Learning from the People of Guatemala

Mission trips are often viewed as work trips where a team is sent to a poverty-stricken area and strives to make a difference in the lives of the people there. In July 2025, a group of

young people from Zion FRC embarked on a seven-day trip to Guatemala. Leading up to our trip, we were often asked what kind of work we would be doing, and our answer was probably surprising. We didn’t go to Guatemala with any big projects to get done, or suitcases full of donations, or a team of doctors to help provide medical care where needed (I’m not belittling these blessings, as they certainly have their place). However, we went with a question: “what can we learn from the people of Guatemala?”

To prepare for the trip, we attended four workshop evenings. Through these discussions, we gained a better understanding of what poverty really is and were encouraged to get involved in local missions before going out on an international trip. Seeing the need in our own area was an important part of our preparations. We have neighbours close to home who need to be fed both physically and spiritually, which taught us that our service shouldn’t stop after the trip but continue at home using what we have learned abroad.

By partnering with Word & Deed, and AMG (Advancing the Ministry of the Gospel) Guatemala, we were able to see how God has been working in this beautiful part of the world. We visited various school programs that children with poor living conditions attend. One school was located next to a cemetery and also very close to the large dump that many families live or work at, trying to collect valuables to sell. The emotional atmosphere at both of these places felt heavy but hearing the children's laughter and joy ring out over the wall gave us a glimpse into how special the work that AMG is doing is. They are providing children with a safe place to go while learning about Jesus, which often breaks the trend of violence that many of these children experience.

Another memorable moment of our trip was visiting families who lived in a more remote area. We were warmly welcomed into various homes and had the chance to listen to how life for some of the people of Guatemala looks. Some of the families we visited had children who attended the afterschool programs that are run by AMG Guatemala, and it was encouraging to hear how these programs have blessed them.

Many of us have heard presentations given from different organizations who help in areas such as Guatemala, but it was a unique experience to hear first-hand from the people who have directly benefited from the programs that often feel distant to us. Coming from a place where we often have much more than we need and seeing people who had just enough to survive each day was humbling. We talked with families who often didn’t know where their next meal would come from, or how they would continue to support their families. And yet, they are so thankful to God for what He has blessed them with. They have a whole different understanding of the prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread”. Seeing people fully relying on God for their everyday needs gave us a stronger desire to thank Him for all the good gifts we have been blessed with.

Most often, poverty is viewed as a lack of material necessities such as food, water, clothing, etc. But it also comes with feelings of shame and inferiority. At its core, poverty is the result of broken relationships with God, others, creation, and ourselves. Looking at poverty through this holistic lens, we understood that no matter where we live or what we need materially, we are all desperately impoverished spiritually. This realization gave us the desire to walk alongside others and humbly share that we too are in need of the One who provides ultimate hope and restores brokenness.

The last few days of our trip was spent at Camp Canaan. This is a Christian kids camp located in Guatemala where children from all over the country can leave the stress of their everyday life to spend a week at camp. It is a place of excitement, with fun activities and games, but also a sanctuary to learn what it means to lean on our faithful God when we feel lost.

This was a highlight for our group because of the connection we have to this camp. Each February, our youth group hosts the Camp-Out Freeze-Out. All the youth that attend are asked to collect sponsors to support them for the night out in the cold. It is always a night of joy despite the cold, as it is an opportunity to raise money for the children in Guatemala. It was a special experience for us to be able to be at the camp that we have directly impacted. We got to spend one full day there, seeing how it is run and also spending time with the children. This camp is giving children who come from broken homes and unsafe areas a place where they can have fun with other children, where their bellies are filled, and most importantly, where they are learning about the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

The connections we made with the children at Camp Canaan will be remembered for the rest of our lives. It has brought a whole new meaning to the Camp-Out Freeze-Out event we run each year and seeing all the smiles and joy that these children experienced excites us to continue supporting Camp Canaan.

We invite you to join us in making a difference in these children’s lives by attending this year's Camp-Out Freeze-Out on February 20-21 in Fenwick, ON. We would love to see a large group of youth coming together to support a cause that feels even more special to us now, having directly seen the impact Camp Canaan is having on the lives of so many children. Updates and more information on this upcoming event will be shared over the next couple of months on our Instagram page. Be sure to follow zionfrc_fenwick if you are interested!

God is doing great things in Guatemala. We witnessed how He is using organizations like Word & Deed with partners such as AMG Guatemala to bless the lives of the people there. We were strangers yet welcomed into homes and schools as though we were friends. This is something that often feels unnatural to us but was so special to experience. Talking with families and hearing their stories was what made this trip unique. This was a special opportunity to be introduced to the people of Guatemala, to understand their way of life, and to enjoy the unity of family of God.

Although our lives feel very different from theirs, there is one thing that is the same for all believers. We are children of an all-powerful, ever present good Father, and that made meeting so many fellow Christians so special. As a group, we will continue to support Word & Deed and pray for continued impact to be made through AMG. Ultimately, God is the One working. We feel even more inspired to continue to stay involved in local missions here at home. It was an incredible opportunity to see God’s kingdom growing in another part of the world, which is an experience that we will never forget. One of our mission leaders who was with us for the majority of the trip left us with this note of hope: “Until we meet again, if not here, then in glory.”

Nadine Otten - Zion FRC, Fenwick, Ontario

Click here to watch a video about the Campout-Freezeout from Word & Deed.