Guatemala City, Guatemala
METRO BIG BAND
November 9 - 17, 2023
We had an amazing time in Guatemala with Metro Big Band. This is always one of our favorite places to visit, particularly because of how warm and welcoming the people are. It was a fast trip with 11 concerts in 7 days and several master classes with various band programs.
Our first concert was in Antigua at Patio de la Primera Restaurant. It’s a gorgeous restaurant with outdoor seating. They were gracious to feed us a delicious meal after the concert.
We also got to visit the Central American Theological Seminary, which was a new place for us. There’s 140 students in the seminary that are training for ministry. We did master classes with kids in the band program and encouraged the students and faculty through music and testimony.
Sunday morning we were at First Presbyterian Church, which is celebrating over 100 years in existence. We come here every year, so we were excited to see everyone again. Hearing the congregation singing “How Great Thou Art” was a moment we will never forget.
Monday we went to the Fundaninos Orphanage. It was so good to be with them again after first meeting them in 2021. After we finished the master classes, we played several games together outside. The laughter of children never gets old. We finished the day with both groups playing a concert for each other. We’re looking forward to seeing them again in December.
Another new place for us to visit was the Military School of Music. The band is comprised of 85 teenagers that live on the base and are being trained as military police. The colonel told us that they start every day with a word of prayer. Our participants also brought 14 instruments to donate to their program.
Wednesday we got to visit the Christian Academy of Guatemala, which is an English speaking school primarily for missionary kids. Last year we donated 30 instruments to their band program, so it was great to see the kids using them this year. We had a great time teaching master classes to the students and joining them for their band rehearsal.
We capped the project off with an evangelistic concert at Nazareth Norte Church. They were celebrating 30 years in their sanctuary that was designed by their pastor. It was a sweet time of worship and the Holy Spirit was felt by all. Afterwards they fed us a delicious authentic Guatemalan meal that their team prepared.