Red Knights Build Hope in Guatemala

Written by Marketing & Communications Intern Grace Soderling '26

For most, the first few weeks of summer mean rest and recharge from the previous school year. However, for 36 Red Knights, it meant boarding a plane to Guatemala, trading comfort for construction and making a lasting impact to those in need through the God’s Child Project (GCP). 

Founded in 1991, the GCP is a nonprofit organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through education, health care, and community support. In Guatemala, GCP serves thousands of children and families each year offering shelter, schooling, medical care, and social services to those most in need. Rather than offering handouts, the program emphasizes long-term empowerment, encouraging children and families to invest in their own futures through education and hard work. For many, it’s a life-changing opportunity, and one that Red Knights got to witness first hand. 

From June 26-July 1, students resided in Antigua, fully immersing themselves in the culture, history, and Spanish language all while building homes and making a meaningful contribution to the community. This year's trip is the ninth annual service learning mission trip to Guatemala organized and led by Assistant Principal, Matthew McMerty-Brummer, accompanied by BSM faculty, Tim Frye, Mary Seppela, and Annie Smith. The trip is in collaboration with the Dreamer Center, the Central American operational base for GCP.

BSM students balanced hard work with heartfelt connections constructing four homes and four outdoor kitchens while also spending meaningful time with the families who would soon call them their own. 

Amelia Salmon ‘26, one of the students on the trip, shared that the group stayed directly with the families they were serving—an experience that made the work all the more personal. Her host family included a mother and her one-year-old daughter, who welcomed the students into their home with warmth and hospitality. Each day began and ended with home-cooked meals, offering not only authentic Guatemalan flavors but also a deeper glimpse into daily life. “It was really special to share meals and conversation with the people we were building for,” Salmon noted. “It made the whole experience feel more real and meaningful.”

Salmon served as a language interpreter (each of the four groups had at least one) on the trip which allowed her to build a deeper relationship with her host family. Despite seeming to live worlds apart, Salmon explained that sharing a language made it easier to connect on a personal level and let conversations flow more naturally.

Even students who weren’t fluent in Spanish were able to find meaningful ways to connect with their host families. “Honestly, there wasn’t a big gap,” said GiGi McMahon ‘26, a non-Spanish speaker. “With a translator in each group, we were still able to communicate and form bonds.”

Another student, Cade Hall '26, reflected on one of the most emotional moments of the trip: the day his group handed over the finished home to their host family. The group gathered together inside the newly constructed house for a final moment of gratitude and reflection. They huddled into the newly built house and the students gave the host family a few words of appreciation for letting them help them improve their lives. 

The mom of the family, who had been more reserved during the building process (unlike the rest of the family who often talked and played with the students) stepped forward and began to speak. The mom thanked the students for giving her kids a safe place to live and the opportunity to finally have a place to call their own. As her eyes began to fill with tears, Hall described that “you could just see on her face how much this whole process meant to their family.” After saying their goodbyes, the group walked away with full hearts, carrying the kind of gratitude and perspective that only comes from serving others.

When students weren’t hard at work mixing concrete, hammering nails, or hauling supplies, they stayed busy through excursions that allowed them to experience Guatemala’s culture and beauty firsthand. Highlights included a visit to the Hill of the Cross, exploring the ancient Mayan ruins of Iximché, attending Mass in the city of Panajachel, and hiking the trails of Pacaya Volcano National Park.

Through their time in Guatemala, these 36 Red Knights did more than build houses. They built hope, community, and connection. Each moment of service, each shared meal, and each conversation helped lay the foundation for something much greater than walls and roofs. In choosing to give the first days of their summer to others, these students lived out their faith in action, helping to build God’s Kingdom not just with their hands, but with their hearts.

This trip was established by members of the BSM world language department in 2015 under the leadership of department chair Megan Hansen and in partnership with GCP. Since then, a total of 317 BSM students and faculty have participated in the mission trips and have built 40 homes. For more information about how to get involved in next year’s trip, contact Matthew McMerty-Brummer.