Volunteers come from all over the world, are all different ages, stay for varying lengths of time, and enjoy different opportunities while working with us. The one thing they have in common? The life-changing experience of volunteering with The GOD'S CHILD Project!

Dale Rodgers

The garden will teach Scheel Center students life skills, like growing healthy food. He enjoyed working with students and staff.  He likes walking up Cerro de la Cruz and traveling to Monterrico and Tikal.

She began as a regular volunteer but eventually became the temporary volunteer coordinator at Casa Jackson. Nora came to Antigua to study and visited Casa Jackson, knowing immediately she wanted to volunteer there. She loves watching the children grow into themselves as their health improves. People considering working in Casa Jackson, she says, should prepare to be shocked but also says you adjust surprisingly quickly. Working at the Project has opened Nora up to different aspects of life and she hopes to use what she learned in the future as a nurse or working with children who have disabilities. Nora's favorite place to hang out in Antigua is Parque Central, and when she was here long-term, she worked at La Esquina.

Nora Magnusen

Ron Fortin

Ron became the Executive Director of the Scheel Center six months ago. He left his highly-paid IT consultant job in Texas following a fateful three-day visit to Antigua in September 2009. Ron is a man who, in his own words, has “had many lives.” After high school, he entered the Marine Corps, where he spent four years. Afterwards, he studied finance, marketing and entrepreneurial studies at Trinity University.

He originally came to Guatemala for a weekend to visit an old friend, Brandon, who was Director of the Scheel Center at the time. At the end of that brief encounter, Brandon and Ron were hanging out in Cafe Condensa when Brandon told Ron that he felt like God was telling him to tell Ron to quit his job and move to Antigua to take over as director of the Scheel Center. Flattered, Ron laughingly dismissed the idea and flew home, where he had a great career, a fantastic living situation and a strong circle of friends. Over the period of the next few months, however, a number of events conspired to make Ron reconsider the idea of moving to Guatemala, culminating in a church mass where the focus was a passage in Luke about a rich man asking Jesus how he could get into heaven. The whole teaching revolved around the idea of service and trust- that one shouldn't be afraid to take a leap of faith. With that, Ron knew where he needed to be.

On December 27, 2009, Ron arrived in Antigua, knowing very little Spanish but strong in the understanding that he was here for a purpose.

Glenn, 54, is CEO of the California Earthquake Authority, a NGO providing affordable earthquake insurance to the citizens of California. Glenn is from North Dakota but lives in Sacramento, Calif. He booked a flight to El Salvador when he heard of the disaster, wanting to help Ciudad Vieja. It's not an exaggeration to say Glenn, a member of The GOD’S CHILD Project’s board of directors, outworked men half his age in a truly Herculean demonstration of strength, stamina, and determination. “At first it was like moving a mountain, but its encouraging seeing progress every day,” he said. Glenn enjoyed working and joking around with locals. At one point, his shovel broke and five guys grabbed the pieces from him and fixed it in no time. Glenn has visited Antigua five times, and considers The GOD’S CHILD Project staff his family. His favorite spot in Antigua is Reilly's Irish Pub. 

Astrid, from Germany, is in Antigua with her sister, Miriam. She just celebrated her 27th birthday here! Back home, Astrid is an orthopaedic nurse but needed a break from work, so she took unpaid leave to come to Guatemala. She enjoys the freedom and flexibility of working in Casa Jackson Malnutrition Center, where she says you can really play with and spend time with the kids. This is a refreshing change for her, as at home she doesn't have a chance to interact with her patients. She wishes her Spanish was better in order to communicate better with parents and nurses at Casa Jackson, to find out more about each child. Astrid likes Tuesday at Mono Loco (ladies night... not for the faint-hearted!) and Thursday at La Sala. For a more relaxed beverage and chat, you'll find her in Cafe NoSe ...just don't ask for a mojito!

Beatrice, 19, comes from “the green heart of Germany,” a heavily forested area. At home, she spends a lot of time walking, exploring and sitting in the sun, reading. Chances are if she's outside, she's happy. She has spent two months in Guatemala, the first learning Spanish. When Beatrice isn't hanging out in Antigua's famous traveller’s haunt, The Rainbow Cafe - where she enjoys Wednesday’s open mic night- she spends her time working predominantly in Casa Jackson Malnutrition Center. Although she had never volunteered in the past, and only traveled in Europe prior to visiting Guatemala, she has enjoyed her experience. Her only piece of advice is to be flexible and open to anything. She has had fun volunteering… apart from the days when the babies decide to throw up on her (this comment was preceded by a baby throwing up on her). When she leaves, Beatrice is headed to Poland to learn Polish, before going back to Germany to pursue a career in advertising or journalism.

Joy, 19, is from North Dakota and works at Casa Jackson Malnutrition Center, but also helps at Friday food distributions and Albergue Santa Madre homeless shelter. She visited a family that was receiving a house through the Institute for Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing Persons (ITEMP). Her most memorable moments were her interactions with the daughters of this family. She was struck that neither girl smiled the entire time, but then gave all the volunteers hugs after the home dedication ceremony. “I like how the kids are a part of the process. They don’t just receive help, but also help others and- more importantly- have the chance to help themselves,” Joy said. Her favorite spot in Antigua is Cafe No Se because back home there is a bar named I Don’t Know. She also liked riding the zip line at Finca Filadelfia. If you would like to ask Joy about her experience, e-mail her at: joyluhurt@gmail.com

Patrick, 56, is an ex-NATO officer from Florida. Nearly a year ago, he came to Guatemala for a two-week vacation. When he returned home, he sold his business and his house. He moved to Antigua, a place he says he has to be, where he has been living for eight months. As a Christian, Patrick says he has to help make a real difference and that means being where people have the most need. He’s found his niche working at Casa Jackson Malnutrition Center, especially preparing meals for the children. Patrick is no stranger to living abroad, having spent 12 years overseas in the Army working as an evaluator for combat living. He’s lived everywhere from Saudi Arabia to Greece to a tiny island in the middle of the Bering Sea! He has no plans to head back to the US anytime soon.