Guatemala 2024 Mission Trip Details:
June 22-30, 2024 a team of as many as 15 people will make a service trip to Oratorio, Guatemala. We will join with AMG Guatemala in its work with children who are growing up in terrible poverty. We have been partnering with AMG since 2016 and have sponsored more than 20 children as a church family. This will be our third trip to Oratorio. Our 2020 trip was cancelled by the COVID pandemic.
What will we do?
Our project possibilities are varied and could include everything from a painting project to tutoring to serving meals to leading school activities to bonding and playing with children. There are so many needs. We are very excited to get back to our kids!
Specifically, we will be working at the Oratorio Childcare Center which is located in the Eastern Region of Guatemala. It is in a small, rural town with about 16,000 people. The area is fairly hot and dry. The majority of people work on plantations growing coffee, pineapple, and bananas. Most of the families are quite poor, having several children and living in a one-room houses. There is a lot of pressure for the children to quit school to become day-laborers as soon as they are able.
FUNDING?
As with each of our trips, team members pay for their own travel ($1200), food, lodging and AMG expenses ($950) and then we will work to raise additional funds to support our Guatemala project. For team members involved in the FBC body there is the possibility of some funds coming as a grant from the Hugh Morton Missions Fund. We also will do a team fundraiser dessert auction and seek business sponsors for our t-shirts. Plus, team members may send out support letters (link below) to friends and family members. Our plane tickets are now $400-500 more than they were on our last trip.
LEADERSHIP
Having traveled to Guatemala numerous times with AMG, Dana Kelly, has led several teams and will serve as our team leader once again. His daughter, Afton Morton, will serve as our administrator to make sure we meet all deadlines and have all our materials in order. Scott will do his best to answer questions and help but, with so much on his plate, it will be best if you go right to Afton or Dana to turn in funds or paperwork or get your questions answered.
ITINERARY
Unless we can find alternate, free, transportation, we will travel to and from Boston on the Concord Coach busses. We will travel on an early bus to arrive at least two hours before our flight departs on Saturday, June 22. On our return, June 30, we will arrive back at the Portland Transportation Centerby 11 PM.
FOOD, LODGING, ETC
Carlos and other AMG staff will meet us at the airport in vans to take us to the large and well-equipped AMG team house to sleep our first night in Guatemala. We will most-likely stop somewhere for dinner on the way, perhaps at Pollo Campero which is like a Chic-fil-A. All our meals will be provided except for when we are travelling to and from Guatemala. On Sunday we will probably travel to Oratorio to get settled in our hotel and prep for our week with the children. After breakfast at the hotel restaurant Monday - Friday Carlos and AMG staff will transport us to the Noah's Ark where will work on projects each morning until the children start arriving. In the afternoons our time will be spent with the children, helping the teachers and organizing activities. We will have access to clean, filtered water everywhere we go. On Saturday we will most likely spend some time sightseeing and unwinding before heading back to the States.
OTHER EXPENSES?
Our plane tickets include a free, standard carry-on bag but we will need to pay for additional luggage. Hopefully we will be able to cover these expenses from team funds. You'll be responsible to pay for your own food, drinks, snacks, etc during our travel too and from Guatemala. During our sightseeing day you will have the opportunity to purchase souveniers in the large market in Antigua. You can spend a little or you can spend A LOT as the market has everything from trinkets to large artworks and handmade blankets and fabric. You will have the opportunity to purchase fresh Guatemalan coffee that benefits the work of AMG if you like and that makes great gifts.
If you would like to know more about AMG Guatemala, visit: www.amgguatemala.org. After we return we are planning a get together to share all that was accomplished by those who went and all who made it possible with their support.
STEPS TO TAKE
1) PRAY - Lord, do you want me to go?
2) Email us at info@lovewestbrook.org to get on the list..
3) Attend the January 14 information meeting.
4) Pay the $100 airline ticket deposit.
5) Check that your passport expiration date is not within 6 months of our trip or file for your passport.
6) Schedule your vaccinations. Check the routine shots you most-likely have already had: Chickenpox (Varicella),Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (influenza),Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Polio, Shingles. Schedule the vaccines recommended by the CDC: Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Tetanus update, COVID-19. Malaria is not common where we will be traveling.
7) Make sure to stay on top of dates and details to get all payments and paperwork turned in on time.
8) Pray for our trip.
IMPORTANT DATES
SUNDAY, JAN 14, 11:15 AM - TRIP INFORMATION MEETING - Scott's Office
WEDNESDAY, FEB 28 - TEAM COMMITMENT DEADLINE - PAPERWORK - $100 deposit - Due to Afton Morton
SUNDAY, MAR 3, 11:15 AM - DESSERT AUCTION FUNDRAISER POTLUCK
TUESDAY, MAR 12 - LAST DAY TO REDUCE NUMBER OF SEATS WITHOUT DEPOSIT LOSS
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 11:15 AM - TEAM CHECK-UP - Scott's office
THURSDAY, MAY 9, ALL PASSENGER PASSPORT INFORMATION DUE AND FINAL AIRLINE PAYMENT TO FELLOWSHIP TRAVEL
MAY 10-11, TEAM ORIENTATION NIGHT 6-9 FRIDAY, TEAM TRAINING 9-12 SATURDAY
MAY 22, ALL TEAM PAPERWORK AND FINAL IN-COUNTRY COSTS DUE TO AMG
SUNDAY, JUN 16, 10 AM - TEAM COMMISSIONING AND SENDOFF