Guatemala Team Reports

Hey everyone, it’s been a few months since our Marine View stove team returned from Guatemala and I wanted to provide you with some quick updates about our work there, plus invite you to some upcoming events.

First, I am pleased to report that Marco, the Hands for Peacemaking Foundation’s national director, his wife Mimi and their son Alan are coming to the United States this month! As many of you know Marco and Mimi serve as team hosts in Guatemala and we could not do our work in the villages without their care and support. Some long-time mission goers have watched Alan grow from a toddler to an outstanding young man who often accompanies teams and works hand-in-hand with them in the field on projects.

Marco and family will be at two Harvest Hope receptions and you are invited to either one, or both. The first is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Elliott Bay Brewing, 255 SW 152nd St in Burien. No charge to attend, and sign up is here. The second, same time, is on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 5 Rights Brewing, 1514 3rd St. in Marysville. You can sign up for the Marysville event here. These fun and low-key receptions are not only a good time to mingle with Marco and Mimi, but also to catch up with other team members and share notes and stories with those who have gone before. And, for calendar marking purposes, the Hands for Peacemaking’s big annual “Heart of Guatemala” Dinner is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb 8 at Floral Hall at Forest Park, 802 E Mukilteo Blvd #205 in Everett. You may also invite a friend or three to any of these events to introduce them to our mission. Okay, the combination of those those events constitute the first invitation!

Marco and family will also be at Marine View Presbyterian Church on Oct. 27 to talk about our work at Guatemala and catch up with old friends. (Those of you who have traveled with Marco, Mimi and Alan know that they are more like extended family). Services are at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and you will have a chance to chat during fellowship time too. That is invitation two.

My third inviation is not for an event, but to join the Marine View team in 2025. We have set the date for April 17 to April 27, with the village and stove quantity yet to be determined. If you have joined us before and are interested in going again, or if reading/hearing about our mission has captured your heart, please drop me a line (briand660@gmail.com) and I’ll add you to the interest list!

Now for some updates from the villages of Las Limas and El Moxon since reporting to you last. As you may recall we’d raised some additional funds to extend the road toward El Moxon to the river to ease travel for the villagers, who now must walk or hitch a mule to climb quite a distance up a steep hill to their village on the far side. To date we have raised $3,750 U.S. toward the village’s need of about $12,000 to finish the road. Thanks so much to those who contributed, and if you would still like to contribute you can do so here.

We have contributed several donated, refurbished laptops and educational software packages that are now being used in the schools of both villages, and facilitated the training of village teachers to learn the systems.

We funded the construction of two fancy new kitchen buildings, stoves and wash basins for both of the village schools, which were built by Hands for Peacemaking staff following our visit.

Team members also contributed toward a school fencing project for Las Limas, raising $750 toward the $1,175 needed toward cement, rebar, sand and rocks. If you would like to help us complete that project please do so with your contribution here.

Our team in Guatemala has also sent photos that show the stoves and water filters we installed are being used and enjoyed by the villagers, providing much benefit to each family and the village as a whole.

It’s always so gratifying to do a few little extras, with your help, support and prayers. The work we do is direct, impactful and meaningful. I hope you can come to one of our Hands for Peacemaking events or two and consider joining us in 2025.

With Blessings,

Brian