Holy water

By Dave Bezaire & Susi Havens-Bezaire

Volunteers in water by waterfall

Does swimming at the highest altar in Guatemala qualify as a spiritual experience?

Although Habitat for Humanity volunteers enjoy building houses all across North America, only those who ventured to Livingston, Guatemala in July with the Columbus Global Village Team also spent a Sunday afternoon with their new friends exploring the spectacular Seven Altars waterfall along the Caribbean coast.

Erecting concrete-block houses reinforced with steel to withstand an inevitable earthquake in this small fishing village proved quite a challenge, even for the most knowledgeable volunteers. However, eight days of dedicated effort cut production time in half for two excited Habitat homeowner families, whose lives were enriched with vivid visions of raising their children in the security of their own homes.

Team members, meanwhile, experienced true spiritual transformation as they worked, prayed and played with the wonderfully diverse people of Livingston.

Volunteer sitting on scaffold working on concrete block wall

Does it make you wonder what adventures and friendships you might encounter as a team member?

Visit ColumbusGVTeam.com to see lovely pictures from and from previous missions to and , and to learn more about two upcoming mission trips:

  • in January, 2007 - in response to the Thai government’s estimate that 5,000 to 6,000 families are still homeless due to the December 2004 tsunami.
  • in June, 2007 - in a show of solidarity and hope with the poorest country in South America.

For more information, contact team leader Susi Havens-Bezaire by telephone at or via email at .