Adventurer’s Log: The Journey, the Jungle, the Coffee that Tells a Story
I didn’t think of myself as much of an adventurer! My idea of a exotic expedition was going to the city zoo. So when my girlfriend excitedly asked me to go on a mission trip to Guatemala with her and a team… I was hesitant! I had never traveled outside of the country and though ministering to less fortunate people sounded like a noble cause, I would prefer to minister to people in the states. Nevertheless, in a few weeks time, I was boarding a plane with my girlfriend and a group of about 10 others to head to the bush of Guatemala!
Arrival & Acclimation
The first thing I remember was the heat. Not the suffocating kind, but the thick, humid air that carried the scent of earth, street food, and rain. Our first stop was a three story stucco building with a rooftop terrace. This would be our refuge for the first few days before leaving the city and traveling into the more rural areas. Settling into bunkbeds that first night, one fear was in my mind. “What if I lose my passport and get stranded here!
But there was little time to dwell on that as rest from an exhausting day pulled me into a deep sleep! The next morning, we began our day with visited a community living in the city dump. We observed with great sadness, people surviving by scavenging and recycling what they could find. It was heartbreaking. It was humbling. And it was just the beginning.
Into the Jungle
Our next stop: a remote outpost, our launchpad for reaching villages deep in the Guatemalan jungle. After an evening of storytelling and prayer, we hit the bunks, knowing tomorrow promised adventure.
Morning came early. Piling into vehicles—some inside, some in the back of a truck—we set off. At first, the roads were paved. Then gravel. Then dirt. Then… nothing but twisting trails barely wide enough for the truck, cutting through dense jungle. We ducked under low branches, jolted over rocks, and splashed through streams. The driver honked constantly—not out of anger, but as a way of saying hello to passersby. Civilization seemed to fade away as we were swallowed by a dense jungle.
When we finally arrived, it was like stepping into another world. Small homes clung to the hillsides, nearly invisible among the trees. Children ran barefoot, and almost everyone carried a machete—both a tool and a means of protection. And then, amid it all, sat a small barn with a coffee roaster humming inside.
The Coffee That Tells a Story
The missionaries had introduced coffee roasting as a way for the villagers to earn income. Sack by sack, beans were carefully roasted and bagged, ready to be transported back down the treacherous roads for sale. I had never thought much about coffee before. It was just something I drank to stay awake. But watching this process—seeing the work, the craftsmanship, the pride—gave me a whole new understanding. Coffee wasn’t just a drink. It was a story—one of labor, culture, and community.
That day, we spent hours visiting families, sharing the Gospel, and handing out care packages. But as evening approached, the sky darkened, and the unexpected happened—rain.
The Rainstorm Ride
We scrambled back into the truck, now loaded with sacks of freshly roasted coffee. And then it poured. I mean torrential. Sheets of rain slammed against us as we fought to keep the coffee dry under a flimsy tarp. We were soaked, cold, and wildly uncomfortable. And yet, it was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life. We laughed at the bizarre circumstances; hanging on for dear life, trying (and failing) to keep dry. That night, finally rid of my damp clothes back at the outpost, I felt alive and energized about this trip in a way I hadn’t expected.
The Days That Followed
Over the next days, we worked on a new church construction, poured concrete pads for future wells, and spent nights on the rooftop, sharing stories, devotionals, worshiping and reflecting under the open sky. And because no adventure is complete without an adrenaline rush; we found ourselves jumping off the edge of a jungle waterfall into the crystal clear pool below! One by one, we leaped, cheering each other on, as the surprise of free fall would give way to the shocking embrace of cool water.
A Journey That Changed Me
People often wonder if short-term missions truly make a difference. But here’s what I know: sometimes the greatest impact isn’t just what you give, but what you receive. Adventure. Perspective. A deeper appreciation for life beyond your own. And in my case—an understanding of the hands, hearts, and history behind every cup of coffee.
That trip planted a seed, and years later, here we are—telling the stories of coffee and the people who cultivate it.
So today, check out some of Destination Coffee's most exotic single origin coffees. Coffees that were inspired by adventure, mission, and incredible people!
Here’s to adventure—both in travel and in every sip.
