Guatemala Bridge Builders Info and Forms

The Bridge Builders Adult Short-Term Trip provides an easy entry for Wooddalers to experience cross-cultural ministry in Guatemala. The ministry is now in its sixteenth year of serving in the Lake Atitlan district of the Guatemalan Highlands.

The purpose of the trip is to work side by side with the believers in local churches to show the love of Jesus Christ to people in that area. We do this by establishing and maintaining relationships and through many various ministries including but not limited to: 1) Home Construction, 2) Medical & Dental Teams, 3)Teaching Teachers in the Schools, 4) Teaching English in the Schools, 5) Water Filter Installation and Education, 6) Church Construction, 7) Library Construction, 8) Small Business Loans, 9) Sports Ministries, and much more!

Guatemala Meeting Schedule & Forms

Guatemala Fun Facts

Where is Guatemala?
Guatemala is a country in Central America. Guatemala has borders with Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador by land and the Pacific Ocean and Carribean Sea by water.

Lake Atitlan sits 1,563 meters (5,128 ft.) above sea level, has a surface area of 127.7 sq. km. (49.3 sq. mi.) and is 320 m. (1,049 ft.) deep, the deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere.

Guatemala Facts (from Infoplease.com)

  • National name: República de Guatemala
  • President: Álvaro Colom (2012)
  • Area: 42,042 sq mi (108,890 sq km)
  • Population (2012 est.): 13,276,517 (growth rate: 2.6%); birth rate: 34.6/1000; infant mortality rate: 36.9/1000; life expectancy: 65.2; density per sq mi: 340
  • Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Guatemala City, 2,655,900 (metro. area), 1,128,800 (city proper)
  • Monetary unit: Quetzal

Guatemala Ministries

The purpose of the Bridge Builder ministry is to work side by side with the believers in local churches to show the love of Jesus Christ to people in the Lake Atitlan area. We do this by establishing and maintaining relationships and through many various ministries. Home, Church, and Library Construction – Teams of skilled workers and “unskilled helpers” work together to build for the present and the future. Many homes have been completed over the years. Libraries have been built and furnished.

Home, Church, and Library Construction – Teams of skilled workers and “unskilled helpers” work together to build for the present and the future. Many homes have been completed over the years. Libraries have been built and furnished.

Medical – Doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, and helpers offer assistance to people around the lake. The goal is to provide immediate physical help and partner with the local churches in order that the people may learn about Jesus through this ministry.

Water Filtration and Education -- Installing water filters and working with local churches and schools to discuss the importance of drinking purified water has been one of our more successful efforts. Education includes verbal discussion, videos, and looking through the microscope to discuss the germs resident in water that has not been purified. Since beginning this ministry, the children are not getting sick as often from impure water.

Teaching – Teaching English as a second language has the Bridge Builder team partnering with public and private schools throughout the Lake Atitlan region. Friendships are formed and everyone’s life is touched. Schools can be concrete buildings or tin roof covered structures.

Sports Ministries – Soccer and Basketball have been utilized to engage people and build relationships. A gospel presentation is made as part of the activities. We have worked with local schools and churches to make this a fun event. The schools have enjoyed the structured skill tests we do as part of these activities.

Women’s Health – Using the book, Where Women Have No Doctor, team members partner with Guatemalan women to talk about all types of issues and answer many questions that are taken for granted in the USA.

Small Business Loans (Micro-enterprise) – Helping individuals and groups establish for-profit businesses by providing start-up loans is one of the goals of this ministry. Business training on godly principles is a primary part of this ministry. Businesses include Bead-making shops, markets (i.e., the corner store), and selling chickens, among others.

Pastor/Teacher Training – Church leaders from the Lake Atitlan area churches and Wooddale Church discuss Kingdom building strategies, and perform short and long-term planning in order to reach people with the message of Jesus Christ in order to honor God and make more disciples.