2025 Mission to Guatemala – February 15th – February 24th
As usual, we will take a red-eye flight on Friday, February 15th, and return on Monday, February 24th.
The 2025 Mission will occur in San Mateo, Quetzaltenango, a city in Guatemala’s western highlands, 7,656 feet (2,334 meters) above sea level, near the Santa María volcano. The temperature can drop below freezing during the dry season at this high elevation. The city is connected to Guatemala City, which is 70 miles (110 km) to the east, by paved highway and air routes. Quetzaltenango has a population of 225,000 and serves as a center for trade between the coast and the highlands. It is also a hub for textile factories, mills, and breweries. The city has preserved much of its Neoclassical architecture and is commonly referred to by its shorter nickname, Xela, which comes from the old Mayan name for the city, Xelaju, and is pronounced “sheh-la.”
