Guatemala Mission Trip 2025
UCC-Crested Butte outreach trip to Porch de Salomon, Panajachel, Guatemala
Trip leaders: Tom Stumpf (t.stumpf@yahoo.com; 434-242-9110)
Mike Paulaitis (mpaulaitis@gmail.com; 410-206-1652).
This volunteer mission trip to Porch de Salomon, Panajachel (Lake Atitlan), Guatemala is being organized through Rev. Tim Clark’s men’s group. The primary goal of this trip is to help build basic homes for Guatemalans living in extreme poverty. However, there is much more this trip has to offer. We believe that the experience of working alongside and interacting with these amazing people will be a transformational one. They have so little in terms of basic material needs for living, yet they will readily share with you their spiritual abundance of joy, love, and appreciation for what they do have and for having us come into their lives for a time.
Our partner organization in-country is Porch de Salomon. They are a progressive Christian ministry that shows God’s love through serving “the last, the lost and the least.” They do not evangelize. In addition to the work that they do helping those in need, they also run a cafe/music spot, which is often where our day begins and ends. The hostel where we stay, Hotel California (https://hotelcaliforniapana.com/), is right in the heart of the city, so this trip is also an immersion, of sorts, into the lives of these people and the local culture of Panajachel and the surrounding area.
When:
Oct 24 (arrive in Guatemala City) – Nov 2 (depart from Guatemala City) and includes a night at the Barcelo Hotel (Oct 24; https://www.barcelo.com/es-es/barcelo-guatemala-city/) and a night in Antigua (Nov 1).
Cost:
Approximately $2000 per person (includes: flights; lodging, food, transportation, project fee, $780; hotels in Guatemala City and in Antigua). Possible additional costs include passport, vaccinations (hep A, hep B, and typhoid are suggested, but check the CDC website: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/guatemala/), travel health insurance (depending your personal coverage); local entertainment; souvenirs. We are currently looking into group insurance for medical evac coverage.
Our mission and vision as a church community is our dedication to service, outreach and compassionate assistance to those in need. We never want money to be an obstacle for anyone who feels passionate about going on this trip but cannot go without financial support. Please talk with Tom or Mike about a scholarship.
Rough Weekly Schedule:
Oct 24 – Arrive in Guatemala City; spend the night at the Barcelo hotel.
Oct 25 – Shuttle to Panajachel (approx. four hours).
Oct 26 – Settle in, orientation, brunch at the Casa del Mundo (https://lacasadelmundo.com/) on Lake Atitlan, evening worship.
Oct 27-30 – workdays, usually a combo of medical and house building. Evenings
are amazing dinners around town and live music.
Oct 31 – free day (multiple activities to choose from).
Nov 1 – Shuttle to Antigua, free day/night.
Nov 2 – Fly out of Guatemala City.
Housing and food:
Porch de Salomon has its own very nice “hostel” that it runs. There are about seven rooms. A few have two double beds, and a few have four bunk beds. The group will be divided into two or three individuals per room. Porch cooks most of our meals, which are quite good and always prepared with care for our “gringo” tummies. On some nights, we eat at restaurants, and again care is taken to select ones that are agreeable to our digestive tracks. We also only drink bottled or filtered water provided by the Porch, but please use caution and get a prescription of cipro to take along.
Spanish:
No need to speak it to go on this trip! If you do speak a little, that’s great, but we are always with translators.
Other Useful Links:
Below is a link to the Porch de Salomon’s website, which provides useful background information on the Porch and what these missions are all about.
