GUATEMALA MISSION TRIP NOV 2-9, 2013 OVERVIEW: We are partnering with Living Water International to help spread the gospel to the people in Guatemala. No experience is necessary. The team will be limited to 10 - 12 people. At least four team members need to be women. Completion and approval of an Aloma mission trip application is required. The team will be traveling to the coast of Guatemala where we will stay in a local hotel. This is a tropical environment and the weather will be warm. The team will participate in digging a new well in a village community as well as providing hygiene education for the women and children in the community.
COST & PAYMENT SCHEDULE: The approximate cost of the trip will be $1,800 per person. This will cover your airfare, lodging and meals in Guatemala. This does NOT cover your passport or incidentals while traveling. You will need to budget spending money for souvenirs, personal needs, and snacks. Payment schedule:
$300 Deposit due by March 1
$500 first payment due by May 1
$500 due by July 1
$500 due by September 1
Make checks payable to “Aloma Church” and YOU MUST HAVE “Guatemala-Your Name” in the memo field in order for the funds to be credited to you.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
Orientation Meeting – Sunday, January 15 @ 4 p.m. Training Session #1 Training Session #2 Team Dinner
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Pray for God to prepare your heart for all He has for you on this trip for God to prepare you to be able to minister effectively to the people we will work with and for the many details of this trip (ticketing, training, supplies, provision of finances, etc.) for God to prepare the hearts of the people we’ll be ministering to Prepare Turn in a completed Aloma mission trip application. Make sure you have a passport…you MUST have one. If you don’t already, send off your passport application right away. Talk to your medical doctor to see if you are current on your Tetanus shot and see if there is anything else he/she would recommend. Each member needs to trust the Lord to raise $1,800 to cover their airfare, food lodging, and transportation. I will give you a sample letter, but you’ll need to take the initiative to write your own letter and contact family and friends and give them an opportunity to be involved with you, both in prayer and in supporting you and the team. Participate in all of our team meetings if possible. We will be praying together, talking about important matters, sharing ideas, and preparing ourselves for this ministry opportunity.
VACCINES: We recommend you see your primary care physician to ask about what vaccinations you may need for this trip. You can also visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website for more travel information: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
CONTACT INFORMATION: Valerie Brewer, Director of Engage Ministries 407-671-6851 ext. 103
[email protected]
LIVING WATER: For more information on Living Water International visit: www.water.cc
WHAT TO EXPECT: GUATEMALA MISSION TRIPS
So you’re going on a Mission Trip to GUATEMALA and want to know what to expect? Here are some details of what your trip will look like.
Region and Purpose: Asociación Pozos Agua Viva de Guatemala (APAVG) is currently working in three different areas. Teams will work along the coast in either Champerico (“Shrimp Town”) or La Maquina (“The Machine”). Each year the APAVG team partners with many mission teams from North America to make generational change through the gift of clean water and through the grace of the living water that is Jesus. Team will use an LS300 drill rig with our in-country drillers and work alongside our hygiene team teaching proper sanitation techniques and Bible stories. They will make meaningful relationships, experience a slower pace of life, and witness the faithfulness of God, returning home transformed.
Champerico La Maquina
Xela
Weather: Teams can expect a wide variety of weather depending on time of year. Teams traveling to the Highlands should be prepared for cold temperatures, often times 40-50 degrees!
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On the other hand, mission teams scheduled for the
breakfast (cereal, banana bread, and fresh fruit) and
coastal regions should be prepared for hot, humid
a hearty dinner – often rice, beans, and chicken or
climates. One should expect highs in the 90s and
fish. One incredible blessing for our team members
lows in the 80s. If traveling to Guatemala during the
in Guatemala is the opportunity to share in a home
rainy season (May to November), be sure to pack a
cooked meal each work day prepared by the women
light raincoat.
of the community. These generous women work hard from morning until mealtime to lovingly and
Lodging:
sacrificially prepare our lunch! The smile on their
Teams traveling to Guatemala will spend the first and final nights at the LWI Team House in Antigua. The house serves as the home to the Hough’s, our in-field hosts, and provides storage for the pump and drill supplies. During the week the teams will stay near the communities in a hotel. The hotel rooms, complete with a full bathroom, will be shared among
faces as we eat is a memory to last a lifetime. These lunches are prepared with clean water provided by LWI.
Tentative Itinerary (Subject to change)
two or three teammates. Sheets will be provided,
SATURDAY:
but please bring your own towels. The hotel in La
» Arrive in Guatemala City
Maquina does not have air-conditioning; we provide
» Sight See
battery operated fans. Be sure to pack DD batteries
Chris will pick up the team at the airport in Guatemala
for a much needed breeze.
City and will drive to the team house in Antigua where a delicious, authentic Guatemalan lunch will be ready.
Food:
In the afternoon, there are various opportunities to
Breakfast and dinner will be provided by the
relax and sight-see, depending on the circumstances of
hotel. Team members should expect to eat a light
your trip. There will be more opportunities for tourist activities at the end of the week.
SUNDAY: » Breakfast, church, travel to work region The team will wake up and head to the main square in Antigua to our favorite breakfast spot, La Condessa. Next, the team will head to church for a bilingual church service. After church, everyone will pack and
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head to the village; each region where we work is
shy that an American would come to their home.
about 3-4 hours away.
Team members have the opportunity to encourage and communicate worth even when they don’t
Monday:
speak Spanish. Teams be warm and welcoming
» Community walk (see existing water source, meet villagers) » Begin drilling and take soil samples » Hygiene, Bible stories, crafts, games The team will arrive at the village, meet its residents, be greeted by the mayor, pastor, or teachers, and walk to see the existing water
with body language and our staff is happy to help communicate.
Tuesday: » Drill, case, flush, gravel pack » Hygiene, Bible stories, crafts, games
source(s). This is
Today, the drillers will drill the hole wider, insert PVC casing, flush the well, put in gravel pack,
vitally important
and may start developing/cleaning the well. The
relationship-
hygiene team will meet with the women and
building time.
children, deliver hygiene and Bible lessons and
Shake hands
deepen relationships.
with everyone
Wednesday:
and smile; even if you do not speak Spanish this shows you care. After introductions, our in-field staff will pray and the drilling and hygiene
» Develop well, clean and pack equipment » Hygiene, Bible stories, crafts, games On this day, drillers will have more time to play with kids. In the morning the drill team will work on developing the well, and in the afternoon will clean the equipment and tools. Wells occasionally take
teams will start their projects. The drilling team will
longer than planned; be patient, flexible, and cover
prep the site to drill by drilling a borehole and taking
everything in prayer. When in doubt, remember:
soil samples to determine the best water aquifer.
our in-field staff are the expert drillers. Never
The hygiene team and hygiene lead will meet with the women of the village. The team will often visit their dwellings and finding ways to positively comment on them and their homes is a great way to build relationships. These women are often
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take action without their permission and always follow their lead. With God’s blessing, teams will see a successful well. In the unlikely event that
is something LWI does not support. Remember to journal while the feelings, thoughts and images of the trip are still vivid.
teams are unable to bring water, rest assured that our in-field staff will return to the community to attempt another well. We will not simply leave without trying to assist the community in every way possible.
Thursday: » Complete pump installation » Dedication ceremony The drillers will put the final touches on the well, and there will be a dedication service. This is a time for the community to thank God for the well and thank the team for its part in bringing water and loving them. This is a life-changing day for the village and it can be emotional to say good-bye to people who have become very dear. Please do not leave behind any gifts or make promises. While this feels instinctual, it can be damaging and the relationship should not be about what material possessions the community does / does not receive. Please do not provide your contact information except email, and only do so when willing to write bilingually. Also, be aware that this may initiate requests for money or travel to the states, which
Friday: » Tourist day » Pack Various activities will be offered and it is nice after a hard week to relax and enjoy some down time. Remember to continue to pray for the village and know they are in God’s hands.
Saturday: » Leave for home Team members will get up early in the morning and head to the airport.
Culture It cannot be stressed enough that the time spent in Central America is primarily about relationships. When establishing a relationship with a Guatemalan resident, it is very important to be sensitive to their culture. Guatemala is filled with beautiful people
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who are passionate about their ancient Mayan Indian roots. It tends to be a male dominated society that is incredibly open and accepting to all visitors.
Special Cultural Issues to Note:
Guatemala Staff Carrie Goodson Carrie is the LWI staff member responsible
» Latin American culture is generally very
proper, so be polite and use good manners. Do
not be abrasive, aggressive, or demanding.
Seek to communicate grace and be
peaceful in words and actions. Body
language communicates so much more than you
realized – communicate what is in your heart with
your face and actions.
» Latin America is a male-dominated culture. Whether we agree with it or not, as we are
coming into their country, we must respect that.
Women need to dress extra modestly. Do not
hold extended eye contact with men, and do not
allow body orientation to become too close as
wrong intentions may be communicated. Men
can set a great example through their interactions
with female team members and the local women.
These interactions will be watched and can effect
positive change.
for coordinating trips to Guatemala. She works in the LWI headquarters and is your primary contact for the mission trip. Carrie studied Political Science and International Studies at Baylor University. She’s engaged to Max (a fellow Baylor bear), and is obsessed with the Guatemalan field staff. She goes on as many trips as Lew and Rita will let her.
Jaime Jaime has been the Field Director for APAVG since 2002. Along with his duties as director, Jaime serves as the Lead Driller for Drill Crew #1. He is married to Liliana, who alongside his mom, Lucia, help keep the team fed during their stay in Antigua. Jaime and Lillian have two beautiful daughters, Jackie and Kimberly, who will win your heart! Make
» Morality is very important to Guatemalans and
sure you ask Jaime about his days spent winning
they have very high standards for Christians.
dirt bike races throughout Guatemala!
A Christian witness can easily be hurt by
something that might not be considered offensive
to North American Christians. For this reason, it
is very important that there is no consumption/
cousin, Jaime, hired him on as an extra driver. He
use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco; no use of profanity
has learned a lot over the years! He’s gone from
or innuendos, or inappropriate displays of affection.
chauffeur to Lead Driller for Drill Crew #2. Alvaro
ALVARO Alvaro began serving with APAVG in 2004, when his
is quick with a smile and always great for providing
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the team with a laugh. Team members will love the time spent with Alvaro!
CHRIS & BRANDY Chris and Brandy live in Antigua and serve as the host family for teams visiting Guatemala. Chris, also playing an administrative role with APAVG, has volunteered with LWI for years. He has served as a trainer at LWI Drill Camps and helped construct the pumps at the LWI Pump Repair Camp. Chris and Brandy have two young boys: Jacob and Joshua. The family is thrilled about this new season in their life!
LWI History: In 1998, Lew and Rita Hough started volunteering as trainers at LWI’s shallow-well drill training camp, training for Life Water International trips, a partnering organization. In 2000, Life Water International notified LWI that there were more volunteers than opportunities with their organization! Rita and Lew realized that they needed to find a way to get trainees into the field to serve. They connected with a former drill camp
Also serving in GUATeMALA:
trainee living and working in Guatemala with Students International to collaborate with and
Manolo works alongside Jaime as our Assistant
bring volunteers. As a result, LWI started bringing
Driller on Drill Crew #1. Ruben helps Alvaro as the
teams to Guatemala to drill wells in villages along
assistant driller with Drill Crew #2. Miguel also
the Pacific coast. The teams drilled with one of
teams up with Alvaro and Ruben as an assistant
Harry Westmoreland’s first LS100 rigs. The first
driller on Drill Crew #2.
LWI mission trip happened two weeks after 9/11 in a village named Nuevo Venecia. While a little
Vivian “Vivi” and Blanca are our hygiene facilitators.
apprehensive about traveling abroad at that time,
Blanca started with APAVG in 2010 and Vivi in
the team was encouraged as they were greeted
2011. Both are full of smiles and joy and it is not
at the airport by a group of smiling Guatemalans
uncommon for them to have the ladies in the village
waving American flags. In 2004, LWI began to drill
cracking up in class.
with teams independently.
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