HEAD: Coffee on a mission: bringing Guatemalan families out of poverty 

It’s a 14-hour bus ride from the airport in Guatemala City, into treacherous mountains to reach their destination: one of the native villages of the Alta Verapaz region. They bring not only their faith, but also supplies and equipment. They are the missionaries of La Misíon Encontrándome con Cristo, which translates to ‘I am Encountering my Christ’. 

Founded in 2006 by Father Robert –Joel Cruz of the Houma-Thibodeaux diocese, the Catholic Guatemala mission takes its scriptural inspiration from Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you do for these, the least of my brethren, surely, you do for me.” The mission seeks to help these impoverished people improve their quality of life by providing self-sustainable energy sources and educational opportunities to increase their chances to overcome poverty. 

Every summer for ten days, missionaries from Louisiana (including many New Iberia Catholic High students) make the trek to Alta Verapaz, along with others from elsewhere in the US and Canada, and Guatemalan interpreters. The group didn’t go in 2020, but will be making the trip this summer, June 25 through July 4. They always have specific projects in mind; volunteers meet with villagers each November to assess their needs and wants.  

There are usually 28-35 families in each village. Each family grows their own food, and children help out from the time they are able. Boys become farmers, girls fetch water and help with the cooking.  

These are the poorest of the poor, but each family exhibits deep and abiding faith. David Fangue, 10-year volunteer with the mission said, “Each family has an altar set up in their home to pray together. That really struck me. Even with as little as these families have, it is important to them to praise their Creator.” 

The missionaries provide basic needs for the villages such as 200-gallon cisterns and water filtration systems. These improvements minimize the 4-6 hours daily the families spend hauling water. Freeing that time for them opens up business and educational opportunities they wouldn’t realize otherwise.  

Solar power is another improvement brought by the mission. Most homes in the villages operate on candle power. “The families usually cry when the first light is turned on in their homes, that is how grateful they are,” said Fangue.   

Commodes, sinks and wood-burning stoves are also brought in and installed in homes. Corn, beans, rice and non-perishable goods are distributed in the villages. Once these basic needs are met, villagers can see their way to a better standard of living and better education for their children.  

Education was a real concern for Father Cruz. As Fangue puts it, “He realized there must be a way we can make sure these youth get the education they deserve.” Thus, the Educational Scholarship Program (ESP)was begun. Each school year, Encontrándome con Cristo selects young Guatemalan students who aspire to be successful and provide for their communities in the future.  

Once a student is selected for this program, the mission pays for their education in full throughout their scholastic career. Depending on how far a student continues in their studies, scholarships will also provide for housing and meals of students educated away from home.  

Students who take part in this program are also required to join the mission group annually and donate 200 hours of their time to community service, which ensures that this program does not only change the futures of our scholars, but of entire communities.  

This program is especially significant to the lives of indigenous peoples in Guatemala because unlike in the United States, Guatemala does not provide free public education to their people. Currently, there are 59 students in the program, the goal is to serve as many students as apply. Students have become tradesmen, administrators, nurses, teachers. 

Sustainable funding became a top priority for the ESP program, and that is where the rich premium coffee of Guatemala comes in. Fr. Cruz met with local coffee farmers and roasters, and proposed a partnership with them to provide their fine Guatemalan coffee to export and sell, with 100% of profit going to the ESP program. They agreed, and formed Guatemala Mission Coffee.   

The Mission Coffee is now available to purchase, both online and in stores. Caffeine lovers can enjoy premium Guatemalan coffee and rest assured that they are helping change the culture of impoverished people and sending deserving students to school. To buy coffee online, visit 4MissionCoffee.com 

Help the Guatemalan mission to reach other families in need, and expand to other countries bringing pathways out of poverty. For more information about volunteering or to donate to La Misíon Encontrándome con Cristo, visit Encontradomeconcristo.org.