Guatemala Mission Trip Journal
July 23-30, 2026
The Partners in Mission in Guatemala (PIMIG) Travel Team recently visited Guatemala on a mission trip to continue our partnership with the communities of Chujulimul and surrounding villages. Below are highlights from the team's daily updates.
Thursday, July 23
The Guatemala 2026 Team arrived safely and traveled into the mountains, making a stop for supplies before settling in for the evening. The team prepared for their first full day of mission work and looked forward to meeting with local community leaders and project committees.
Friday, July 24
Water Access & Sanitation
Good evening family!
We had an amazing first day! The Water Committee are an amazing group of saints who have invested so much personal sweat equity and time. We are blessed to have them at the core of this major project.
In the afternoon we were escorted around the lower sector of Chujulimul Segundo to see new latrines. Every family thanked St. Anne's profusely for the aid they have received.
Please enjoy these pictures with the Latrine Committee, and a few other friends along the way.
Kev Hays
Saturday, July 25
Education & Future Water Development
We had a good, more laid back day, but no less important!
Our meeting with the Elementary, Middle, and High School Committees was full of grace and gratitude. As hard as life already was, the family financial pressures are only mounting. We heard tragic stories of hard decisions, but also joyful thanks for the aid God affords through this mission and our generous friends.
It was also reassuring to see the newest member of our in-country Executive Committee of amazing people! Adriana shared translation duties with Lidia and helped facilitate our discussion. She is a gift!
We met with the governing council for Chujulimul Segundo - the sister village to Chujulimul Primero, the center of our operations. They are partially through their water project. They have secured land for the well, and have had the well dug. Their next steps are to raise funds for a pump, then land for a tank, then build the tank, then … well, a lot more. Same as our initial project in Chujulimul Primero. The village officially solicited us for funds; we let them know the reality of our efforts, priorities, and timelines. But we also reassured them that they are in our prayers and that, similar to the stove and latrine projects, they are “on the list” as this project continues.
Photo: The ladies are the Education Committee members.
Love and blessings!
The Travel Team
Sunday, July 26
English Class & Worship
Dear family,
We are back in the hotel after a wonderful day, that could only have been better if Jack could have been with us.
Professor Mario’s teaching prowess was on full display during the English class. Their ability to converse and present in their third language is beyond staggering on its own. When you factor in the myriad extra challenges facing them (illiterate parents, only one class a week, little chance to practice during the week, etc.), it shouldn’t be hard to imagine how much of an impact they had on us. They are truly inspiring!
The church service was quite the experience! We enjoyed a standard Episcopal Rite Two service … except with 30 minutes of prelude music, a 40-minute sermon, 20 minutes of postlude music, then announcements. We departed for dinner sometime during announcements. Amazingly, the only comment after that was negative was how stiff we felt once we were able to move. The stillness and oneness was worth it! AND the children’s choir was ADORABLE (sorry to report that the video is too large to post)!!
Peace and blessings this beautifully rainy day in Chujulimul,
The Travel Team
Monday, July 27
Elementary School & the Water Project
Good evening family,
Claire and Kev went to the Elementary School this morning. A few pictures basically tells the story! 😂
We spent all morning with the equivalent of the PTA and a few teachers and the Assistant Principle. We said, “you’re welcome!” a few hundred times - they are SO grateful for the love and support they have gotten from St. Anne’s.
The afternoon was a trip to another well site (a village called Pachoj) to discuss details around their project, including lessons learned. One of the biggest take-aways was our appreciation for the work the Chujulimul Primero Water Committee has done including tough negotiations with land owners! The land that the Pachoj Committee purchased was Q350,000 for a 5m x 7m plot for the well; comparatively, the Chujulimul Committee negotiated a 10m x 10m plot for their well for Q165,000! Huzzah! Love our team!!
Enjoy the pictures and please keep the prayers coming - they are working!
Blessings and hugs,
The Travel Team
Wednesday, July 29
Elementary School & the Water Project
Hi family!
This evening’s report comes with a chorus: laughter. Nearly every moment today was accompanied by laughter!
The morning visit to the Elementary School was the highlight of the week for Jacob and Claire. They made so many friends who will remember them forever. They will both be stiff in the morning, but I don’t think they would trade it for the world. Linda and I had a great meeting with the Principal and a few teachers. The school is thriving, now up to 410 students. A benchmark for the schools/villages commitment to education is that 15 years ago there were 4 sixth graders - today there are 31!
There continues to be more need than we have funds to support, but it is a tribute to their hard work that so much has improved since the early days. I’ve attached just a very small sample of the photos and hope to share more of them after our return to Maryland.
In the afternoon we met with many of the families in the water project pilot group. They are some of the MOST selfless people you will ever meet. They all live on practically nothing, yet have sacrificed some of what little they have to contribute to this future life-changing project. It takes tremendous fortitude to cut back on food, bus fare, wood for cooking and warmth, etc. in order to invest in a dream-made-reality. Their appreciation for our support and their trust that we are one big family - together and equal - is what is keeping them hopeful for a water-filled future. I wish you could have seen the love in their eyes first hand.
Sweet dreams and abundant love,
The Travel Team
Thursday, July 30
High School Graduation & Exchanging Gifts
After our bright and early morning routine (6:30 a.m. for some, 7:42 a.m. for others), we headed out to see the Mayan ruins of Iximche. The natural landscape was littered with long-past ancient urbanism. The foundations of each building lay outlining the structures that once stood. We then made our way to Chepe’s for lunch and dispersed gifts amongst them. From oranges to thank you cards to Hot Wheels cars, all was well received. At the ceremony that followed, the high school graduates were given their certifications as well as a binder and a bible. The procession beforehand featured a small band which accompanied each hymn. I couldn’t understand any of it, which creates a bit of an unreliable narrator, but the crowd response and the look on Kevin’s face implied that the mood was bittersweet. The entire room was full of thanks and appreciation as well as a ton of pretty fabric work. One particularly striking piece will probably find a beautiful home at St. Anne's, with the months of labor representing the people’s respect for this project and hope for its future. '
The Travel Team
Giving Thanks
Throughout the trip, the Travel team witnessed firsthand the impact of long-term partnership. From water projects and sanitation improvements to educational opportunities and community leadership development, the work continues because of the dedication of local leaders and the faithful support of the St. Anne's community.
Thank you for your prayers, generosity, and continued partnership with our brothers and sisters in Guatemala. Together, we are building relationships, supporting sustainable development, and sharing God's love across borders.