By Carrie Nordberg, NFE Board Secretary & February Mission Team Leader
We’ve officially arrived! Our 10-day Nicolás Fund for Education mission trip began early Friday morning. Although our flights from Seattle and Dallas were delayed, we eventually touched down in Guatemala City at 12:30 am on Saturday. Thanks to our wonderful interpreter, Clarita, who coordinated all our local arrangements, we made it to our hotel (just five minutes from the airport) and finally settled in for the night around 1:30 am.
True to form, Seth Nordberg slept through without a hitch and woke up energized. I wasn’t quite as lucky, but after a good breakfast and strong coffee, we were ready for the next leg of our adventure to Panajachel, on the shores of Lake Atitlan.
Heavy traffic delayed us, but by 2:00 p.m., we were ziplining at the Atitlan Nature Reserve—an exhilarating start to our trip! Seth and I opted for the Extreme zip lines (with eight runs, some impressively long), while others embraced the Super Extreme. The views of the lake were breathtaking, and we finished our day with monkeys and wildlife on the trails, our first tuk-tuk ride, ice cream in town, and a lakeside dinner before collapsing, exhausted and happy.
The next morning (Sunday), we started with a hotel breakfast before admiring Lake Atitlan’s natural beauty. Although clouds hid the volcanoes, the landscape was still stunning. We soon boarded our bus for a short drive to Chichicastenango, famous for its vibrant markets. The energy, colors, and aromas were incredible! After exploring, we traveled on to the Ixil region. To give context, it took us 3.5 hours to cover just 60 miles due to the winding mountain roads.
Serving in La Bendición
On Monday, our team headed to the village of La Bendición to host a carnival for the children, as the school year had yet to start. Fourteen children and two teachers greeted us at the village school with balloons and lots of excitement. Rain forced us indoors, where we split into two groups for different activities.
My group sang bilingual songs (“Los Pollitos” and “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes”) and played with glitter and temporary tattoos. The other class created butterflies (mariposas) and enjoyed a storybook. We switched groups halfway through, and seeing the kids so engaged and eager to learn something new was inspiring.
Prayer Walk
After the festivities, we hiked up the muddy village hillside to visit three families and pray with them. Our first stop was with a 15-year-old whose parents’ separation had been difficult; we prayed with him, his dad, and his grandmother for comfort and peace. We also spent time with Juanita and her mother, Juana, lifting up their unique challenges and joys in prayer.
Juanita’s Remarkable Story
Juanita’s story is truly extraordinary. Born with spina bifida, a congenital disability that significantly limits her mobility, Juanita refused to be defined by her challenges. Through Nicolás Christian School’s Distance Learning Program, she graduated from high school and taught herself to be an artist. Now working in the Ixil region, Juanita’s positive spirit and determination have made her a local celebrity.
Nicolás Fund for Education National Director, Ivan España, shared, “Juanita is an example, as she encourages other young people in the Ixil region (which is ranked number one in youth suicides), gives lectures, is invited to different competitions, has her Leadership WhatsApp group, and is a faithful assistant at the Global Leadership Summit in Nebaj.” Juanita lives by her words, “With God, all things are possible.”
The Guatemalan Minister of Culture and Sports recently announced Juanita’s appointment as Guatemala’s “Ambassador of Peace.” In this position, she will promote leadership and inclusion for the disabled and advocate for peace throughout the country.
Our team is privileged to walk alongside inspiring leaders like Juanita and her mother, Juana, as we serve the Ixil community. Thank you to Nicolás Fund for Education for making this work possible!
