News & Insights
2026 Mission Trip: Work is Underway!
Community Impact
Shook’s Guatemala Mission Trip team has been busy getting to work! The team, working alongside local contractors, began laying block as the new living and therapy space on Hope For Home’s campus takes shape. The new space will serve up to 15 children with special needs. The team also got to see the children enjoy an afternoon filled with music.
See their update below.
First Day of Work – One Block at a Time
Once the whole team was finally together and everyone had a little time to get oriented to Hope for Home’s campus, it was time to get to work on Tuesday. Our transportation took us to campus bright and early so we could get busy with the task at hand: working on masonry for a new living and therapy space for the children.
It was a busy first day. Working alongside local contractors, our team:
- Laid 300 blocks
- Mixed mortar and poured concrete in 80% of the block
- Grouted 75% of the block
We were thrilled to finally be making a difference and getting things done. One of the differences between our training day and the real thing: Our tools looked a little different! Additionally, many of us moved so much concrete, we were covered in it!
The day was filled with hard work, but also with smiles, laughter, and camaraderie with the local contractors, with whom we communicated through a Hope for Home staff member who acted as a translator.
The Work Continues
The team made tremendous progress on the build as the week progressed, continuing to lay block, tie rebar, and pour concrete as the walls grew higher each day. Tyler and Logan stepped into new roles by learning to run the concrete mixer and pouring it for our teammates, helping keep the workflow moving for both our crew and the local craftworkers.
Strong relationships are forming on-site as well—our team has learned everyone’s names, swapped jokes, and even begun picking up more Spanish phrases, making communication easier and the workday more fun. Lunch breaks brought moments of connection as several teammates tossed a frisbee with local children, while evenings offered time to explore more of Antigua and grow even closer as a group.
By the third working day, the team had completed 98% of the CMU blockwork, cutting and placing blocks around the rebar laid earlier in the week, with just a bit of additional tying needed. With Jeramiah on-site to help translate, conversations with the local craftworkers became even more lively, rounding out another productive and memorable day of work.
Music, Church, and More
Every Tuesday, the campus holds a church service for the resident children, as it’s difficult for them to travel. Lively, loud music was a centerpiece of the service, because the kids love the sound and excitement of it. Sign language was also used throughout the service for the kids with hearing impairment.
The music didn’t stop then. Next came the afternoon dance party, with the kids happily enjoying the moment.
One interesting thing we noted in our first few days in the Antigua–Parramos region was the volcano off in the distance. It’s been constantly erupting for some time.
Stay tuned for more updates!
