Mission Team: June 2025

This was another great trip with 20 people on the team (7 were youth – and each one gave their all!)   Our goal was to work on 4 things: Teach the kids pickleball and help construct a nearby house in the poor village across the street from the orphanage, help at the local church and paint a house on campus. 
We arrived on Saturday and treated the kids to Pollo Campero with brownie sundaes prepared and served by our team.

On Sunday we worshiped with the kids and staff at Casa Bernabe then headed out to the local church for a Happy Meal picnic after their service.  We came back to the orphanage to play more pickleball and prepare for the week ahead.

On Monday, work began on 4 projects: bathroom at the church, placing a roof on the house of a grandmother​ whose grandchildren attend the school at Casa Bernabe, painting one of the houses​ on campus and the biggest hit of all: pickleball. 

At night, we sent ​45 boys ​and 20 employees to McDonald's for a Big Mac meal ​(​with McFlurries) they loved it!  

The girls stayed back to enjoy a tea party!  We all dressed up and served tea​ and sweets in our fine clothes and took lots of pictures​ in the photo booth!

On Tuesday projects and pickelball continued even through the on and off rain.

At night, we took 60 girls and 25 employees to McDonald's for Big Mac meals​ (with sundaes).

​Meanwhile, the boys played dodgeball, and were treated to smores!

On Wednesday, the team went to Antigua, a tourist spot for some sightseeing. We began with a real Guatemalan breakfast together overlooking a gorgeous vista. Most of us then ziplined while the rest visited a ministry that is building a transition home for girls aging out of orphanages. Then we all headed to downtown Antigua, where we took in all the sights.  We headed back to campus, another quick round of pickleball and then the final show: the despedida (farewell) where each house presented either a dance/performance or a card to our group.  Very moving to watch these little ones expressing their gratitude.  The tears flowed all around!  

Thursday, we took off with heavy, but happy, hearts. 

Needs still abound and we will be looking to partner with this lovely place in the months ahead. But we are so very proud of what we have accomplished in one week!  Bless each and every one of our donors for helping to make all of this possible.