High School, university, church, community groups, and individuals often come to visit the San Lucas Mission to volunteer and learn about the efforts in San Lucas, and participate in the cross-cultural experience the Mission offers. Visitors may spend most of their time working at construction sites, but the focus of a short-term trip to the Mission is to learn, understand and appreciate the local culture.

Through working alongside Guatemalans, hearing talks from community members, and observing the goings-on of the area, visitors can learn about the richness of Maya culture, the work of the Mission, and life in Guatemala. Although a week or two may only offer a glimpse into a different world, there is much to be learned about the turbulent and complex history of Guatemala, the Maya people, and the community development efforts of the Mission.

Individual visitors may occasionally want to spend more than 1-2 weeks at the Mission, but not make a commitment to be a Long-term Volunteer. These individuals should fill out an individual application form, but the details of their visit would have to be worked out directly with the Director of the Visitor Program.

The experience of a long-term volunteer at the San Lucas Mission is focused on learning. Long-term volunteers are expected to make a commitment for two months or more. In working alongside Guatemalans and accompanying them in their daily activities, volunteers can learn about the richness of Mayan culture, the work of the Mission, and life in Guatemala.

Volunteers come to be a part of mission projects, form relationships in the community and learn about the community development efforts of the San Lucas Mission. Long-term volunteers are also responsible for interpreting the work of the Mission for visiting groups, as well as doing literal interpretation work for those who don’t speak Spanish. In being a part of this cross-cultural exchange, we hope that volunteers become more open, aware, and educated global citizens.

There are many medical and surgical groups that come to visit the San Lucas Mission to volunteer, learn about the efforts in San Lucas, and participate in the cross-cultural experience the Mission offers. Medical groups spend most of their time working in outlying communities in cooperation with the Health Promoters, while surgical groups are based in the clinic.

Through working alongside Guatemalans, receiving talks from community members, and observing the local culture, group members can learn about the efforts of the Mission clinic and the rural healthcare program, as well as the situation of healthcare in Guatemala.

Visitors have been an integral part of the Mission since its inception. There is simply no substitute for seeing the work of the Mission first-hand.

In 2018, Friends of San Lucas began designing trips to give participants opportunities to take a closer look at the workings of the Mission. Participants spend more time learning about Guatemalan culture and mission programs. They meet with program directors as they share hopes and dreams for their programs. These trips are designed for people who have been to the Mission before as well as total newcomers.

We call these Mission Immersion Trips and invite you to consider coming on one.