High in the mountains of Unión Cantinil, Guatemala, lie the villages of Las Lomas, La Nueva Independencia, and El Triunfo. Here, families have long lived on the edge of survival—sometimes with just enough, often with less.In these communities, more than half of the population lives in poverty. One in six families cannot even afford the minimum cost of food. Jobs are scarce. Women are often left behind. And perhaps most painful of all, many people have come to believe that their situation is permanent. That they were born to survive, not to thrive.But hopelessness is not the end of the story.

At just 28 years old, Ingri is already a powerful force for change in her community of Nueva Independencia. A wife, a mother, and a leader, she carries within her a passion for service that runs deep—one she inherited from her parents, Doña Florinda and Don Eleuterio, both respected members of the 410 Bridge Leadership Council.

In the highlands of La Nueva Independencia, lives Doña Everarda Carrillo Velasquez, a 67-year-old woman whose life has been shaped by hard work, unshakable faith, and a deep love for the land. For thirty-five years, she stood faithfully by her husband, who lived with Alzheimer’s for fourteen of them. Today, with her feet rooted in the soil and her heart lifted to God, Everarda keeps moving forward. “God gives me strength,” she says with a conviction that comes from deep within. Last year, Doña Florinda Jimenez, a member of the Leadership Council, encouraged Everarda and her son to join a Foundations for Farming course. At first, she hesitated “Me? In an agriculture course?” but something stirred in her heart, and she decided to try. During the training, she visited a farm focused on animal husbandry, and something clicked. She was especially drawn to rabbit farming, and from that moment, she felt called to raise animals herself.

Across the hills and valleys of rural Guatemala, you’ll find classrooms filled with potential. Children eager to learn. Teachers devoted to their calling. Communities that believe in the power of education to transform lives.But too often, what you won’t find are the basic materials needed to make education truly effective.

This February, a team of staff members from Guatemala, the United States, and the Dominican Republic gathered for a memorable Trips Summit. Our mission? To prepare the Dominican Republic to host mission teams, grow stronger as a unified team, and brainstorm ways to make each mission trip a truly transformational experience—for both the communities we serve and the teams that visit.

Over the course of more than forty missionary trips in Guatemala, we shared God’s Word and experienced deeply emotional moments where His presence was undeniable. The hearts of missionary groups, community leaders, translators, and even our team were touched as we worked together to uplift these communities. It has truly been a year of transformation.