GMC serves a community in Guatemala with clean water

In May 2023, GMC sent members of the team to Guatemala to build a well for a local community in need. This took the mission of “building communities” international, as the project would provide safe water for hundreds of Guatemalans. This marked GMC’s fourth trip to Guatemala with this year’s team including Kevin Laird, Juan Gacha, Fred Hanna and Mike Hamrick. Kevin’s daughter Ashlyn and Mike’s daughter Kathleen joined as well which made the trip a true family affair.

The team partnered with Asociación Pozos Agua Viva (ASOCAVIVA), an organization led by Jaime Torres that provides safe drinking water to remote areas in Guatemala. ASOCAVIVA drills water wells and works to improve the lifestyle and health of the communities they work in through their health and hygiene program.

The team worked in a village in southern Guatemala and served the people of Iglesia Evangelica Asamblea de Dios Maranatha, a church central to the community. Traditionally, these people retrieve water from hand-dug wells which are easily contaminated. GMC team members spent the week in the village and connected with the people as well as celebrated with them when the well was completed. The group also led health and hygiene classes to improve the community’s overall health. Now, the 40 families living near the well have access to clean and safe water. These projects are always touching and our team comes away with a beautiful picture of service. The connections and communities built are a testament to ASOCAVIVA and its networks that GMC is thankful to work alongside.