Anna M

We're finally here! Waking up this morning and walking out on the balcony to this gorgeous, sunny morning was definitely the perfect start to our stay here in Guatemala. From the volcano to the right and city hills to the left, the view is breathtaking.  I can't wait for God to do amazing things through us this week and make an impact during our stay! Keep the prayers coming and we'll see you next week :)

We have ARRIVED!!! Guatemala!

Quick update! After a long day of travel...and no wifi in Mexico City, we arrived last night around midnight! Can not emphasize how awesome that the students and leaders were during our layover! After some MUCH MUCH MUCH needed rest, we are getting ready to hit the ground running today! More to follow! Thanks so much for all the prayers and for the support!

Josh C

THE TRIPLE A GAME: AIRPORT ARMPIT ACTION!

"Triple A: Airport Armpit Action ! The Armpit Game of a Lifetime, aka, this is what happens when you abandon your camera on the seat of an airport (*cough cough* Jazmyne McGill) -- expect the public to pick it up and take individual shots of original armpits; for that is exactly what our Guatemala team has done for her. Jazzy J The Illest will most definitely be ILL after discovering these random "explicit" photos. She has been oblivious the entire time the team has volunteered their armpits, but to complete the game, she will eventually discover the pictures and have to identify the armpit of each volunteer. Lesson Learned? Always keep your belongings close... and your Armpits, even Closer!" - Micah D.

So... I've never had a blog before but apparently they are all the rage these days. I don't feel like we left yesterday already, but on the other hand this doesn't all seem real yet. The bus ride was dark and bumpy with lots of flashing construction lights.

It gave lots of time to think about the trip and what it is going to be like for us, for me. I can't wait to see what is in store for us, the amazing new vision and way of life that will be shown to us. Some of us spent time praying for our minds and hearts to be opened on this trip, to be aware of the awesome things that will be done to our faith. As I am slightly scared of flying (not a lot but enough to be nervous) I'm praying for safety just in the trip there! I hope everyone, those on this trip and those supporting from home are as excited as me and ready to see what God will do in all of us.

In short, I am a hyper, sugared up ball of nervous that's SUPER hyped to be here. I also have not broken my dad's number one rule so you're welcome daddy :) Lots of hugs to everyone, keep us in your hearts and prayers and Thank You for everything you have all done to get us here. We will come back knowing and loving our God, Immeasurably More.

-Courtney K

Flights, fun, and flights

Many of the fifty students who are accompanying me to Guatemala say that the first moment it really hit them that our long awaited trip was finally upon us was when they were packing, or when they woke up Thursday morning and realized they had just spent their last night in the states. For me, it wasn't until a rest stop in Madison Wisconsin, pouring $1 dollar bills into a vending machine for overpriced Doritos and Gatorade that I finally felt like my journey had begun. Any other day of the year, I wouldn't have been caught dead in front of that machine, paying absurd prices for snacks that would satisfy me for an hour if I was lucky. In that moment, faced with a choice between paying too much for food now, or paying too much for food at an airport in Chicago, I transitioned into mission trip mode. The frugality that will undoubtedly follow me around each and every one remaining 355 days of my year was put off. My life, money, and my health are now completely out of my hands; wholly entrusted to God, at least for the next ten days. That moment in front of the vending machine certainly won't be one of the defining moments of Guatemala, but it is at least the first. And for a day spent sitting on a bus, bumming around and burning the clock, it will have to do.  - Zach M.

T-Minus 5 Hours and Counting!

And we are off! After MONTHS of planing...far far far too many meetings, and getting ready and prepped TODAY IS THE DAY! We are just under 5 hours from our group gathering and getting ready to leave for Guatemala from Chicago early tomorrow morning! AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE PUMPED!

Several things about this blog. Each day that we are on this trip, we will be having leaders and students update the blog. In it they will share prayer requests, updates on the trip, things that they are experiencing, and the way that God is working in their lives! We will do our best to update this blog as many times as possible. Know that while we hope to get at least something posted from everyone on this trip, there is a good chance that for at some people it will not happen! Please feel free to repost, share, or give out this blog website! As it is appropriate, we will be updating the team on comments that are left to posts, so feel free to comment and pray!

Statistics about this trip! (reasons to praise God and get JACKED!)
- it is the single largest missions trip team that Grace Fellowship has ever had!
- we have 38 students and 13 leaders who are scheduled to be a part of this team!
- while on this trip we will be leading multiple church services, putting a tin roof on a church, helping to sheet-rock a school, leading vbs for over 500 students, working with a feeding center providing support and labor that feeds and gives firewood to orphans and widows, along with many MANY more projects!
- We will be spending 10 days in Guatemala...mainly in Guatemala City!

We are looking forward to posting more updates through the day!

LETS GO!

Pastor Josh C (sr high youth pastor)

Flight Info

Our Flight number tomorrow is 1568 via delta and we will be arriving in Minnesota at 11:30pm. Arrival back at Grace is estimated at 12:15am Monday morning. Please let me know if you have any questions.