Where We Work: GUATEMALA

Do you have a sense of adventure and a desire to serve in Latin America? Would you like to live a simple lifestyle close to the people and share your faith and talents with the poor?  If so, we would like to invite you to consider joining us in our mission work in Guatemala.

This lay mission site is located in the Peten region of Guatemala. The Peten region is a tropical area of northern Guatemala where there is much poverty and underdevelopment.

San Luis: What's it like?
In 2004, the Comboni Missionaries took responsibility for the parish of San Luis. The town is located in the rural Peten area close to the border with Belize. It is a couple hours drive to the town of Flores and the area where the famous ruins of Tikal are located. 

Northern Guatemala was traumatized by the 36-year long civil war. In San Luis, people are understandably a bit more aloof toward outsiders than in some of our other mission sites. Loneliness can be a problem for lay missionaries working here, particularly in the beginning.

The parish has 140 villages, 120 of which are made up of the peoples of the Q’eqchi’ (pronounced kek’-chi) tribe. It may seem therefore that the villages are very close together, but they were settled by foot and it takes time to walk through the rain forest. There is no electricity or water in most of the villages, and because of their remoteness, the trek to each can take hours. 

Parish Clinic: The clinic is staffed by two lay missionaries from El Salvador, a doctor and a dentist. They train others to help the villagers with health problems. These trainees are volunteers and are generally from the villages. The volunteers treat those who they can and send the rest to the clinic or the hospital. The doctors have identified education on disease prevention as one of the needs in the area. A previous lay missionary also created a community education program on dental hygiene. 

The most common health problems are scabies (a parasite which burrows under the skin and causes itching), malaria, intestinal ailments, and worms. But there are many injuries to the villagers, mostly from the machetes they use to clear the land. 

School for Mayan Women: In the town of San Luis is the Centro Maya Asunción, an education center for young Mayan women that is run by the Assumption Sisters. 

At the school, Mayan women from the outlying villages can take elementary and junior high classes, and learn skills, especially in farming. There are classes in animal husbandry, baking, handicrafts, music lessons with the marimba or guitar, and gardening. The women earn money by selling the goods they have made at the center. 

This education is extremely important because the women are able to return to their villages and help their families and neighbors with the knowledge they have received. The school also provides Spanish classes, which are important in this area where most of the people speak Q’eqchi’.

What Kind of Work Would You Do?
Lay missionaries could work in health care, youth ministry, job skill training, community organizing, sports, and pastoral work with catechists. A high priority would be for doctors and health care workers to staff the parish clinic and to periodically visit the outlying villages.

What Kind of Candidates Are We Looking For?
We are looking for candidates with some skills and experience in the following areas:

• Basic skills in Spanish. Fluency in Spanish would allow work in the school. (Until fluency is achieved, it is not recommended to work in the school, as the students are also learning Spanish.)  Very few people at this mission site speak English, so a good foundation in Spanish is essential.

• A health care background, or experience doing health or nutrition education.

• A patient, flexible personality to allow time to build relationships with people in the community. The ability to work independently, and without a lot of mentoring is a must.

• Some ministry experience working with parish and/or community groups.

• Skills and talents in job training, parish youth ministry, and community development.

What Does The Comboni Lay Mission Program Provide?

• Preparation: We provide a solid 14-week formation for mission at our center in La Grange Park, IL. It includes discussions and workshops in mission theology, skills for cross-cultural living, collaborative leadership, communication and team building skills, mission spirituality, and community.

• Language Training: Lay missionaries assigned to Guatemala will have approximately three months of Spanish at a language school, if needed.

• Local Support: The Comboni community is within walking distance of the lay missionaries, but because they travel frequently to the outlying chapels, they are often not available during the week. The other Catholic personnel in the area (at the clinic, and the school) can also be of some support at this site.

• Room and Board: Housing is provided for the lay missionaries, along with a $275 monthly stipend for personal expenses and for food. The lay missionaries also receive an annual allowance of $300 for professional growth, retreat, and vacation expenses.

• Health Insurance and Other Benefits: Lay missionaries are provided health insurance and transportation to and from the mission site in Guatemala. Upon successful completion of their three-year contract, they will also receive $1800 for relocation expenses.

How Do You Take the Next Step?
If you would be interested in serving as a lay missionary for three years in San Luis, Guatemala, please take a look at our requirements for Eligibility. If you think you meet the requirements, fill out the Preliminary Form and we can begin to discuss the possibilities.

See other site descriptions: Peru,  Zambia, Ethiopia, Malawi

Images from San Luis:

Comboni Fr. Pedro Andres