This August, we sent a team of 12 from our Youth and Young Adult ministries to Guatemala to visit the Prince of Peace home for Girls. This is a Christ-centred refuge for girls who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Read the story from Ein, a grade 9 youth below.
Even while I was at the Houston airport waiting for my Chick-fil-A, I wasn’t sure if this mission trip was really for me. Back in April, when we did our first interviews, I said I was going to have fun with the girls and go as an act of obedience (Matthew 28:19). But I never felt that I wanted to go. Landing in Guatemala, I wanted time to pass by so I could get the whole thing over with.
When I first met our Prince of Peace (POP) staff members, I was filled with the realization that this was actually happening. The team welcomed and invited us as if we were part of their families with words of thanks and warm smiles. Prince of Peace believes healing comes through relationships, and this was evident from the moment we arrived. Prince of Peace is a home for girls who have been removed from their families by the government due to extreme physical abuse, neglect and harm. Prince of Peace not only provides shelter, food, and healthcare, but also shows the girls the Good News, God’s love for each and everyone of them.
Our team had the opportunity to listen to each of the girls’ testimonies, how they were led to Prince Of Peace. Each of their testimonies was tragic and brutal. But despite everything they had been through, the girls’ faith in God, the amount of joy they have, treating and loving their peers convinced me that God has truly put His healing hands upon them. In the head office there is a sign that reads HOPE- Hold On, Pain Ends. When I first walked past it, it was just words on the wall. After hearing the girls’ testimonies, I understood that the words were for the girls, reminding us that hope is not about goals or our own strength, but it is an anchor for our soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19).
The POP staff members were loving, supporting, and caring for the girls. A couple of the staff members had actually grown up in POP and are now back to serve the girls. Working at Prince of Peace isn’t like working at any other place. You need to be patient with the girls and show them what real love is. I realized that the team is not only trying their best but was relying on God, trusting that His plans are far beyond what we can imagine. Their love for the girls is insane, I believe the girls wouldn’t be the girls we saw if the staff weren’t there. I am convinced that their reward in heaven is great.
Alongside this, our team also had the opportunity to serve Prince of Peace in a practical way by rebuilding the flagpole. A couple of our amazing teammates spent hours and hours making the pole. It wasn’t always easy, but through every moment God was always with us. And praise God for strengthening our team and always being with us, we were able to finish the beautiful flagpole on time! Our team also had the opportunity to visit a local Catholic school. There, we played games, danced, gave out goody bags, and most importantly shared the gospel. In the end, there were dozens of kids raising their hands to accept Christ into their hearts. It was wonderful to see little ones boldly coming to Christ and reminding us that we all should have a child-like faith. In the end, we asked the kids for prayer requests. One of the most common requests was for healing within their families. So I pray God would put his healing hands upon them and their families.
We also visited a couple of local homes of a few families that Prince Of Peace supports. There, we listened to their testimonies and how God had worked in their lives. Seeing people who were in physical need still trusting in God reminded us that this is what true faith looks like and regardless of our circumstances, God is faithful and just to his people. It was moving to see people confessing that Jesus Christ is our Lord, Saviour, and King.
Throughout this time, one of the most important parts of our trip was simply spending time with the girls. It would look like playing traditional Guatemalan games, making jewelry, or praising God together with nothing more than an acoustic guitar. Lots of girls gave out friendship bracelets and necklaces, saying, “We will miss you” and “Thank you for coming to POP”. Even though our languages, cultures, and traditions were different, we were bonded like brothers and sisters. This showed us that God unifies us in our diversity to show his glory.
This mission trip changed me. I first thought that having fun with the girls and loving them was the main idea. We wanted to wholly serve the girls, but most of the time, it was us being served by them. It was a pleasant reminder that all we need is Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and God’s love poured out into our hearts.
I pray for our readers today. I pray that you wouldn’t read simply what I wrote but see God’s glory, handiwork, and his mercy poured out on us. I encourage you to support Prince of Peace. God tells us that we are his workmanship in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). Whether it looks like prayers, encouragement, love, or financial support to you, I encourage you to pray cheerfully and see what your next step is. Praise God! We thank Him for creating us with different gifts and for obeying Christ’s calling in our lives. We are very grateful for your love, prayers, and encouragement before, during, and after our mission trip! May God bless you!
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace
Numbers 6:24-26
The next trip to Guatemala and Prince of Peace will take place August 2027. More information will be provided in the coming months.
