Clubhouse Guatemala

The Mission has partnered with Clubhouse Guatemala since 2022 in an attempt to reach outside of our community to serve others in need. While we recognize and minister to the needs inside Sneedville and Hancock County, the opportunity to serve in a foreign country is a key element of our recovery ministry, as it encourages those in recovery to begin the process of looking to serve with no expectation of anything in return. It also creates an opportunity for students in the Youth Enrichment Program to participate in their first mission trip.

The following are ways that The Mission has partnered with Clubhouse Guatemala:

The Mission currently sponsors 4 children in Guatemala. These sponsorships are paid via donations received at our weekly Mission Meetings given directly toward this effort. The sponsorship fees cover school tuition, uniform assistance, entrance to the feeding program, tutoring, and much more.

Those who travel to Guatemala on a mission trip are able to meet these children and their families, bring them gifts, deliver food packs to their homes, share Christmas Cheer Packs with them and their siblings, and truly develop a relationship with them.

The children sponsored by The Mission include:

• David Estuardo
• Perla Adriana Dalilea
• Imer Abel
• Adriana Alexandra

Trips to Guatemala are primarily made during the Summer or around Christmas (frequently the week between Christmas and the New Year holiday). Beginning with the Christmas trip in 2022, a group from The Mission has traveled to the country at least once each year, with plans to continue regular trips in the future.

High school graduates who have participated in the Youth Enrichment Program are eligible to go on these mission trips, with partial scholarships available through The Mission.

Every Christmas, The Mission takes part in the Christmas Cheer Pack collection drive. Similar to the widely known Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, these Cheer Packs include a variety of items tailored to a specific gender and age group. These items are placed in a 2-gallon Ziplock bag, and then the packs are shipped directly to Guatemala and given to the children in the areas served by Clubhouse.

Mission teams throughout the year (especially during the Christmas trips) have the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with children to build relationships, have Gospel conversations, pray with them (and sometimes their siblings / families), and give them these packs as a Christmas gift, often the only celebration they experience for the holiday.

The Youth Enrichment Program small groups at Hancock County High School set a goal to pack at least 50 of these Cheer Packs each year, as one of their service learning projects.

In 2023, The Mission participated in a Shoe Drive for Clubhouse, which contributed over 350 pairs of shoes toward the campaign. These shoes were shipped directly to the ministry in Guatemala and distributed to those in need, including children and adults. The Summer 2023 mission team was able to take part in the distribution during their trip.

In the fall of 2024, The Mission participated in the Guat-A-Run 5K, a virtual fundraiser to support the ministry. Registrations resulted in approximately 4,400 meals being provided to Guatemalans in need, and each registrant received a t-shirt and a wooden participation medal that was hand-painted by the kids in Guatemala.

Be on the lookout for future events like these!