For nearly three decades, Missionary Ventures has walked alongside a small Christian school tucked high in the mountains of northern Guatemala—a place where steep switchback roads lead not only to breathtaking views, but to faithful educators, eager students, and a community deeply rooted in Christ.

The school, Alfa y Omega in La Libertad, was first built in the late 1990s by a Canadian team hosted through MV missionaries Arlen and Keturah King. What began as a simple act of obedience has endured as a long-term relationship marked by discipleship, education, and mutual encouragement. Today, that legacy continues through MV missionary Teresa Harwood, who has spent recent years mentoring teachers, strengthening English programs, and helping the school grow in both excellence and faith.

Recently, that decades-long partnership took on new meaning when a small team from Carolina Presbyterian Church traveled to Guatemala, hosted by Teresa, and led in part by her parents, Gary and Donna Harwood. It was Teresa’s first time hosting a team, and the visit allowed her home church to see firsthand the ministry she has poured her heart into.

Rather than focusing primarily on construction, the team immersed itself in the life of the school and its connected congregation, Bethel Church. They led ESL classes, hosted programs and game days for children, visited families and the sick for prayer, and spent time building relationships with teachers and community members. Throughout the week, the school and church community extended extraordinary hospitality—preparing meals, opening their homes, and treating the team, in Gary Harwood’s words, “like royalty.”

MV Missionary Teresa Harwood (center) leads a team at Alfa y Omega School in December 2025. 

Alfa y Omega serves students from kindergarten through 10th grade, operating as a private Christian school where elementary students attend in the morning and upper grades in the afternoon. Though resources are limited, the teachers are deeply committed. Teresa works closely with them: training elementary teachers who also teach English, mentoring upper-grade instructors, and helping staff grow in confidence and fluency.

“What makes this school such a joy,” Teresa shared, “is their love for God and other people. They’re eager to learn, eager to be equipped, and incredibly kind.” She describes the journey there as exhausting—narrow roads, steep climbs, and long travel—but says it is always worth it because of the gratitude and hunger she encounters.

The team’s visit also helped advance practical needs. Trip funds are now being used to repair the school building: replacing a leaking tin roof that amplifies sound during heavy rains and repairing walls affected by mold. Local families continue to sell food to raise additional funds, demonstrating their ownership and commitment to the school’s future.

The 1999 team works on building Alfa y Omega School in La Libertad, Guatemala. Photo Credit: Keturah King

Perhaps most exciting, the visit sparked a vision for ongoing connection. The team hopes to build a long-term relationship between their school in North Carolina and Alfa y Omega—an exchange rooted not in charity alone, but in shared faith and mutual growth.

From a school first built by an MV team nearly 30 years ago to a new generation of teachers, students, and partners, Alfa y Omega stands as a picture of what long-term missionary presence can cultivate: deep trust, lasting fruit, and lives shaped by the gospel—one relationship at a time.