Nicolás Fund for Education (NFE) Mission Trips offer a deeply impactful and life-changing experience for participants while serving to empower the Mayan youth in Guatemala’s Ixil region. Through Christ-centered education, NFE helps to break the generational cycle of poverty, bringing hope to an area that has faced immense challenges. For mission participants, these trips are an opportunity to grow spiritually, connect with the communities served, and witness the powerful impact of education. A Journey Through Guatemala’s Rich History and Culture Each mission trip begins with a warm introduction to Guatemala, allowing participants to acclimate while appreciating the region’s breathtaking beauty and cultural vibrancy. Spending a day in Antigua, a historically rich city, participants explore cobblestone streets, volcano-studded landscapes, and vibrant markets. A stop at the ancient Mayan ruins on the way to Nebaj is a fascinating reminder of the Mayan people’s deep-rooted history and traditions. Exploring these ruins offers a meaningful pause, connecting participants to the cultural heritage of the communities they will soon serve. Serving the Ixil Region The heart of the mission lies in the Ixil region of Guatemala, where the focus is on building relationships and offering support through various activities: Prayer Walks and Community Visits One of the most touching aspects of the trip involves visiting NFE villages, where participants engage in prayer walks. These moments are powerful and intimate connections, allowing mission team members to meet students and their families, listen to their stories, and pray with them. These communities’ resilience and hope for a brighter future through education are incredibly moving. Supporting Nicolás Christian School Nicolás Christian School (NCS) is a beacon of hope and opportunity for the Ixil community. Mission trip participants enjoy …
An Inspiring Ten-Day Journey in Guatemala with Nicolás Fund for Education: A Team Member’s Unforgettable Experience of the First Two Days
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 …
Empowering the Future in Ixil: Nicolás Fund For Education is Transforming Guatemalan Youth
Phenomenal change is happening in the Ixil, and I have witnessed that change firsthand. In 2002, I traveled to the Ixil on an AGROS trip to work alongside the village of La Esperanza. My husband Dave and I continued to work with Villa Hortensia Uno (VH1). Now, as a veteran traveler to Guatemala, I have made twelve working trips to the Ixil. I attended the Nicolas Christian School graduation ceremony for Villa Hortensia Uno in 2018. These were the first students ever to complete ninth grade in this village. It was a thrill to see their joy and accomplishments celebrated. Some had waited years to have the opportunity to learn past the sixth grade. It was a dream of a lifetime to earn a ninth-grade education. Two of the students were twenty and twenty-one years of age. Thank you to Nicolàs Fund for Education for extending education to this remote village. I had the joy and excitement of meeting the three teachers and one tutor employed at the school. I knew these teachers from elementary age. These teachers graduated from the very first graduating class in 2018. They worked hard to overcome adversity to complete high school and continued their education beyond high school to become teachers. This is their village. They were born and raised and educated here. And now they have chosen to pass on the blessing of education to their brothers and sisters, cousins, and friends, who would not otherwise have an open path for the future. They are thirsty to learn. Two of the teachers in VH1 are pursuing university degrees using online learning. Eliseo is studying theology, and Juan is studying English. By investing in …
