Guatemala Mission Trip Recap – January 2022

Written by Carmen Kraus, Missions + Outreach Coordinator

In January, four women from our church family traveled to Funroni, Guatemala, to serve with Friends of Children Everywhere at Casa Bernabé. Mihaela Mullis, Errin Talcott, Jennifer Abercrombie, and Carmen Kraus partnered with our church-sponsored missionaries Edgar and Sara Salguero.

Church members collected and sent donations, totaling over $4,000 in classroom supplies, clothing, shoes, paint, and for 13 pairs of brand-new pairs of indoor soccer cleats, to be used on their new turf soccer field, where the children and teens spend every afternoon.

With financial donations, the team was also able to purchase and distribute bags of corn and beans to 100 families in Jocotillo, a small town of migrant workers who pick pineapples or coffee beans depending on the season. The small village is loved on by Casa Bernabe. They support a local church in the community, helping them build a new church building and assisting with needs as they arise in the community.

The Connection Point team helped paint the outside of the bakery and pantry, as well as the inside of a few classrooms.

They also spent two days working directly with children so the house parents could attend their annual retreat where they were refreshed and poured into by the board and directors of the ministry.

Mihaela and Jen shared devotions at the half time of soccer practices.  We also found time to pour into Sara and Edgar and their family through sharing meals and play games and talking for hours.

There were many obstacles that tried to block the trip this year, but the four women, who weren’t even certain they would be allowed in the country, continued to pray and knew God had a plan for the trip. When they arrived it did not take long to begin bonding with those at Casa Bernabé. Mihaela met Jaunillo, who works for FCA, where Mihaela’s husband also works. She played lots of soccer and was able to share the devotion at soccer practice.

Jen spent two days in a wild and crazy house of boys and felt right at home. They hiked in the woods for hours, played lots of sports, and rode bikes.

Errin fell in love with the house she was in for two days and overcame the obstacle of not speaking Spanish but loving on the kids.

Carmen was able share one of her loves with the girls on campus and taught four ballet classes.

More about Casa Bernabé
The kids who are learning and growing at Casa Bernabé are covered in love every minute of the day. They receive three meals, and snacks, a warm bed, a clean shower, friends, schooling, toys, church, parents that love them, social workers, medical care, and so much more. These children are all recovering from some type of trauma a in their lives. Reunification with family is the goal for most of the children, but there are a few who will spend their entire childhood a Casa Bernabé. When the children become teens they begin learning job skills, like cooking, baking, and woodworking, and when they turn 18 there is transition program in place to help them as they discover their next steps, where it is attending university, finding a job, or receiving additional training.

Take the Gospel to Casa Bernabé
Would you like to be part of the next team to serve at Casa Bernabé in Guatemala? Save the date for October 8-16 and watch for details coming soon about how you can join the team!