Guatemala
Prepare For Your trip!
The Peter Farrant Impact Center: Guatemala is located in the middle of a small village, high up in the mountains. With the capacity to host up to 50 people, this Impact Center is a great place for hosting short-term missions teams. Every year hundreds of people are impacted through the ministries provided by the Impact Center.
The ministries this Impact Center provides are: feeding the poor children in the area, hosting a local soccer team to disciple the youth in the village, school assembly programs, street ministry, ministering to the orphans at near by orphanages and so much more.
Every year we have dozens of teams who come from the USA to minister to the Guatemalan people. They come prepared to give their personal testimonies, minister with dramas and skits, and share Jesus with the people we encounter. Although each one comes expecting to minister to others, God always ministers to them just as much.
If you choose to do ministry at our Impact Center: Guatemala we know God will use you to impact the lives of the Guatemalan people as well as your own life!
Fun Facts
Climate: PERFECT 75/day 65/night
Altitude: 5500ft
Location: San Luis Pueblo Nuevo; 20min. outside of Antigua, Guatemala
Guatemala Team Packing LIst
Click to download a suggested packing list.
We have a compiled a thorough packing list based on over a decades experience of hosting teams.
Please take some time and review our suggested packing list.
FAQs
Answers to the most commonly asked questions.
How long will our trip be?
Does everyone need to have a passport?
Are there any customs forms that we need to enter Guatemala?
While on the airplane they will give each team member an immigration document which they will need to fill out completely. Most everything is self explanatory but here are a few helpful tips when filling out the form:
- Passport Type: check ORD (ordinary)
- Foreseen Address (where you will be staying): 22 San Luis Pueblo Nuevo, Guatemala.
Do we need a special visa to enter the country?
What should we expect when arriving at the Guatemala airport?
Where will we be staying during our trip?
Will we be able to use internet or communicate with our church/family back home?
What can we expect our ministry week to look like?
School Assemblies:
God has opened great doors for us to minister in many of the private and public schools. During a school assembly program we will do the following: ice breaker, personal testimonies, drama/human video, and bring a message of hope. Depending on the school we can give an alter call and pray for the students. Afterwards we will give time for your team and the students to connect. Each assembly program lasts approx. 45-60min.
Street Ministry:
For the street ministry we will host a program in a local park or town square. Much like the school assembly program we will do an ice breaker, testimonies, drama/human video, and bring a message of hope. During a street event we will also have an alter call and pray for the people.
Children’s Ministry:
We will either do a children’s outreach at the Impact Center with the local children in the village, at an elementary school or at an orphanage. During a children’s outreach we will do an ice breaker, children’s songs with actions (ex. Father Abraham, Jesus Loves Me, or any upbeat children’s song you can put actions too), a Bible Story (ex. Jonah and the whale, the Good Samaritan), you may also like to bring a short illustrated sermon, and a small craft (ex. salvation bracelet, coloring, or other type of craft). During our children’s outreach time your team will have plenty of time to play and spend time with the kids. You may like to bring candy or give away items to hand out to the children.
Special Needs Hospital:
We like to visit the special needs hospital in Antigua with every team. A local catholic church has provided a loving home for these children. Every child is wheelchair bound and most need help with eating and changing. Although it may be difficult to see the children who will either be in their wheelchair or a crib bed, we have seen God touch lives though this ministry. Each team member will be helping to feed a child and most importantly bring a smile to their face. Most teams tell us this outreach is one of their favorite parts of the trip.
Church Service:
When we are given the opportunity to be involved at a local church, we will be given the entire service to minister or we will be given the time after worship to minister. Church services will be done much like our other outreaches with personal testimonies, drama/skit, a sermon, and praying over the people.
Work Day:
We will have one day or half-day to work on the Impact Center or other local project. You will be doing some sort of construction type job. (ex. mixing cement, shoveling dirt, laying blocks, etc.) Please bring one pair of work clothes/shoes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Free Day:
On your last day here in Guatemala we will drive into Antigua for your free day. There is a wonderful artesian market where you will find all types of souvenirs, coffee by the pound, and other Guatemalan goods. Your team will break up into small groups, each with a leader, so they can walk around easier and still be safe. At no point during your day off should anyone be walking around by themselves!
Last Night Meeting:
We will have a last night meeting at the end of your shopping spree on your Free Day. 🙂 During this meeting we will go around and have every team member share what God has done in their lives during the week. This is a great time of personal ministry and we have seen God move mightily during our time of sharing!
**Most importantly be prepared to flow! We will have a schedule for you when you
arrive but we will need you to be ready for plans to change. God always has a way of making everything work for the best!
How will we communicate to the people during our ministry time?
Should we bring giveaway items?
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- candy (no chocolates because they melt)
- clothes (used clothes are just fine)
- small school supplies
- back packs
- shoes/sandals
- toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, etc.)
- toys (marbles, jacks, small items)
- hair bows, ties, ribbons, or headbands
- bubbles
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BE CREATIVE and bring what you can!
🙂
Can we do our dramas/skits to English music?
Will everyone need to give their testimony?
Yes, we will be calling on every team member to give their personal testimony at some point during your trip. Please be prepared by knowing what you will be sharing before you are asked to share. We strongly discourage reading your testimony. If you are struggling to think of what your testimony is, here are a few questions to get you going in the right direction:
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- What has God done in your life?
- Was there a certain time where God showed up and helped you?
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Remember that a testimony doesn’t have to be when you first accepted Christ but a time when God touched/marked your life. Here are a few key things you will need when preparing your testimony:
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- Find a scripture that relates to your testimony and use that when you share.
- Find a leader or trusted friend you can share your testimony with. This will help you to get comfortable speaking your testimony out loud.
- Your testimony may be the message that someone has been waiting to hear. Don’t be shy…speak boldly what God has done in your life!
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What can our team do to best prepare for our trip?
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- practice dramas/skits
- practice testimonies
- learn several worship songs in spanish you might even like to learn small phrases in spanish to help you communicate better with the people. (hola/hi, adios/bye, como estas/how are you, etc.)
- PRAY!!
- Remember to bring your best attitude and come ready to serve.
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