Want to see what generosity actually does when it lands in a real place with real needs? We open part one of our series with a candid look at life as support-based missionaries in Guatemala, how monthly gifts keep our family afloat, how a pandemic turned highways into ghost roads, and how food bags and open doors led to something bigger than we imagined.
We trace the arc from a single remote village tucked inside miles of sugarcane to a thriving education pipeline. It started with one clear barrier: parents couldn’t afford basic school supplies, so half the kids stayed home. A Giving Tuesday drive changed the math, 100% attendance the next year, and momentum has carried through ever since. Today, 160 elementary students receive supplies annually, while a new middle and high school track brings teachers from the city twice a month. A tutor, shared computers, and safe transport round out the support. Graduations now include firsts for families: a grandmother arriving in sandals to honor her granddaughter, teens talking about university, and proud parents seeing options where there used to be walls.
We also talk about the other side of giving, hospitality from the community that hosts us. Coffee pots set aside without sugar because they remember our tastes. Fresh fruit after long days. The occasional plate of armadillo offered with a smile. Those gestures remind us that generosity isn’t only money; it’s time, attention, presence, and the decision to learn each other’s names. If you’re looking for practical ways to help, we share how to support school supplies, tutoring days, and teacher transport as Giving Tuesday approaches. Or start where you are: buy someone a coffee, offer an honest compliment, invite a neighbor to your table. Small gifts widen lives.
If this story moved you, follow and subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. Your generosity keeps this work going, and keeps hope growing.

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