Guatemala missions
WITH Hope of Life
On Mission IN Guatemala
Grace Church has a special partnership with Hope of Life International, who has been changing lives in Guatemala since 1987. Hope of Life International responds to poverty according to a needs-based approach. Their vision is a Guatemala where all children and families live with dignity and are free from economic poverty and inequity.
This partnership has allowed many Grace Church attenders to participate in the great commission from Matthew 28, to be burdened by God’s mission to reach the nations with his Gospel. Each year we send 3 teams on 9-day mission trips to Guatemala to partner with Hope of Life in the amazing work they are doing: transforming generations from dependence to lasting independence, creating strong leaders for the world and for the Kingdom of God.
VILLAGE TRANSFORMATION
3 Ways We partner to bring HOPE…
1. The Water Well Project
We have raised enough money as a church to bring fresh water to the village of Canoguitas! In December of 2025, Hope of Life completed digging the well and water is available in the village. The next step is to build the piping to provide running water to every home in the village.
2. child SPONSORSHIP in canoguitas
It costs $40 a month to sponsor a child, bringing education, food, supplies and clothes to each family. Grace Church has already sponsored 80 of the 150 Children in Canoguitas. Would you like to sponsor a child? Learn more below and get on the Wait List to sponsor.
3. SEND TEAMS TO CANOGUITAS
Grace Church sends 3 missions teams to Hope of Life each year! Our next two trips are in February and June 2026. Scroll down to learn more. Complete an application below.
June 19-27, 2026 (Application deadline closed)
September 25 - October 3, 2026 (Application due by July 1st)
February 2027 TBD (Application due by November 15th)
UPCOMING TRIPS:
Are you interested in goinG On mission to Guatemala with Grace Church?
We seek to train, send, and support anyone feeling called to go to the Nations to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our desire as a Church is that everyone on a mission team is able to evangelize, make disciples, and glorify the Lord as they travel to people groups in need of physical, spiritual, and emotional support.
We ask anyone who desires to join a team to Guatemala that they are active and engaged in Grace Church San Diego. Team members are expected to be part of their local house church. We would also prefer that you are already serving locally, either on a serve team at Grace or participating in our Mexico missions.
Recent Trips to Guatemala
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Soccer Camp
We organized a soccer camp for the kids in Canoguitas! We taught soccer skills, played scrimmages, and got to enjoy laughing and playing with kids of all ages.
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New Classroom Building
We fundraised enough money to build two new classrooms and a bathroom in the village. Grades K through 6 have been sharing 3 small classrooms for 18 years, so these new rooms are a welcome relief!
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Canoguitas House Church
In February, we trained some of the village leaders about how Grace runs house churches. Canoguitas now meets every other Monday for their own house church! We have paid for dinner for the first 7 meetings they have.
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Food Bag Distribution
We funded and packed 130 bags of non-perishable foods for every family in the village of Canoguitas. We prayed for each family as we distributed them on the last day of our trip!
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Child Sponsorship
We are currently sponsoring over 80 children in Canoguitas! This helps pay for school supplies, shoes, and food for the family. We get to visit their homes and meet their families while we are there!
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Fluoride Treatments
Every 6 months, we administer a round of fluoride treatments to all the school-age children in Canoguitas. We also donated toothbrushes and toothpaste to the families.
SAMPLE TRIP ITINERARY to guatemala
Travel day. Fly non-stop to Guatemala City and spend the night at the Barceló Hotel.
DAY 1
Travel in a bus to Hope of Life near Zacapa, Guatemala. Get to know the team and set intentions for a beautifully transformative week!
DAY 2
Church in Español (and translated!) followed by serving in the Hope of Life ministries: the hospital, Kelly's house, the elderly home, or the Village of Transformation!
DAY 3
Visit our adopted village, Canoguitas, for a variety of activities. We may visit and pray with families, work on construction projects, distribute monthly food bags, lead vacation bible school, or visit with sponsored children.
DAY 4-6
Continued village activities followed by a Fiesta Night hosted by Hope of Life!
DAY 7
Travel by bus back to Guatemala City. Visit a local coffee shop and end the night with a team dinner at Casa Escobar.
DAY 8
DAY 9
Head back home!
TRAVELING TO GUATEMALA
PREPARE TO TRAVEL: All Guatemala Team Members are required to have a current passport. Below are some links you might find helpful:
RAISE SUPPORT: Each Guatemala Team Member is responsible for raising financial support (the cost varies by trip). Helpful tools and tips will be given!
TRAINING: All Team Members undergo digital and in-person trainings prior to the trip.
QUESTIONS: Contact Missions Director Brenna Bulach: Brenna@gracesd.com
aBOUT HOPE OF LIFE
Hope of Life Hope of Life International is a nonprofit organization that aims to save lives and end poverty in Guatemala by brining the following to remote villages: Medical Intervention, Food Distribution, Clean Water, Education, and Sponsorship. Learn more below.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”