Guatemala: Refined by Fire
Faith in Action
Antigua, Guatemala.
Community Health Education & Highland Discovery
1 Week of Service • Cultural Immersion • Servant Leadership
Did You Know?
Antigua Guatemala sits in a valley ringed by three volcanoes — Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango — with Volcán de Fuego (“Volcano of Fire”) still actively erupting today. The same volcanic ash that has both devastated and enriched this region for centuries has made Guatemala's highland soil among the most fertile in the world, producing some of the finest cacao and coffee anywhere on Earth.
Refined by Fire
Scripture describes genuine faith the way a metallurgist describes gold: tested by fire until only what's real remains (1 Peter 1:7). Guatemala's highland communities know something about fire — many of the families your team will serve have been directly affected by Fuego's eruptions, and all live in its literal shadow. Your team will partner with a local community health organization to bring hygiene, nutrition, and disease-prevention education to communities 30 minutes to 90 minutes outside Antigua, identified as having the area's greatest need. It's steady, unglamorous work, the kind that doesn't make headlines — but it's exactly the kind of faith that survives the fire. Students who serve in Guatemala come home changed — not because they solved every need, but because they discovered what faith looks like once it's been tested and found real.
The Worldwide Faith in Action Difference
Cross-Cultural Ministry • Daily Devotions • Local Community Partnership • Health Education Workshops • Mayan & Colonial Culture • 1 Week of Hands-On Service
The Worldwide Navigators Difference
Sojourn – Gain a better understanding of the community you’re visiting. Learn about different religions or spiritual practices. How do these impact the communities? How does religion or spirituality influence local traditions?
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Savor – Will you choose sweet or savory? Take the time to visit local markets and discover unique local ingredients. Learn how to prepare traditional meals & local favorites.
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Tip of the Tongue – Each morning, take the time to learn a few basic greetings and phrases in the local language. Learn how to write greetings & your name in the local script.
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A Wrinkle in Time – History influences our present. Discover the history of the country you visit. Hear the stories of your guides & their family history. Where do they come from?
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Journal Journeys – Take some time to reflect on the day’s events and document your journey. Spend a moment journaling about the day had & day ahead. These are memories for a lifetime!
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Culture – From local dances, festivals, or simple gestures to communicate – all of these make up a country’s culture. Learn and practice cultural norms & how to show respect in the culture you visit.
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Welcome to Guatemala! Fly into Guatemala City and travel about 45 minutes to the colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its cobblestone streets and Spanish baroque architecture. Group dinner and orientation. Opening devotional: what does it mean to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in a new culture?
After a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, head out to your first day of service. Health education sessions are set up in various locations surrounding the communities, depending on need — many families here come from indigenous highland communities, others were directly affected by volcanic activity. Evening devotional on cultivating a servant’s heart.
Workshops continue in the surrounding communities. Evening devotional on faith that’s tested and found genuine.
A full free day in Antigua to explore, shop, and rest — or tour the volcanoes and the Antigua Chocolate Museum to learn about cacao’s role in Mayan and Guatemalan culture. Evening: team dinner together.
Breakfast at the accommodation before transferring to Guatemala City for your flight home. Time permitting, enjoy the town of Antigua or Guatemala City a little further before departing this beautiful country and its warm-hearted people.
Our final day of workshops wraps with a closing reflection: what did we learn this week about faith, endurance, and service in a community shaped by fire? Time to say goodbye to the families and community leaders we’ve served.
Final group devotional and debrief. Enjoy breakfast before departing for the airport and your international flight home.
Extend Your Trip
- Add a Day: Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike
For adventurous groups, add a guided overnight hike up Acatenango Volcano. Camp at base camp within view of Fuego and watch it erupt after dark — a humbling, unforgettable reminder of the raw power and scale of God’s creation.
Choose Your Impact
Every Faith in Action trip pairs a full week of hands-on service with a tour component that immerses students in local history, culture, and faith. This Guatemala itinerary can be shortened, extended, or modified to fit your school’s calendar and budget.
- Value — 7–8 Day Group Trips
Airfare • Ground Transportation • 2.5–3 Star Accommodations • Daily Devotions & Debriefs • 3 Meals Per Day • Health Education Materials • Daytime Tour Director • 4 Days of Service (Community Health Education)
- Classic — 9–10 Day Group Trips
Airfare • Ground Transportation • 2.5–3 Star Accommodations • Daily Devotions & Debriefs • 3 Meals Per Day • Health Education Materials • Daytime Guided Tour Director • 4 Days of Service (Community Health Education) + Cultural Excursions
- Epic — 10–12 Day Group Trips
Airfare • Ground Transportation • 3.5–4 Star Accommodations • Daily Devotions & Debriefs • 3 Meals Per Day • Health Education Materials • 24/7 Guided Tour Director • 4 Days of Service (Community Health Education) + Extended Cultural Immersion • Final Night Celebration Dinner & Commissioning Service
Interested in adding or modifying activities? All Faith in Action itineraries can be customized — extend the service week, add a second community partner, or swap in additional cultural excursions.
Collections: Faith & Missions · Health, Nutrition & Exercise Science · Indigenous Populations & Tribes · Custom Trips
Course of Study: Philosophy & Religion · Health, Nutrition & Exercise Science · History
Impact Project: Good Health and Well-Being
Destination: Central America & The Caribbean
Value
3-6 Day
Group Trips
- Airfare
- Transportation
- 2.5 - 3-Star Accommodations
- Daily Activities & Excursions
- 2 Meals Per Day
- Tours & Entrance Fees
- Daytime & Self-Guided Tour Director
- 1 Impact Project
Classic
7-12 Day
Group Trips
- Airfare
- Transportation
- 2.5 - 3-Star Accommodations
- Daily Activities & Excursions
- 2 Meals Per Day
- Tours & Entrance Fees
- Daytime Guided Tour Director
- Up to 2 Impact Projects
Epic
7-14 Day
Group Trips
- Airfare
- Transportation
- 3.5 - 4-Star Accommodations
- Daily Activities & Excursions
- 2 Meals Per Day
- Tours & Entrance Fees
- 24/7 Guided Tour Director
- Up to 3 Impact Projects
- Final Night Celebration Dinner
Interested in adding or modifying activities? No problem! All Worldwide Navigator itineraries can be customized to your liking!
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