Sigs Serve Others in Highlands of Guatemala

Fifteen undergraduate brothers took part in a mission trip over winter break to Antigua, Guatemala, just outside of the capital, Guatemala City. Partnering with the International Esperanza Project (IEP) the Sigs performed service work for families in the community of Chimaltenango, Guatemala. The six-day trip included multiple days of hands-on mission work, as well as opportunities for team building, Bible study, personal growth, and a climb up Volcán San Pedro, a nearly 10,000-foot stratovolcano in Southern Guatemala. The experience strengthened our brotherhood, reinforced shared values, and enabled our brothers to serve others while growing spiritually and personally.

Sigs in Guatemala Front Row L-R: Tobey Uhm, Nathan Blied, Austin Brooks, Patrick McFerson, Josh Zhang, and Jack Steadham Back Row L-R: Jay Andrew ’98, Phillip Lamport ’97, Daniel Queroz, Owen Smith, Jack Shertzer, Peyton Ford, Jacob Kleeman, James Neff, Rob Tully, Hayden Garten, and Dillon Glass.

Alumni Host Visit to Their Home Country

Sigs assembly wood burning stoves in Guatemala.

Hosted by Delta Delta alumni Phillip Lamport ’97 and Manny Ayau ‘02, who both live in Guatemala, and accompanied by Jay Andrew ’98, the undergrads spent time helping in the local communities, while also getting a chance to experience the local culture and see some of its beautiful countryside. Brother Lamport sought through this trip to add a meaningful experience that complemented what the brothers learned in pledgeship — experiences that foster responsibility, perspective, and brotherhood in a different setting.

Sigs Lend a Hand to Help Guatemalan Families

Prior to departing West Lafayette the undergrads, led by Nathan Blied ’27, spent time creating a vision for the trip and how to prepare for the journey.  Upon arrival all the Sigs spent the first day learning how to put together wood burning stoves that were much more efficient than cooking over an open flame. Over the next two days they assembled and installed 48 stoves and 30+ water filters in two separate communities. In these communities, homes were without plumbing, HVAC, and often did not have electricity. Some of the homes were constructed of mud and sticks and the majority had dirt floors. Despite this, the group witnessed the immense joy of the locals who were grateful for everything and had a strong faith in God.

Sigs with Guatemalan family with new stove installed.

Phil remarked, “I believe that building high-efficiency wood-burning stoves for families in the highlands of Guatemala carries significant and lasting benefits. The families who receive the stoves no longer have to spend as much time gathering firewood, and their homes are no longer filled with smoke from open fires, which has a real impact on their health. At the same time, the undergrads get to see firsthand what life is like in rural Guatemala—places with dirt roads and no running water—yet places where people go about their day with dignity and warmth. Personally, visiting these communities gives me a profound sense of gratitude and reinforces how meaningful it can be to apply our time and effort in a way that genuinely improves someone else’s daily life.”

A Chance to See Some of the Country

After two days of assembling the stoves and water purification tanks, the group headed to lake Atitlan where they were able to swim in the lake, spend time at Phils home, and then climb the 10,000 ft San Padre Volcano. The hike up the volcano started at 5:30 am and took roughly four hours to reach the summit. Along the trail and at the peak, the brothers were able to see more of Guatemala’s natural beauty and share in the bonding experience that came with the difficult journey.

Sigs near top of the San Padre Volcano.

“The hike up San Pedro Volcano was a good challenge for a lot of us”, wrote Phil, “we crossed the lake by boat just before dawn, traveling from my house on the lake to the town of San Pedro. We started our hike at the town dock and proceeded to climb over 4,800 very steep feet over the next four hours. The more senior Sigs (Jay Andrew ‘98, Manny Ayau ‘02, and myself) managed not to embarrass ourselves, arriving at the summit just a few minutes after the undergrads. Once there, we were rewarded with an incredible view of the lake and the other two volcanoes that surround it.”

The brothers spent the last day of their trip swimming in the cool waters of Lake Atitlán where they found a couple of challenging spots for cliff diving into the lake. After lunch, the Sigs headed back to Antigua for one last night in the bustling town before the trip came to an end.

Reflections on the Trip

Brother Lamport stated, “I must say that I am incredibly happy with the result of this trip. Several of the undergrads came up to me during the trip to tell me what an amazing experience it had been for them. One even said it was the best thing he had done in his life.”

Guatemalan families show their appreciation to all the Sigs who took part in this mission trip.

“I was also very impressed with the demeanor of the active gentlemen throughout the trip. They were consistently respectful of the locals and willing to help wherever we went. I hosted them at my house on the lake for a couple of meals, and they were thoughtful and respectful of my home as well. I am genuinely impressed by their level of maturity and by the men they are becoming,” so noted Phil.

“Looking back on the experience,” concluded Phil, “I am convinced that trips like this can play a meaningful role in the life of the chapter. They are not meant to replace any part of the active experience, but rather to complement it by offering a shared challenge, a broader perspective, and time together away from campus. If this trip helped strengthen bonds among the actives and left them with a deeper sense of gratitude and responsibility, then it accomplished exactly what I had hoped for—and I believe it is something worth continuing in the years to come.”

Participants:  James Neff ’26, Dillion Glass ’26, Nathan Blied ’27, Josh Zhang ’27, Tobey Uhm ’27, and from the Class of 28: Austin Brooks, Hayden Garten, Jack Steadham, Jacob Kleeman, Patrick McFerson, Peyton Ford, Jack Shertzer, Owen Smith, Rob Tully and Daniel Queroz.