Destination: Sumpango, Guatemala
In June 2008, fifteen members of New Hope Baptist Church partnered with missionaries Aaron and Christine McKnight and traveled to Sumpango,
Guatemala on a short term mission trip. While on the trip, our team helped finish putting on the roof of the church in Sumpango, worked on general cleaning and painting inside the church, helped run a "kids club" on the weekend, and of course helped inside the Manna feeding center.
Guatemala is about the size of Tennesse and it is located in Central America, just south of Mexico. Guatemala's beautiful countrysides were once the site of the impressive ancient Mayan civilization. Today it is a country with a developing economy and is characterized by wide income disparities. Due to endemic poverty and dysfunctional law enforcement and judicial systems, violent crime is also a concern in this country.
The typical home in Sumpango, the village that the church is located in, 
consists of a dirt floor with four metal siding walls, and usually a metal roof. Some of the residents surrounding the church did not even have indoor plumbing. The people of this country, where $10 a day is a good wage, work very hard every day just to meet the needs of their day to day survival. Despite not having the "creature comforts" that we Americans take for granted, the people seemed so content because they know the importance of family and friends over material posessions-a lesson that most Americans should take to heart. These gentle, kindhearted and loving people welcomed Team Guatemala into their church as if they were family.
Especially dear to our hearts was a family that lives just beyond the church at the bottom of the hill. This large family, with at least five children, lives in a home that has a dirt floor, metal siding walls and roof, and is about the size of a large bathroom; they do not have any indoor plumbing or running water. One of the children-a seven year old boy- was born with Down's Syndrome and his 
nine year old sister has become his personal "caretaker." He cannot walk so she caries him everywhere, even though he probably weighs just as much if not more than she does. She feeds him and has basically become his second mother. It was heartbreaking, yet so touching, to see a child so young take on such a large responsibility.
Although our team members went to Guatemala with the intent of being a blessing to the missionaries and people of Guatemala, especially the children 
who often suffer the most in such poverty stricken areas, we found that the people of Guatemala were a blessing to us and gave us memories that we will carry for a lifetime. Even though not one member of our team spoke fluent Spanish, we were able to break all language barriers simply through a hug, a smile, or a kind action. We were able to share worship services with the Guatemalan church members and were blessed to be able to share some of our own praise music. All who were in attendance seemed so eager to hear the Word of God taught by the missionaries. As Americans we get so wrapped up in our "things" and forget to stop and thank God for the little blessings that occur every day-a hug from our children, the companionship of our spouses, our health, or spending time just "hanging out" with our friends or family. The Guatemalan people taught us a lesson about this throughout our stay in their beautiful country.
When it came time to leave it was a very tearful goodbye-both American and Guatemalan. We learned that no matter where we live on this Earth, we are all children of God who worship the same King. We came to appreciate our cultural differences and to love the gentle-spirited people of this beautiful country; it was a life-changing experience.
Plans are already in the works to return. Our teens are also considering taking a trip down as part of our youth ministry program. Although team members were responsible for raising some individual support, most of the trip was paid for through proceeds from the Children's Resale, our Upward Spaghetti Dinners, and Craft Baazars. We would like to thank all of you who participated in any way with these events. You have helped to provide a blessing not only to the people of Guatemala, but also to the people of this church. Thank You!
Please explore the website for information about our next Children's Resale-coming up on August 8th and 9th. It is a great way to get gently worn, good quality children's clothes and equipment at a lot cheaper price than at the retail stores and it is a great way to support our missions program so that we can continue to be a blessing to people who are less fortunate than those of us who live in the U.S.
Manna Worldwide is a Christian organization that partners with missionaries around the world to set up feeding centers, churches and orphanages in some of the poorest corners of the Earth. If you would like to learn more about Manna Worldwide, you can visit them at www.MANNAworldwide.com. If you would like to know more about our church you can visit us at www.nhbcfw.org or call us at 260-434-1111.
Thank You and God Bless!
Team Guatemala 2008
