Guatemala

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DATE: 11/8 - 11/15

COST: $1,100 (Note: This does not include the cost of airfare.)

FUNDRAISER: $6,500 goal

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES:

This service trip focuses on supporting ASELSI through yearly mission trips and taking part in one of their many ministry opportunities such as those listed below.  In 2025, we plan to build a house for a local family in need. We will build a house for Maria. She is the mother of a 10 year old son and was abandoned by her husband.  Right now she lives with her brother, but she has a piece of her own land for which ASELSI helped her to get the legal deed.  Her income is $10-$15 per week. 

We will also have the opportunity to:

• Tour the local area 
• Tour Guatemala City or Antigua
• Zipline at Lake Atitlán 

EXAMPLE SCHEDULE (Schedule coming soon)

Saturday: 

- Flight arrives

- Staff meets team at the airport and takes them for a meal and lodging.
- Lodging in Guatemala City based on the team’s Budget.

Sunday: 

- Breakfast
- Travel to Chichicastenango ( can take from 3-5 hours, depending on weather, traffic, road conditions)
- Lunch at ASELSI with brief orientation. We have a Hospitality House with 2 dorm style rooms  and one private room, small kitchen and living room. Sleeps 18.
- Time to visit the market in Chichi
- Dinner in town
- Visit a local church service (all are in the evening due to the market in the daytime)

Monday:

- Breakfast
- Full orientation and tour
- Coffee break

Options for the team:

- Help in the clinic: Drs, nurses, count pills in pharmacy, pray with patients. We have a portable dental set up for cleaning, extracting and filling teeth. Therapists and teachers can work in our programs for special needs children.

- Construction Project: At ASELSI campus or in the community. Our social services and projects director has a list of people requesting new tin roofs, simple houses, latrines, etc. The projects are based on the team’s funding and abilities.

- Home visits: bringing a basket of food to a family in need. Praying with them.

- English or hygiene teaching at a local school.

- Training of local pastors and leaders

- Training for the local health care personnel

- Sports programs with local youth

- Evening youth group activities with a local church

- VBS if during the fall months (School is in session from January through mid October)

- Some teams choose to go to a village a few hours away, sleep on camping cots in a church and do medical clinics or construction projects. 

- Any other activities. We have had some firemen train the local firemen in rescue. Some have sponsored conferences for pastors and leaders. Some have trained teachers.

Tuesday – Friday (afternoon)

- Continue with whatever ministry the team has chosen.

On site they have:

- General medical clinic staffed by 2 Guatemalan doctors, 2 professional nurses, several aids. - - General clinic is on Mondays and Thursdays. Within the clinic:

- Ultrasound for pregnant women

- Nutritional program for babies through 2 years old

- Well baby clinic

- Pharmacy 

- Therapy services

- Monday evals

- Tuesday and Wednesday therapy by appointment with locally trained aides

- Classes Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for special needs children.

- Bible Institute: EBA (Estudios Biblicos ASELSI)

- Local classes meet on our campus on Saturdays

- We have extensions in various parts of Guatemala that meet during the week. Some teams visit the extensions to teach.

- We also offer on line classes.

Friday: A team can choose to spend the day in either Antigua or Panajachel, as a tourist day. Or they can continue with their projects at ASELSI and leave for Guatemala City in the afternoon. Due to possible difficulties with the roads, we always recommend spending the night on Friday in Antigua or Guatemala City. 

Saturday: Teams fly out. 

 
SUPPLY LIST

What to Bring

Everyone: 

• Light weight jacket, sweatshirt, good shoes & raingear are must haves
• (shorts ONLY to be worn for soccer—long shorts-- or in your room)
• Hat for the sun.

Men:

• Jeans for working, slacks for church and other activities, depending on your
• schedule.
• Casual shirts
• Collared shirt and a tie if you will be preaching in church
• Work boots for construction
• Swim trunks if staying at a hotel with a pool
• Warm nightwear

Women:

• Skirts or dresses below the knee (for church, and other ministry activities)
• Pants/Slacks /sweats (no shorts)
• Comfortable tops (no tank tops or sleeveless tops)
• Swimsuit, one-piece please, if staying at a hotel with a pool
• Jeans for working
• Work boots for construction
• Modest (and warm) nightwear

Personal Items

• Your Bible – (can be on your phone)
• A copy of the main page of your passport - carry separately from your original
• Prescription meds or over-the-counter meds that you use or might need.
• Toiletries (small shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc)
• Refillable water bottle
• Phone charger
• Insect repellent
•  Sunscreen – you will be closer to the sun and will burn easier
• Sunglasses
• Eye care supplies for contact lenses
• Spending money - most good shoppers can spend $100 or more without too
• much effort! (No Travelers Checks. We’ve had problems cashing them here.)
• Photos from home to share
• Extra batteries for anything battery-operated
• Female Toiletries (e.g. tampons are difficult to find here)
• Favorite snacks, if you have dietary restrictions
• Hairdryer (current is the same as the States)
• Antibacterial hand cleanser to carry with you
• Dramamine (This is not available in Guatemala and can be helpful if you get car sick)
• Flashlight
• Small notebook to keep a journal
• Leave your good jewelry at home!

HEALTH & SAFETY

Helping Hands International recommends you follow the health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician. Please click here for vaccination requirements and/or recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Please note, if you do take prescription medicines, please check with your local pharmacist to ensure the medicines are not considered a controlled substance in the location you are traveling.   

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

Please be sure to read specific passport and visa requirements listed here, per the U.S. State Department.