gifts. The children welcomed us with music, incredible hospitality, and a wonderful meal.

We also toured the campus, including their new trade school that opened this past January.

I can’t wait to tell you about that tomorrow.

As you lay your head on your pillow tonight in the comfort of your own home, would you say a prayer for the families we met today?

Pray not only for the people of Aguacate, but for families around the world living in profound poverty.

And perhaps ask God to give us hearts like theirs—hearts that remain thankful, joyful, and full of faith because they know their Savior sees them, loves them, and walks with them every single day.