One God, Many Nations: Seeing God Work in Guatemala
March 26, 2026
Hi Friends and Family,
First off, thank you so so much for choosing to participate alongside us in being the Lord’s hands and feet through the construction of this solar panel system for ADICAY’s office. For those of you who don’t know ADICAY is a Christian non-profit that joins in the redemptive work of God to assist rural Mayan villages in designing and building potable water systems. Our team will be helping to improve the solar panel system that is on their office to allow for continuing impact even in times of frequent blackouts. We are a combination of mechanical and electrical engineering students, a Lipscomb professor and two working professionals (who are also recent alumni)
passionate about showing the Lord’s heart to provide for His children. Even though you may not have your feet on the ground in Guatemala, none of this could’ve been possible without your financial and, more importantly, spiritual support, so thank you.
We safely made it to Guatemala! With our day starting at 1:30 am we all got to watch the time spring forward! Then had a smooth travel day with no delays or issues! We then got to drive through beautiful Guatemala stopping for McDonalds on the way and ending it with Little Caesar’s at ADICAY’s office! I won’t lie we are all looking forward to catching up on some sleep tonight and getting to work tomorrow.
For today our attached Team Blog will be an introduction to our team. But for the rest of the week we will have a team member give a brief summary of our system building, memory making and Creator admiring so stay tuned!
Joelle & Nolen (Team Leaders)
Mission Trip Daily Update – March 9, 2026
Cobán, Guatemala
¡Hola desde Cobán!
My name is Katelyn Dunnaway, and today I have the joy of sharing about our first full day of work at the ADICAY offices here in Cobán. It was a day filled with learning, teamwork, and plenty of unexpected laughter as our team began installing a new solar system for ADICAY.
We started the morning around 8:00 AM with breakfast alongside Ana, the director of ADICAY. It was a wonderful way to begin the day—sharing a meal, conversation, and excitement about the work ahead. We were also introduced to a local restaurant that will likely become our regular dining spot during the trip, which everyone was very pleased with.
After breakfast, our team dove straight into preparations for the day’s projects, working until the technicians arrived to install several electrical components for the new solar system.
Before installation began, Yoshi, Eduardo, and Professor Dyer—along with the help of our wonderful translator, Daniella—presented an overview of the work our team hopes to complete during this trip. It was encouraging to walk through the plan with the ADICAY staff, aligning our efforts toward a shared goal while also learning many engineering and technical terms in Spanish.
One of our first hands-on tasks was identifying which breaker controlled power to each outlet in the office. This task was assigned to Caleb, Allyanna, and me. Using a circuit breaker finder and a label maker, we tracked down every outlet on the property and carefully labeled each one to make the system easier to navigate in the future. Through this process, I learned a great deal about how electrical circuits function in the real world—compared to the clean, idealized schematics we often see in Circuits I as mechanical engineering students.
Meanwhile, Daniella, Eduardo, and Yoshi worked on translating and organizing manuals and schematics for the new electrical components, making them more accessible to the ADICAY team.
Later in the morning, we met with ADICAY staff and the technicians to discuss concerns about the installation and how potential issues might be handled in the future. Daniella played a vital role in helping us understand and support ADICAY throughout this conversation.
By lunchtime, we were ready for a break—and some fun. While waiting for food at the restaurant, we joined Ana, Hagi, and Mario from ADICAY for a lively game of volleyball. Nolen, a former volleyball player, led the charge alongside several other athletic teammates. While I may not have been the most skilled player, I kept up well enough to fully enjoy the spirit of the game. Laughter and friendly competition filled the courtyard as we passed the ball back and forth.
After lunch, I had the opportunity to reconnect with my friend Hagi, whom I met on a previous mission trip. We continued our tradition of teaching each other our languages—he helps me practice Spanish while I help him with English. As you might imagine, this can be challenging since we both know very little of each other’s language, but that only makes the process more entertaining. We rely on gestures, laughter, and patience, and it is always a joy to learn together.
In the afternoon, we returned to work. While the technicians stepped out to purchase additional parts, our team resumed labeling outlets and translating documents. Professor Dyer also spent time explaining how the current power system works, and we absorbed as much information as possible.
Eventually, we found ourselves waiting once again for the technicians to return. Determined to stay productive, we decided to clean the solar panels located on the roof of a shed—on top of another roof (yes, there were multiple layers involved).
Hector, the maintenance employee for the offices, kindly helped us set up a ladder against the shed. As we climbed up, we noticed the roof slightly bending under pressure, which raised some concern—especially for Joelle, who began imagining the possibility of falling straight through. Hector then calmly informed us that he cleans the panels this way every month, which surprised us all.
A few brave team members—Eduardo, Professor Dyer, and Gabe—attempted to clean a panel using a rag attached to the end of a broomstick. This allowed us to avoid stepping onto the roof, but it proved to be… less effective than we had hoped. After several attempts, plenty of stress, and many bursts of laughter, Hector stepped in and finished the job with ease—much to our embarrassment, admiration, and slight concern for his safety.
The day wound down after our solar panel adventure. We shared dinner with Hector and the team before settling in for several rounds of card games and some well-earned rest.
Today was filled with laughter, teamwork, and meaningful connection. As we continue working toward installing the new solar power system for ADICAY, it has been incredible to see how clearly actions can communicate care, dedication, and the love of Jesus—even across language barriers. Hard work, kindness, and service often speak louder than words ever could.
Prayer Requests
Please join me in praying for a smooth installation tomorrow and an easy transition for ADICAY as they begin using the new solar power system.
Blessings,
Katelyn Dunnaway
This morning started early with a loud “cock-a-doodle-doo!” around 4:00 AM. The light sleepers on the team—Professor Dyer, Gabe, Nolen, Caleb, and myself—were less fortunate than others as the diligent rooster got a head start on the day.
I had a peaceful morning to read and watch the sunrise. Gabe and I were also able to exercise before the team headed to El Refugio for breakfast.
After breakfast, we walked to the ADICAY office to begin our work. Important progress was made today by further aligning the technicians with the needs of the ADICAY team. Ana, the director of ADICAY, highly values trust in those she works with. After building that trust with the technicians, progress continued on the solar panel battery system installation, with the goal of completing it by Wednesday.
After lunch, the team traveled about an hour and a half to visit one of the Mayan villages that ADICAY serves—San Bartolomé. The drive deep into the Guatemalan mountains was absolutely stunning. Upon arrival, we were met with the warm and curious hospitality of the villagers.
We were given a tour of the water tank sites that ADICAY has been working on, along with the homes and farms of the community. Experiencing the tranquil way of life in the village was truly beautiful, and we are looking forward to returning tomorrow to help dig trenches for the water systems.
After the picturesque drive back to Cobán, the team enjoyed a delicious dinner—especially the dulce de leche and shecas bread.
As I write this, the team is winding down with card games. There is no doubt we will have a good night’s sleep tonight, which is much needed as we prepare to hit the ground running tomorrow.
Highlights from Today
Allyanna: The beautiful drive to and from San Bartolomé
Gabe: Playing soccer with children in San Bartolomé
Nolen: Talking with an ADICAY civil engineer named Hagi during the drive
Joelle: Seeing the system and connecting with community members in San Bartolomé
Professor Dyer: Witnessing familial love in the village and the quality craftsmanship/engineering of the locals
Daniella: Enjoying dulce de leche and shecas bread from San Martin; experiencing the villagers’ joyful hospitality
Eduardo: The beautiful truck ride to and from San Bartolomé
Caleb: The plants, nature, and vibrant environment—especially the variety of colors
Katelyn: Playing soccer with kids in San Bartolomé and witnessing their joy
Yoshi: Touring San Bartolomé and experiencing a different, peaceful way of life
Final Reflection
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
— Acts 1:8 (NIV)
Today, we traveled to a place that is quite secluded and not easily accessible. Yet every person we encountered is made in the image of God and is deeply loved by Him. I am incredibly grateful and encouraged to witness the work ADICAY is doing—being the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of San Bartolomé and surrounding villages.
Thank you, friends and family, for your prayers and support. Without you, this beautiful experience would not be possible.
Grace and peace,
Yoshi and the Team
Mission Trip Daily Update – Thursday
My name is Gabe, and today I have the privilege of writing the Thursday blog.
At this point in our Guatemala journey, you’ve just wrapped up Wednesday’s blog and are ready to hear what happened next. However, Wednesday and Thursday blend together quite a bit. Activities for Wednesday concluded at 11:59 PM and led straight into Thursday. The technicians we had hired to work on the battery system took much longer than we anticipated. Because of this, we were forced to complete all of our work in one night, as Thursday was a travel day.
The goal for the night was to construct a previously designed wooden room to house the battery equipment. Eduardo, Yoshi, and I began working alongside Hector and Porferrio to complete the structure before it was time to leave the next day. As we worked—cutting wood and assembling the structure—the rest of the group played cards and kept us company. Gradually, people began to drift off and return to their rooms for the night. Those of us still working soon realized it was going to be a very late night.
Porferrio, who was assisting us, was a tremendous help—but also a perfectionist. This meant we often had to redo cuts multiple times. It quickly became a running joke, and we found ourselves laughing together as we worked through the night. Porferrio’s spirit of excellence is something that has stayed with me. I’ve seen it throughout Guatemala—in homes, whether in villages or cities, at ADICAY, and especially on Thursday night. I was struck by the importance of excellence and intentional work.
As we installed the final piece—the door—sudden loud noises startled us. Thankfully, it was just Joelle curled up nearby, snoring like a hibernating black bear. We all shared a good laugh and then stepped back to admire our work. By this point, it was 5:00 AM, and we were more than ready to be done. The rooster that had been bothering us all night had worked so hard it was nearly time for his lunch break.
Porferrio thanked us not only for our work, but also for our joy and smiles, which, in his words, made the project “fly by.” (I’m not sure I would describe it that way, but I’m glad it did for him.) We all made our way back to our rooms for a quick shower and a seemingly even shorter sleep.
When we woke up, Ana and the team had breakfast from McDonald’s waiting for us. We packed into the vehicles and began the long drive ahead. There had been talk of a workers’ rights protest, so we anticipated heavy traffic. The drive was long and, admittedly, not the most exciting to recount. We played a game called “Black Magic”—which, thankfully, did not involve any actual black magic. We talked, laughed, shared stories, and listened to music as we drove through the beautiful mountains of Guatemala.
This time in the car became a moment of reflection for me—a chance to consider the character of our Father and rest in His presence. I was not originally supposed to be on this trip, but a spot unexpectedly opened up. During the drive, the Lord reminded me of Martha and Mary—one who was distracted by striving and work, and the other who sat at the feet of Jesus, recognizing the importance of intimacy with Him.
Throughout the week, we have faced many opportunities for distraction through work. Yet time and time again, the Lord has drawn me back to intimacy—both with Him and with others.
I pray that if you are reading this, you are encouraged to seek first His kingdom and trust His promise that all these things will be added to you.
Grace and Peace,
Gabe Placer
Not a Trip
Category: Student Life