Guatemala · February 2026
CEIVA Impact Report
A week of creative restoration in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Guatemala—where students, volunteers, and local leaders discovered again that every voice matters, every story carries value, and God’s creativity is still making all things new.
Overview
What happened
At CEIVA School, I AM ART created space for students and young adults ages 4–18 to explore creativity through play, mentorship, artistic practice, storytelling, and faith-centered reflection. Together with local leaders, CEIVA staff, and a Mission X team from Grace Christian Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, the week became more than a camp. It became a living picture of creative transformation—where painting, sculpture, collage, theater, screen printing, worship, and community encounters helped participants experience hope, courage, and connection.
The I AM ART Journey
Created. Broken. Restored. Loved.
Each workshop invited students to experience the Gospel through creativity, reflection, prayer, and restoration.
01
I AM ART
Students began by creating something beautiful and recognizing that they, too, are intentionally made with purpose.
02
I AM BROKEN
Artwork was covered, cut, melted, altered, or disrupted — creating space to name pain and brokenness honestly.
03
I AM RESTORED
Students carefully restored what seemed ruined and discovered that beauty could still remain beneath the broken places.
04
I AM LOVED
Through prayer, sharing, and encouragement, participants experienced belonging, connection, and the truth that they are loved.
What We Witnessed
Not just participation. Transformation.
students ages 5–22 through play, creativity, mentorship, and faith-centered activities.
volunteers from Grace Christian Academy High School in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as local leaders and community members in Guatemala.
workshops including Collage, Sculpture, Painting, Theater, and Screen Printing.
art projects affirmed that every voice matters and every story has value, reflecting God’s creativity at work in each individual.
US Team
Grace Christian Academy Mission X Team
This year, a team of ten students and teachers from Grace Christian Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, joined the I AM ART camp as part of their school’s annual Mission X week. Mission X is a special week when the entire high school steps out of their normal routines to serve others through local, domestic, and international mission opportunities.
During their time in Guatemala, the team led workshops, built relationships with students, and supported the camp’s creative activities. Their willingness to serve, share their faith, and engage through art created a meaningful cross-cultural experience that impacted both the CEIVA students and the visiting team members.
Partner + Sustainability
CEIVA School
CEIVA (Centro Educativo Integral Vida Abundante) is a learning center for children that is an oasis of healing and aid in family preservation. CEIVA started as an after-school program and now operates as a one-room schoolhouse, offering biblically based education for children in the village.
CEIVA serves as a vibrant educational community in Guatemala that seeks to nurture students academically, creatively, and spiritually. Through programs like I AM ART, students are given opportunities to explore artistic expression while reflecting on deeper themes of faith, identity, and purpose.
Gracias
San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Guatemala
The I AM ART camp took place in the beautiful town of San Antonio Aguas Calientes, a community known for its rich cultural traditions, vibrant textiles, and strong indigenous heritage. Located near Antigua Guatemala, the town reflects a blend of Guatemalan history and everyday community life.
Hosting the camp here created a meaningful setting where art, culture, and faith intersected. The local environment and welcoming community provided an inspiring backdrop for students and volunteers alike, allowing them to experience creativity while building relationships and deepening their understanding of God’s love across cultures.
Brokenness was not the end of the story.
Five Ways the Story Unfolded
Each workshop carried the same journey in a different form.
Large Group
Where the Story Begins
Each day of I AM ART Camp began with the story of Joseph through engaging storytelling, helping students reflect on the themes of I AM ART.
Theater
Discovering Their Superpowers
Six elementary students at CEIVA discovered they each have a gift during I AM ART Camp.
Collage
From Pieces to Portraits
Students cut their own artwork into pieces and transformed the pieces into life-sized self-portrait collages.
Sculpture
Shaping Hope by Hand
Students built mixed-media sculptures using wire, fabric, and paint while reflecting on the themes.
Painting
Light That Finds Us
Students explored creativity, faith, and personal expression through a hands-on study inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.
Screen Printing
Ink, Fabric, and First Discoveries
Students carefully pulled ink across the screen and lifted it to reveal the tee-shirt design beneath—often reacting with excitement and pride.
Banners
Creativity That Points to the Creator
Throughout the week, large visual banners reminded students of the camp’s themes. Created by Athentikos Program Director Kathlyn Chan and missionary Liz Campbell, the banners illustrated the four ideas explored during the camp: I Am Art, I Am Broken, I Am Restored, and I Am Connected.
Art Show
Celebration
The week of creativity ended with a joyful celebration. Families and community members gathered for an Art Show, where students presented the artwork they had created during I AM ART Camp. For many students, it was their first time sharing their work publicly.
Featured Story
When Creativity Becomes Healing
During a community visit, students met a local artist named Kenny, whose life had been transformed through creativity. After a devastating accident left him with a severe spinal injury, Kenny was introduced to art as part of rehabilitation. What began as therapy became a lifelong passion for mosaic art.
Today, he runs his own studio, creating intricate pieces and sharing his story of faith and perseverance. For the students, his testimony showed that creativity can become more than an activity. It can become a way to process pain, discover purpose, and find hope in difficult circumstances.
Featured Story
Creativity That Sustains a Family
During another community visit, students met a CEIVA family of ten people living together in humble conditions. The family supports itself through the traditional art of weaving, creating textiles that help generate household income. Students witnessed firsthand how creativity can be both a cultural expression and a livelihood.
Summary
A Week Woven Together
From morning storytelling to paint-covered hands, from screens full of fresh ink to banners declaring truth overhead, the camp experience became its own kind of artwork—layer by layer, person by person, moment by moment. Students weren’t just making things. They were discovering that their creativity has purpose.
Gracias
Partners in Creative Restoration
I AM ART is possible because of the generous support of people who believe in the power of creativity and faith to transform lives. Special thanks to these individuals who brought hope, healing, and connection to life at CEIVA ’26 through their financial contributions.
Monthly Supporters:
- Kathlyn Beyer
- Karina Myers
- Kristin Beyer
- Amelia & Scott Moore
- Karinda daBoom
- Christina Posey
- Andrews Lopez
- Tammy Starr
- Bobby Marko
- Jen Tercero
Grace Christian Academy Families of:
- Haleigh Carr
- Gabriella Casias
- Brooklyn Edmonson
- Anna Nicodemus
- Ella O’Dowd
- Abigail Rader
- Culley Filder
Help more students experience restoration through creativity.
Your support helps create spaces where young people can discover identity, healing, connection, and hope.