Guatemala FAQ
INTERESTED IN A GUATEMALA IMPACT TRIP?
Step 1: Pray
Do you think God is nudging you to serve in Las Sidras? Start with prayer! Ask God to continue to guide you as you decide if you will join this mission.
Step 2: Prepare
Apply & Pay Deposit – Once you fill out the online application and pay the $100 deposit, you will be officially registered!
Apply for Passport – If you don’t already have your passport, you can easily apply for one online. Passports must be submitted at least 30 days before our departure date. Keep in mind that passports may take around 6 weeks for processing, and they must be valid at least 6 months after the trip.
Complete Forms – We will have two forms for you to complete for our mission partner, World Help. These forms are pretty easy and take little time. One form will need to be notarized.
Raise Financial & Prayer Support – You will be equipped with some resources and ideas for raising financial and prayer support. Use this as an opportunity to trust God to provide!
Step 3: Pre-Trip Meetings
We ask that you commit to 2-3 trip meetings prior to our time in Guatemala. These usually take place over a Sunday lunch, and last between 1-2 hours. The purpose of these meetings is so you can meet the team, feel logistically and spiritually prepared, and maybe learn a few Spanish phrases or cultural tips! If you are a part of a special team, such as a medical team, there may be an additional meeting.
Step 4: Go!
This is the part you’ve been waiting for! We’ll meet at the airport at a specific time and travel as a group to Guatemala! We will do our best to keep you feeling informed and prepared on the trip, as well as provide opportunities to de-brief and connect over experiences as a team.
Step 5: Re-Entry
You’ve had a life-changing experience in Las Sidras and have returned home. Now what? The weeks following a mission trip are a crucial time to process, share, and do something about what you just experienced! There will be an optional de-briefing meeting to allow you to process with people who have shared the experience and equip you to share the story of Las Sidras and how God changed you!
Journey has engaged in a Total Village Transformation project in a village called Las Sidras. Las Sidras is very remote, tucked away in a mountainous region of a Guatemalan called El Progreso. Journey has partnered with Las Sidras for two years and is grateful to be developing relationships with the people there in order to share Jesus.
In the past two years, our teams in Las Sidras have helped with school renovations, construction of a church building and three homes, led children’s and medical ministry, as well as engaged in child sponsorship. Our endeavors in Las Sidras focus on elevating Jesus first and foremost and supporting the developing church in this community.
Since the beginning of this partnership, we could not be more excited to continue learning with, sharing with, and experiencing more of Jesus with the people of Las Sidras. Our teams quickly realize that although they are there to serve, they often return home more refreshed than when they arrived. There is something special about participating in what God is doing around the world, and we hope you’ll consider being a part of it in Guatemala!
We love having families on our teams! Children as young as 6 years old can join us, and these children ages 6-12 must be accompanied by a parent. We leave it up to parents to decide whether or not they believe their child is old enough for the experience.
The trip cost covers flights, transportation, meals, and lodging. You may bring some money for snacks, food in the airport, and any site-seeing or shopping endeavors in Antigua. If we participate in an activity that will require extra money, such as zip-lining in Antigua, we will let you know ahead of time.
We ask that you commit to 2-3 meetings before the trip. The meetings usually take place over a Sunday lunch after church and are designed for you to meet the team and feel prepared for the trip! As far as spiritual preparation, spending time reading the Bible, and praying for the trip, your team, and the people of Las Sidras is a great way to prepare. Another book we recommend is “Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.
The ministry we partner with to plan these trips, World Help, does their best to ensure a safe environment for mission teams. This includes working with reliable Guatemalan ministries to provide safe lodging, food, and transportation. Hope of Life is the Guatemalan ministry we stay with. Their facilities are gated with guards, and they send security personnel to accompany each team. Each participant, however, should always remain cautious and aware of their surroundings, just as they would do at home.
We understand that life happens and you may have to cancel. Cancellations that happen early on are easy to accommodate, and payments can usually be re-funded. We usually book flights 8-12 weeks before the trip, and any cancellations made following the booking of flights may not be refundable.