Michael and Rocky Beene have been serving as missionaries in the mountains of Guatemala for over 25 years. They have grown, as a family, to become a part of the local community in Pinalito. A school was started in the village to provide an education for the children. The Beene’s ran into a problem, however, once the students graduated the program, and had no way to provide further education and trade skills. After much time spent praying, God opened up the door and provided funds for land, a building, and admission for the students into a trade school in Zacapa, the closest town at the base of the mountain. In 2007 the Beenes broke ground in Zacapa for the construction of a new dormitory, which would house the students as they attend the trade school. Since that time, several teams have traveled to assist in the building, completing everything from laying formwork and reinforcement, to pouring concrete, to tiling, and painting. The 1st Floor of the dormitory was completed and opened for students in 2008.
Faith in Action Ministries
The Beenes are proceeding with the construction of the 2nd Floor of the dormitory. They need masons to lay block, then layout reinforcing bar and pour the columns and roof slab. They will then need tilers, painters, and skilled trades to install cabinetry, sinks, toilets, showers, and electrical fixtures.
A team traveled to Guatemala in March 2007. They spent their week in the mountain village of Pina Lito, but had a chance to spend a few days at the jobsite in Zacapa. While there, they were surveying the land, and laid out benchmarks and stakes for the foundation and footings of the building.
When the team returned to Guatemala in 2008, they found that the building had already been constructed up to the 1st Floor level, and that crews were already applying stucco and plastering the walls of the rooms. The team spent the week installing floor tile throughout the 1st Floor, and painting the newly plastered walls.