Country Information
Estimated to be 12 million people
Capital City
Guatemala City
Language
The primary language spoken is Spanish.
Primary Religion
The main religion/denomination in Guatemala is Roman Catholicism.
Time Zone
Guatemala is in the Central Time Zone (UTC-06:00).
Currency
The main currency used in Guatemala is the Quetzal. The currency conversion rate as of August 2015 is 1 US dollar to 7.6 GTQ.
Safety
Servant Life makes every effort to keep you safe during your entire experience with us. We visit every location before sending a group and work with partners in the country who are familiar with the area we will be staying in and working in. We research and plan the safest places for you to eat, stay, work and play. In general, you should always be cautious and aware of your surroundings when you are traveling internationally.
Food
The food in Guatemala is similar to that of Mexico and other Central American countrie. Staples include corn, beans, bananas, and rice. All of your meals, except for those while traveling, will be provided while you’re in country. DO NOT drink the tap water in Guatemala.
Water
Do not drink anything that has not been pre-approved by the missionaries. Tap water, fruits and foods rinsed in tap water, and ice should be avoided. Bottled or purified water will be provided for you and should be used for drinking as well as brushing your teeth.
Weather
The climate of Guatemala is mostly tropical, but has a high elevation. We will be in the mountains. Where we will be staying and serving, the temperature will likely be highs in the 70s. At night, it can be chilly with temps in the 50s. You can expect to see a little bit of rain, usually in the form of afternoon showers so remember to pack your rain jacket!
Guatemala Do's and Don'ts
DON’TS
- DON’T be a loud/obnoxious tourist that needs to be toned down.
- DON’T give out your personal information
- DON’T make yourself stick out by wearing inappropriate clothing.
- DON’T make fun of differences in culture. You never know who might understand English. It is safer to just assume someone in the crowd understands you.
- DON’T encourage begging by rewarding the effort.
- DON’T go out after dark.
- DON’T bring anything that you aren’t willing to give up if someone asks for it.
- DON’T drink tap water.
- DON’T go without sunscreen!
- DO be prepared to smell body odor. Stifle your reaction (facial expressions are bilingual)!
- DO compliment babies and play with them. Be aware that women breast-feed at any time and in any place.
- DO feel free to give gifts, but please ask the missionary before doing so.
- DO label any medicines you are taking with you.
- DO remember that you are representing a ministry that has been around longer than you’ve been in the country and will still minister there after you have left.
- DO keep a copy of your passport on you, NOT your actual passport (except in the airport).
- DO use the “buddy system.”
- DO bring any medicines that you may need (pepto bismol, ibuprofen, allergy, etc.).
- DO take food that’s offered to you - just wait until the missionary gives the okay to eat it.
- DO sanitize your hands before eating. But do it discreetly, not blatantly just after holding a child or shaking a national’s hand.
Clubhouse Guatemala
Clubhouse Guatemala is a Christ centered ministry that desires to reach the lost of Guatemala. Clubhouse was started in 2003 by Mike and Carla Parker. The Parker's desire is to go into villages and reach children and adults through block parties, shoes, face paint, cotton candy, vacation bible school, and many other creative ways to show the love of Christ. They not only want to share the good news of Christ, but also desire to help families get connected to local church bodies where they can experience Christian community, accountability, and worship.
Clubhouse Guatemala has a talented staff including the Parkers, directors, administrators, and translators.
You can learn more about Clubhouse Guatemala by visiting their website by clicking the bar below...
Trip Expectations
By now you have probably spent some time imagining what your mission trip will be like. You have thought about what the culture will look like, how the food will taste, what type of work you will be doing, and many other aspects of your trip.
There is nothing wrong with having expectations, but we have to hold on to them loosely. Mission trips never go exactly as planned and foreigners often have a difficult time imagining what life in another country, or even a sub-culture in their own country, will be like before they experience it. There is a good chance that many of your expectations will not be a reality, especially if this is your first time serving in another context.
It is crucial to begin a mission trip with proper expectations. Consider this equation:
If (Expectations ≠ Reality); then (Reality = Frustration)
Don’t spend the first few days of your trip unlearning what you expected to be true prior to the trip and getting frustrated as a result. But even worse, you could miss the point of the trip altogether.
The purpose of missions is to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. Therefore, you should expect:
To serve missionaries and the local church
- Making disciples takes longer than a week, therefore, Servant Life partners with missionaries and the local churches to create long-term ministry strategies. Makingdisciples is about sharing life in Christ with others. A short-term team can establish great initial connections or even deepen the faith of the local church, but the ministry must extend past the 7-10 days your team is on the ground. In order to make disciples, we support the missionaries and the local church in their mission.
- In Matthew 20:28, Jesus tells us that, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This is what we are called to do as those who follow Christ. We are not heroes coming to save the world in a week. We come humbly with a heart to serve the Church in the way that will best help them in their ministry.
This heart of service may lead you to cleaning toilets, washing clothes, or mopping floors, but know that, “whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
To share your faith
- As we “go and make disciples” we must proclaim the Good News.
- For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)
- We must be sent and preach so the nations will believe and call on the name of The Lord for salvation.
- In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” We are promised difficulty in this world. Since the fall of man this world has been warring against man. When we take mission trips, we do not escape the the sin of this world. In fact, when the Church is proclaiming the Gospel we often enter dark places and Satan is working much harder to distract us. Go into this trip expecting to experience difficulty, but know that our God is bigger than delayed flights, broken down vehicles, the weather, or any other obstacle that you may encounter.
- We have never known a person to leave a mission experience the same as they began it. Mission trips can forever alter your world-view as you become aware of the physical, spiritual, and social needs of the world. Expect to grow in your knowledge of the world you live in. Expect to grow in your love for The Lord and His people. Expect to be changed.
How to Ruin Your Short Term Missions Trip
- Have an “It’s all about me” attitude. The best way to ruin your mission trip is to act as if everything revolves around your comfort and your wants and needs. Even if you are sacrificing time and resources to go and serve, don’t expect others to worship the ground you walk on. Read Philippians 2:3-8 and consider the humble attitude of Christ.
- By all means, don’t be flexible. If you don’t live out the words of Philippians 2:14 to “do all things without grumbling or questioning,” then you are guaranteed to have a trip full of complaints. There is not a formula to mission trips; you should expect a high degree of flexibility when you are serving real people and meeting real needs. Please be a blessing to work with and a joy to be around, not the person complaining that your expectations aren’t being met.
- Don’t devote yourself to prayer or time in the Word. Spending time talking to the Lord and studying His word only ensures that your heart will be aligned with His will. Failure to draw near to the Lord will set you up to have the wrong attitude, and possibly the wrong actions. Furthermore, in order to tell others about the spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study, we ourselves must practice those disciplines.
- Start thinking your mission trip is terrible because you didn’t see much fruit. It is likely that you might not see hundreds of people come to know Christ while you are there, but that does not mean your trip was a bust. 1 Corinthians 3:6 reminds us that there are stages of planting seeds, watering, and seeing growth. As a short term team, you are largely helping to plant and water seeds-- and ultimately God gets the glory in their growth!
Mission Principles
1. Humility
- Go with a humble heart attuned to the Lord’s plans for the trip, not your own agenda. You are not going to “fix” anything, but rather to selflessly serve alongside the long-term missionary partners. Fervently pray against pride creeping into your heart.
- Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. {Philippians 2:3-4}
- When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. {Proverbs 11:2}
- A mission experience exposes you to different cultures, which often times means the schedule isn’t always predictable. Having a “go with the flow” attitude is crucial, as plans may change from day to day. Flexibility allows you to continually find joy in each circumstance.
- I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. {Psalm 40:8}
- Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. {1 Thessalonians 5:16-18}
- Patience is key as you encounter new people, places and cultures. Things may not always go as planned, and communication with locals may not always be as easy. Pray for the Lord to equip you with an attitude that is slow to speak and quick to listen.
- Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. {James 1:19}
- May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other – each with the attitude of Christ toward the other. {Romans 15:5}
- You may experience unfamiliar or difficult situations while serving; therefore perseverance is important. The Lord will supply you with the strength to make it through each and every circumstance.
- Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. {Galatians 6:9}
- Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. {James 1:12}
- Love is central to each and every character trait that a Christ-follower embodies through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Love always, often, deeply, sacrificially, selflessly, and unconditionally.
- Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {1 Corinthians 13:4-5}
- And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. {Colossians 3:14}
Build a Prayer Network
- Make prayer cards containing specific prayer requests and hand them out to church members, family or friends.
- Create a blog to keep friends and family updated on your trip.
- Use a journal to record some of the steps of your journey, not only emphasizing your time in-country, but also in the weeks leading up to your trip.
Possible Daily Schedule
2 Days before we leave (Wednesday Morning)
DRINK at least 4 16oz bottles of water a day!!!!!!
It is VITAL that each of us go extremely hydrated because we will be staying in a very high elevation that will require MUCH more water than usual for our bodies. Trust me, dehydration is a horrible thing to experience.
Arrive in Guatemala
Meet the Clubhouse Guatemala team
Have Orientation
Eat dinner
Settle in
Saturday
We need to understand the culture before we minister to the people
We will travel to historic Antigua for the day
Visit the cross and the market (buy souveniers)
Have dinner at Las Palmas (paid for with funds already submitted)
Sunday
Visit Local Church for morning service
Eat lunch with locals
Afternoon Prayer
Prayer Walk around the city
Rest and prepare for the week
Monday - Thursday
7:00 AM - Devotional/Breakfast
8:00 AM - Leave for Mission site
9:00 AM - Arrive/Work at the mission site
12:30 PM - Lunch
2:00 PM - Work at mission site (VBS, Kids Games, Painting, Projects, Women's Ministries)
4:30 PM - Leave for mission house
7:00 PM - Dinner
8:00 PM - Team Meeting
Saturday
Depart from Guatemala
Please keep in mind that this is just a sample schedule. Your group might be asked to leave earlier in the morning, work later in the afternoon, and lunch and dinner likely won’t be exactly at these times. Remember how important it is to be flexible.
Servant Opps we will be involved with...
The main area we will be serving in is in the main church located Downtown Guatemala. We will be working primarily with kids...feeding booths, vbs type activities, games.
The kids in this area come from very poor broken homes. There are many parents who have kids then can't afford them, primarily because the parents are so young (14 years old) and unmarried. The kids in this culture are exposed to pornography by age 5, it's ingrained in them by age 9, and the girls are then taken at age 14 and used in human trafficking. The boys turn to gangs at age 14 and are violent and abusive.
What we wear is vital to our being able to minister to these kids. They are sexually charged, so we need to be aware of that and wear clothing that is loose and does not draw attention to us at all.
Clubhouse Guatemala works diligently to save these kids from that life and teach them about Christ, setting them free from the bondage of their culture.
Another thing to note: about 2 weeks ago there was a fire that killed 40 kids in Guatemala and the community is still grieving over it.
Clubhouse Guatemala has operated in local schools for years. VBS and sports camps are a great way to change the entire culture of a school with the love of Christ! The schools often allow kids to be part of the programs for the school day. We will be helping and doing a Vacation Bible School. Servant Life will offer helpful Vacation Bible School guides for us to use.
Light Construction
In addition to meeting the spiritual needs of the community, you will have the opportunity to provide physical support as well. This might involve painting, landscaping, cleaning, upkeep, and other forms of labor. Residents will be drawn to your ministry when they see that you are helping to transform and develop their community.
**They are in specific need of someone to paint murals on the walls of their clubhouse.
Your group will also have the opportunity to provide and support the following projects: Rocket Stove ($200), House Construction ($600-$1000), Bunk Beds ($350), and Food Baskets ($60). These costs are separate from all other costs and will need to be determined 60 days before your departure date.
Camp Calvary
Camp Calvary is a new camp built by Clubhouse. The camp sits in the middle of a very rural village at the base of Pacaya Volcano. At Camp Calvary you have the opportunity minister to children and families in the immediate area of the camp. However Camp Calvary also has 18 different villages within a short drive that Clubhouse is starting to build relationships with.
Home Visits
Your group will have the opportunity to visit homes of some of the community or church members. Most of the time, regardless of the size or condition of their homes, people will be thrilled and honored to host you as visitors. You may have the opportunity to encourage believers, pray with them, and even share Christ with nonbelievers.
Feeding Programs
One of the simplest and most effective ways to show the love of Christ is to provide meals for families in need. Your team will assist with this.
Lodging
You will NOT need to bring linens or a towel.
Each room has its own bathroom and shower.
The electricity is the same as the U.S., so adapters and converters are not necessary.
Each room has electrical outlets for you to charge any devices you might bring.
While we are there on Friday we will be sharing the house with other groups that are preparing to leave. From Saturday through the next Friday we will have the entire house to ourselves!
A link to view the house is below...
Packing
Pack lightly! Airlines have restrictions on how much your checked luggage can weigh. Make sure you pack what is necessary without too much excess. Plus, who wants to carry around that much stuff in another country?
- One SMALL personal carry-on bag will be permitted. About the size of a small backpack, laptop bag or purse. Max dimensions will be 16x14x12.
- One Medium sized bag to check.
- Leave room in your suitcase for any souvenirs you may want to bring back.
- Consider packing items like shampoo, conditioner, etc in plastic bags. In case these things leak during travel, your clothes and other items will be protected.
- It’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes, toothbrush, and any irreplaceable items in your carry on bag in the event that your checked luggage is lost.
- To save space, you can roll your clothes instead of folding them.
- It’s best not to pack any flashy or expensive jewelry to wear while you’re in Guatemala.
Edward will take up and keep all your important docs like passports and plane tickets in his bag for the duration of the trip until you need them.
Culture Shock
Culture shock is characterized by an anxious feeling from being surrounded by completely new things. You are so accustomed to life in America that it may overwhelm you to all of a sudden find yourself in a culture that you know nothing about.
The best thing you can do when it comes to culture shock is to keep an open mind about your new experiences. Remember that people around the world think and act differently than you. Keep an understanding mind about others’ opinions. The worst thing you can do is to think that you are superior to someone of a different culture or people group.
Along with keeping an open mind, it’s important to be flexible as well. You will be experiencing a new culture and things may not always go your way. In fact, you probably already know that things will rarely go your way. Remember to be easy going when new plans arise. This also includes maintaining a positive attitude instead of complaining.
If you’re feeling some culture shock, communicate that with the people on your team. Chances are good that someone else may be feeling the same way or can at least help you through it. Being able to identify with others about your thoughts can help you not be overcome with culture shock.
Keep in mind that if you experience culture shock, that does not mean you are a failure. Everyone adjusts differently to a new setting. You may not even identify with culture shock. However, if you do, it’s important to be aware of what to do so that it does not become a problem.
Airline Info/Restrictions/Tips
Flight Information
- We will arrive Super early for check-in at the airport. They suggest we be at the airport no later than two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. So we will need to arrive at the airport no later than 6:00am on Friday, March 31.
- We will meet at the church to leave no later than 4:40am on Friday, March 31 to pack and leave. We will be LEAVING the church at 5:00am, no exceptions.
- Departing Friday, March 31:
Spirit Airline Flight 231 Departing Atlanta at 7:55am
Arriving in Ft Lauderdale, FL at 9:42am
Spirit Airline Flight 243 Departing Ft Lauderdale, FL at 10:45am (Atlanta Time)
Arriving in Guatemala City, GUA at 11:34am (Guatemala Time)
- Returning Friday, April 7:
Spirit Airline Flight 244 Departing GUA at 12:24pm (Guatemala Time)
Arriving in Ft Lauderdale, FL at 5:03pm (Atlanta Time)
Spirit Airline Flight 230 Departing Ft Lauderdale at 9:30pm
Arriving in Atlanta at 11:20pm
If everything goes as planned we should be back at the church around 12:30am.
- Label all of your luggage. Servant Life provides each trip participant with two luggage tags that we strongly recommend your group using. This will help when collecting luggage from baggage claim. Due to the similar look of most luggage, you may also want to set your bag apart in another way by adding a ribbon, luggage strap, or sticker in a visible location.
- Edward will collect all passports at the church and hold all passports until they are needed.
- You will only be allowed to bring one checked bag.
- Everyone will manage their own luggage while traveling. Luggage with wheels will make life much easier as you maneuver through airports!
- Be sure to put a copy of your passport information page in every piece of your luggage.
- It is always a good idea to keep a change of clothes as well as a small toiletries kit (toothbrush, deodorant, etc.) with you in your carry-on in the event of flight delays or cancellations.
- You may not carry-on liquids of any kind larger than 3 oz. Any liquids 3 oz. or smaller must be in their original container and in a quart-sized Ziploc bag.
Guatemala Arrival and Departure Info
** Clubhouse Guatemala recommends not wearing matching t-shirts in the airport. It is more likely that you will be searched in customs if you are wearing matching shirts.
Arrival
Just before your plane lands in Guatemala, each person will be given customs forms to fill out.
- You are considered a tourist by the government so you can list that as your reason for entering the country.
- You don’t have anything to declare unless you brought something LIVE over, such as an animal or plant (and we hope you didn’t!).
- Do not lose these forms, as you will be asked to present them as you go through customs.
- The address you should put on your customs form is: Condominium Bakara - Casa 2, Sector B-2 San Cristobal, Zona 8, Mixco
- Follow signs to exit/customs once you get off the plane. Here you’ll hand the form you received on the plane. Once you process through, you’ll be able to claim your luggage and proceed to the exit.
- Upon exiting, there will be a Clubhouse Guatemala staff member waiting for you as well! They may have a sign that says “Servant Life.”
- Before you clear security, there is a departure customs form that you will have to fill out that you will get at the airport.
- Always mark tourism/travel as your reason of travel.
Emergency Contact Information
Servant Life Home Office
Zac Condie, Director
Email: zac@servantlife.com
Cell phone: 409-200-5671
Danielle Lee Condie, Coordinator
Email: Dlee@servantlife.com
Lesley Blanton, Coordinator
Email: lesley@servantlife.com
Mailing Address:
Servant Life
P.O. Box 36307
Birmingham, AL 35236
Physical Address:
Servant Life
2148 Pelham Parkway
Building 200
Pelham, AL 35124
Office phone: 1-800-772-2615
Clubhouse Guatemala / Guatemala
Mike Parker, Executive Director
Email: mike@clubhouseguatemala.com
US Phone: 865-386-2638
Guatemala Phone: (011)-502-5978-4175
Address: Condominium Bakara, Casa 2
Sector B-2 San Cristobal
Zona 8, Mixco
(Use this address on your customs forms when you arrive in Guatemala.)
