Healing begins with a friendship

At Ánimo, we walk alongside men in Guatemala—helping them find freedom from addiction through discipleship, community, and meaningful work.

Ánimo!

It’s the Spanish word for encouragement! People say it to each other as if to say, take heart! You can do this! We love the word because it describes exactly what we want to give the people we work with! Everyone needs someone who believes in them wholeheartedly. We’ve discovered that being a true friend can change someones life dramatically.

Ánimo Initiatives

  • Street Ministry

    In the streets of Panajachel, we meet men and women trapped in cycles of addiction with the simple gift of friendship and hope. Through prayer, food, and conversation, we remind them they are not forgotten and invite them into a path of healing — even offering a safe place in a rehab facility for those who are ready to change

  • Rehabilitation

    Right now, when men want to join our program, we first help them complete a stay in one of the local rehab centers. Our dream is to purchase a 14-acre farm in Tzununa where we can begin offering a different kind of rehab — one rooted in faith, friendship, and the healing power of working the land — before men continue their journey in our Ánimo halfway house.

  • The Ánimo House

    In Panajachel, we operate a men’s halfway house for those exiting rehab—a safe place where men can rebuild their lives, find accountability, and walk in friendship as they reintegrate into daily life. The men participate in therapy sessions 3 days a week and hold each other to daily accountability

  • Coffee Roasting

    Our coffee roasting ministry provides men in recovery with hands-on skills, purposeful work, and a way to meet their daily needs—keeping their minds engaged and their hands busy while they learn to provide for themselves and the house. We sell locally in Guatemala and are exploring shipping to the United States

  • Discipleship

    Our discipleship process centers on living in community, with three weekly therapy sessions led by Victor that combine scripture, worship, sharing, accountability, and 12-step principles, along with a weekly men’s Bible study and Sunday worship together as a family.

“When I studied at Asbury Seminary, a quote on every light post challenged us to attempt something so big that unless God intervened, it was bound to fail. For us, the Ánimo Farm in Tzununa is that attempt. The cost feels impossible, but even greater is the vision: to change the story of addiction in Guatemala. This farm is more than land—it’s a place where men can encounter God’s healing, uproot brokenness, and plant new life. As they recover, work the soil, and grow in faith, they will sow hope for their families, communities, and generations to come. Our dream is not only freedom from addiction, but a legacy of restoration that ripples outward for years.”

“Attempt something so big that unless God intervenes, it’s bound to fail.”

-Jamie Buckingham

Ánimo Stories

It all started with befriending a blind man named Victor.

We asked a simple question, “How can we help you?” Victor said, “I need new pants and some friends”. So we committed to being good friends to Victor and it changed everything!

Victor now can see, walk, and has his own bracelet business. Not only that he is running a half-way house for men in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse.

A need for a house of Encouragement

God continues to bring men into our lives who need hope and healing. The video to the right shares the stories of the first three men we committed to walk with through the ups and downs of recovery. Because of that commitment, we provide them with a safe home as they rebuild their lives and find work. Three times a week, Victor leads Bible study and worship in the house, creating space for discipleship, encouragement, and growth in faith.