Endurance in Action: Lessons from the Highlands of Guatemala
Endurance can look different depending on the perspective you're taking.
I just returned from a mission trip to the highlands of Guatemala with my mom’s church—helping to build a community kitchen. Along the way, I encountered some powerful examples of what endurance truly means.
🧓 Endurance is sticking with it for the long haul.
This was my mom’s 26th year serving in these communities and her 5th time leading the trip. She turns 80 later this year. Passion + persistence = powerful legacy
🌉 Endurance is pushing past fear.
Years ago in Costa Rica, fear got the best of me on a zipline—I braked too hard and got stuck mid-air. This time, I was determined to do it differently. What I hadn’t accounted for was the grueling uphill hike to get there. It almost made me turn back. I didn’t. I zipped. I flew. I conquered.
🧺 Endurance is doing what must be done—even when it’s uncomfortable.
By 5:30 AM, in 45-degree weather, women gathered at the outdoor community wash area. Day after day. No shortcuts. Just commitment.
🛠️ Endurance is physical grit—when your body wants to quit.
One of our jobs was hauling wheelbarrows of sand and rocks down one hill and up another, over dusty, packed dirt. No one kept count, but we each did at least 10–20 runs. We stopped when our backs and legs began to give out. But we kept going until then—because the work mattered.
🧵 Endurance is the patience to create something meaningful.
Weaving is the livelihood for many women in this community. The intricate patterns they create take up to 45 days to complete. No shortcuts. Just patience, precision, and pride.
🗣️ Endurance is the leadership to empower others over decades.
When the work started in 1996, the women weren’t in visible leadership roles. This year, many stood to introduce themselves and speak at our gatherings. In a community where silence once felt safer, this is no small shift. This is decades of quiet, persistent leadership bearing fruit.
I’m sure there were even more moments I missed—but these gave me a deeper appreciation for how endurance shows up in different ways.
If you’re curious about the work being done in these communities or want to support it, check out the Highland Support Project.
I’m heading home reenergized—refueled by time with purpose-driven people, physical labor that reminded me of my strength, and the thrill of finally conquering my fear of ziplining.
Now, I’m ready to get back to the work I love—helping leaders build their own endurance to create lasting impact.
So, I’ll leave you with this: What does endurance look like for you today?
Have you checked out all of the free resources available recently? You can check them out here.