Once again, Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) had the privilege of living out its mission of building communities by sending a team to serve in Guatemala. In February 2026, GMC embarked on its ninth trip to provide clean, reliable water to a local community in need.
While clean water is the main purpose of the trip, it represents something much greater. It’s an opportunity to serve others and love well. Each year, this experience is deeply meaningful and this team was no exception. Team members included Jeffrey Brewer, Joanne Castro, Mattison McWhorter, Sara Kate Hudgens, Michael Brooks, Cal Finley, Camilo Salamanca and Fulton County Director of Public Works, David Clark.
GMC worked alongside Asociación Pozos Agua Viva (ASOCAVIVA), led by Jaime Torres, to support their mission of providing safe drinking water to remote areas in Guatemala. The team spent the week in Línea B-6 in San Jose La Maquina, Guatemala, drilling the well, providing health and hygiene lessons, connecting with locals, having fun and so much more. There are countless memories from the week spent in Guatemala that our team will hold close forever. Though it’s difficult to fully capture this experience through words, hear from our team as they share and reflect on this life-changing trip.
Jeffrey Brewer, CEO | Birmingham, AL
“This is a trip of a lifetime. Words just don’t seem adequate to describe the impact of this week in Guatemala. When I had the rare opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with Jaime Torres (one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around), driving from his home in Antigua to the remote farming village, he told me, “Mr. Jeff, your team being here, and all the people at GMC create a chain of blessings.
From even before you got here, through teams that have already come, to the impact on our local economy, to creating jobs for the drillers and translators, to, of course, providing the well and access to fresh water and then far into the future, the chain of blessings will continue. And those blessings flow up and down that chain each time a new team comes.”
I’m so grateful to be a small link in that chain of blessings, where we experience the reciprocal benefits. I’m forever connected to the precious Guatemalan families that served us as much as we helped them. The well is the link in the chain that connects us as brothers and sisters in Christ. May the blessings flow.
Building Communities took on a whole new meaning for the team and me. Thank you, GMC! Thank you, Asocaviva! Your mission is true, providing “Living Water”.”
Joanne Castro, Healthcare Architecture | New Orleans, LA
“When Peter the Apostle told Jesus Christ that he loved Him, Jesus answered by telling him to care for His sheep. Our “yes” to loving God is revealed in how we love His flock, and it becomes easier to say yes to Him when we truly understand how deeply He loves us.
It’s humbling to realize that the people on Jesus’ heart include a small village in Guatemala — a place that may have felt forgotten, yet has always been seen and cherished by Him. Meeting Jaime and his team, who faithfully live out what it means to say yes to loving Christ, was an incredible honor. I’m so grateful that our GMC team gets to partner in walking out that same yes; loving, serving and reminding others that they are never forgotten by God.
My prayer is that this trip is a fresh revelation of God’s love for our teams, for the people in the village and especially for the children who would be planted like a seed, growing in the days and years to come into countless of yeses to God, overflowing in love to everyone we encounter.”
Mattison McWhorter, Communications | Birmingham, AL
“I have been deeply moved by the overwhelming hospitality of the Guatemalan people, especially in Línea B-6. Though we arrived as strangers, we were welcomed not only into their village but into their homes and daily lives. The women graciously taught us how to make tortillas and entrusted us to lead lessons with their children. The men worked alongside us each step of the way as we drilled the well, even taking time to share afternoon coffee together. Each morning, the children greeted us with excitement and joy for whatever the day would bring.
This experience has been both eye-opening and awe-inspiring. I continually look back at photos, longing to be back! I am incredibly grateful to have served alongside my team, made possible through the generous support of GMC. While this new well will provide clean water for generations to come, my prayer is that it will also point hearts toward the everlasting living water we have in Jesus.”
Sara Kate Hudgens, Communications | Montgomery, AL
“The week we spent in Guatemala is better than I ever could have imagined! I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go on this trip of a lifetime. It was truly a gift to connect with the Guatemalan people and the community of Línea B-6. They welcomed us with open arms, warm smiles and delicious food. These kind and genuine men, women and children made a lasting impact on all of us and I hope to see them again one day!
This trip is special for so many reasons! The bond we formed as a team is something that I will treasure forever and it was amazing to share in such a sweet experience with coworkers turned friends. This trip is about providing clean water to a community, but it is about so much more than that! I’m forever thankful to be a small part of this blessing and it was a beautiful reminder of how much God loves us and how we are called to love Him and serve others each and every day.”
Michael Brooks, Engineering | Cartersville, GA
“We often find ourselves so caught up in the business of life, work, friends, that we often forget to enjoy life’s simplest things. Seeing the families in the villages of Guatemala was a reminder to pause and reflect on the blessings that we take for granted every day.
Seeing the joy these people experience with what some may deem as so little helped ground me again and I will remember the impact they had on me for the rest of my life. I was uncertain in the beginning because of the unfamiliarity of it all, however I now truly believe this to be an experience that every person should take advantage of, if granted the opportunity.”
Cal Finley, Environmental | Greenville, SC
“This trip was the coolest and most fulfilling experience of my life. The grueling, hard work brought our team closer than I ever imagined. We were dirty, sweaty, and definitely a little dehydrated at times, but none of that mattered. We were serving a purpose so much bigger than ourselves. There was something truly special about being fully present in each moment. We worked hard, laughed together, and kept our eyes fixed on the goal. And all of that effort paid off when we successfully brought clean drinking water to the community of Línea B-6.
What I will remember most about my experience in Guatemala is the impact the people of Línea B-6 had on me. Stepping outside the bubble of the U.S. was eye-opening. Seeing the daily challenges this community faces shifted my perspective in ways I’m still processing. And yet, despite their hardships, they were some of the happiest, most genuine, and selfless people I have ever met. Their faith in the Lord is relentless, and witnessing their trust and gratitude was powerful beyond words.
Serving others is one of the most fulfilling experiences a person can have. This trip reminded me that acts of service, whether big or small matter deeply. Get out of your comfort zone and make the world a better place. I left Guatemala changed, with a fuller heart, a new perspective, and a strong desire to live with gratitude. This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Camilo Salamanca, Engineering | Greenville, SC
“I can’t describe in a few words all the amazing experiences that I lived while we were on our mission to provide clean water for the community of La Línea B-6, but here it goes. While Guatemala resembles similarities to my home country of Colombia and I’ve seen and experienced what real poverty looks like, this was a wake-up call for me to remember how fortunate I am and that we take for granted something that seems basic, but that for other people in the world is vital: clean water.
I’ve come back to the States with many memories, but I have two that were my favorite: one, seeing how happy a whole community lives despite their living conditions and two, the unconditional support that they have for each other while having barely anything. Thank you, GMC, for letting me be part of this trip. I will have precious, everlasting moments and I am so happy that I decided to be part of this mission!”
David Clark, Director of Public Works | Fulton County, GA
“I was very fortunate to be an “honorary” GMC employee for the week, working alongside the greatest crew. Upon returning from a week in Guatemala, the most common question that I get is, “Is it hard work?” Of course it is hard work, but nothing compared to what the villagers deal with each and every day. No matter how high the challenges are for the Guatemalan people, they rise to them with such a positive attitude and willingness to see things through.
The main focus of the week may have been drilling a well that will provide for safe drinking water for generations; however, the real benefit was the time and interaction we got to have with the men, women, and children of the village. Their attitudes and overall optimistic outlook on life is so contagious.”
