A large group of MCA Upper School students decided to take the long journey to El Zapote, Guatemala for missions week from February 29th to March 6th. The trip was led by the Gray’s, the Chinner’s, Pastor Trey, and the Boyd’s as chaperones. Two of the days were spent as culture days, which consisted of exploring the city and going to a resort on the beach. When asked about her culture experience, junior Maggie George stated, “the memories we made brought all of us so much closer than we could’ve ever expected.” The mission days each included spreading God’s love at the Source of Hope school, building three different homes with brick ovens, making hope baskets for families in need and then going back to the mission house to talk with your small groups and worship. On the third and final day at the school, students threw an annual fiesta to celebrate the strong bonds that have been made in the short week they were together. The joy in the Guatemalans’ faces after being blessed with homes, new friends and small things like food or clothes humbled all of the MCA students. Senior Maddie Gwynn stated this about the impact of the trip, “I went into this mission trip with all of these great expectations of what it was going to be like, but in the end, God shattered my expectations.” This trip was not only a life-changing experience for all of the people in the small village of Zapote, but it also made an impact on the mission team that many have never felt before. The MCA students are grateful to have the opportunity to get to travel overseas to serve those who are of utmost need.