Equipping the Brave: Fire Gear Sent To Guatemala

March 13th, 2026 Newsletter

Our first shipment to Guatemala in 2026 left our warehouse this Wednesday, and we couldn't be more grateful to share this update with you! Through our trusted partners at Food For The Poor, we were able to deliver critically needed supplies to communities across Guatemala.

In Guatemala and in many countries around the world, fire departments operate under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Limited funding leaves many stations unable to acquire the basic equipment required to fight fires and provide emergency response for their communities. Yet despite these challenges, their firefighters show up anyway.

In many cases, these courageous men and women respond to emergencies wearing nothing more than jeans and a t-shirt. For them, it’s not a choice, but simply the only option they have if they want to protect the people around them. At times there are even situations when the lack of proper gear makes it impossible to help at all.

Karen from Food For The Poor shared this perspective:

"Guatemala has 274 fire stations across the country, and the majority have a constant need for equipment, fire-protective clothing, gloves, hydraulics, oxygen tanks, and more. One captain shared that his department receives just enough funding to cover basic maintenance, utilities, and station essentials, but consistently falls short. Because of the help that comes from donations from organizations like Food For The Poor and Midwest Mission, they wouldn’t be able to do their job.”

This shipment is a direct response to that need, putting real resources into the hands of those who need them most. The shipment contained:

• Fire Equipment

  • Air Tanks

  • Boots

  • Breathing Apparatus

  • Gloves

  • Helmet

  • Jacket

  • Pants

  • Fire Resistant Clothing

• 25 Electric Sewing Machines

• Fabric

• 30 Bikes

• 94 Tarps

• 8 Home Care Beds

• 14 Shower Chairs

• 660 Used Hospital Blankets

• 80,000 Food Handling Gloves

• 2,400 Rice Meal Blessing Bags

Value: $136,791.00

Weight: 20,615 lbs

These supplies will protect the lives of first responders rushing toward danger and the lives of the people they are trying to save. None of it would be possible without you! Your investment in this ministry and your willingness to share it with others creates a ripple of impact that reaches farther than you may ever know and transforms lives everyday.

---

Midwest Mission VBS Curriculum Now Available For Churches

If you or your church is looking for a VBS resource that is crafted to complement Midwest Mission's work in a meaningful way and connects kids to real-world mission work, we have something worth checking out! We've recently released a five-session VBS curriculum called The Helpful Hive, created in partnership with pastors Angela Cunigan, Heather Dorr, and Kasey Vogel to equip churches in inviting kids to discover their God-given role in bringing hope and healing to a broken world.

Rooted in the belief that God loves and cares for all people, this curriculum empowers children to act on that love through kind words, generous giving, and a heart for service. It's a natural extension of our efforts at Midwest Mission in sending tangible resources to people in need both around the world and around the corner.

Inside, you'll find a full range of activities and resources including opening skits, Bible storytime, crafts, games, snacks, a science station, music, coloring pages, and closing conversations. All of this was designed to help VBS directors and church leadership in engaging kids and pointing them toward the heart of mission work. 

We've also put together supplemental resources including branding assets, a Sunday morning sermon, and more to help make your VBS the best it can be. This curriculum exists to lighten the load of your planning and, most importantly, to help the children in your community grow closer to Jesus.

Best of all, it's completely free to download! Head to www.midwestmission.org/vbs to download the curriculum and explore everything we've prepared for you.

---

Churches Needed as Drop-Off Sites for School Supply Drive

Midwest Mission is seeking churches to serve as local Drop-Off Sites for our 2026 Used & New School Supply Drive.

During a recent visit to Honduras, we saw firsthand the urgent need for basic school supplies in public schools. At the same time, in the United States, countless usable notebooks, pencils, and other supplies are discarded at the end of the school year.

We are inviting churches to help bridge that gap.

As a Drop-Off Site, your church would:

• Register as an official collection location

• Share ready-made promotional materials with nearby schools

• Receive collected supplies at the end of the school year

• Deliver donations to a Midwest Mission location, Permanent Collection Site, or Annual Conference Collection

  
  

There is no cost to participate, and all materials are provided. Supplies will be carefully sorted and sent in bulk to Honduras for teachers to distribute directly to students.

This is a simple way to build relationships with local schools, practice faithful stewardship, and show God’s love in a tangible way.

You can learn more, or register to  serve as a Drop-Off Site at midwestmission.org/churchdropoff.

We would be honored to partner with your church in turning leftover supplies into lasting impact.