The Global Church is inviting you to participate in what God is doing in the Lake Atitlan communities of San Juan la Laguna and Panyebar, Guatemala. Our partners are the Nuevo Amanacer school in the lakeside town of San Juan la Laguna, and community health projects in the mountain village of Panyebar overlooking the lake . The Nuevo Amanacer school has ages kindergarten to 8th grade and is a Christian school. It is very active in the community. The Nuevo Amanacer school also has connections with community leaders in Panyebar, leading to health caravans to the community.  The communities are part of the Tzutujil-Mayan people group. Teams would be engaged in community-based ministries led by the school and local organizations.   Any age group is invited, any time of year, for any length of time. Trips are led, staffed and implemented by Nationals and Latin American leaders.

The following are the primary ministry opportunities in the Kakchiquel region of the Guatemala:

– Medical caravans and health workshops

– Educations programs, including English, science, art, music, computers, and sex education

– Sports camps and outreaches

– Community art programs

– Community music programs

Besides these options, there are more. The goal would be to find out the skills and interests of your team and match them with the ongoing ministries of church partners in the area.

Trips are Mutually Designed with local partners utilizing your skills for ministry, learning from the Global Church, and building relationships with believers in the region.  Any age group is invited, any time of year, for any length of time.

All trips are led, staffed and implemented by Guatemalan Nationals and Latin American leaders. Merge is an organization directed by a leadership team made up of non-American Global Church leaders from around the world. Once your team sends in a deposit, the Merge Coach of Guatemala, Mario Valdes, will contact your team leaders and work with your team, and the local church leaders, to develop an itinerary, ministry focus, and develop learning activities for your team. Local nationals will be hired as interpreters, guides, ministry coaches, cooks, and construction supervisors (if needed). 

Housing –  Hotels in San Juan la Laguna.

Food – Usually teams are fed two-American/Canadian-style uncooked meals each day, and one cooked Guatemalan meal made by local cooks, although more Guatemalan meals are possible. Purified water is also supplied for teams. 

Flights – teams would fly to Guatemala City. 

Ground Transportation – Merge will hire local bus companies to drive your team around Guatemala, and from the airport in Guatemala City. Boat transportation will be used to cross Lake Atitlan to access San Juan la Laguna. 

Learning – Learning activites with local church leaders and Merge staff will be designed into the itinerary.

Cultural Activities – Highest Zip line in Central America located in San Juan la Laguna. Panajachel, the primary town on Lake Atitlan, has shopping, restaurants and a zip-line park. Antigua Guatemala is a town almost 500 years old and is the original capital of Guatemala. Colonial and extremely beautiful, the town has shops, archeological sites and restaurants. Local hikes on active volcanoes are options as well.