Since 2011, I’ve had the incredible privilege of leading short-term mission teams to Guatemala. Each year, I return with a deep sense of gratitude for what God is doing in, and through, these experiences – and for the lives that continue to be transformed along the way.
Early on, I felt a clear calling to invite A Beautiful Me to be part of this mission. Executive Director Karen Palka embraced that vision wholeheartedly, going above and beyond to make it possible. She ensured that workshop curriculum, videos, workbooks, and even t-shirt designs were translated into Spanish – removing barriers and opening doors for connection and impact.
Because of that commitment, we were able to bring the A Beautiful Me workshops to 50 girls from the mountain villages of Camotán, Chiquimula.
These young ladies came from both the local community and remote mountain regions. Many live in abject poverty, often in single-parent homes, facing daily challenges most of us can hardly imagine. In this region of Guatemala, education rarely extends beyond sixth grade. Opportunities are limited, and for many, dreaming beyond their current circumstances can feel impossibly out of reach.
And yet, something powerful happened. The message of confidence transcended cultural barriers and proved that this was a global experience that ALL women needed!
These girls leaned in. They listened. They laughed. They began to see themselves differently.
The girls were asking when A Beautiful Me would come back. When we did return the following year, we were met with eager anticipation. That alone spoke volumes – but what happened as a result would become one of the most meaningful examples of measurable impact I’ve ever witnessed.
That second year, a young girl named Karen Rivera joined the workshop. Her older sister had participated the year before, and Karen had been anxiously looking forward to now being old enough to attend herself.
She wholeheartedly embraced the message of self-confidence, true beauty, and inherent worth. She didn’t just hear the words – she believed them. She began to understand that her life had purpose, that her voice mattered, and that she was capable of dreaming beyond what she had always known.
And she did it.
Today, Karen is 21 years old. She has graduated from university with honors. She has traveled to other countries. She is now employed with an engineering company – an opportunity that once may have seemed unimaginable.
But perhaps even more powerful than what she has accomplished is who she has become. Recently, she completed El Camino de Santiago, a 255-kilometer, 13-day walking journey from Portugal to Spain.
On my most recent trip to Guatemala, I had the opportunity to invite Karen Rivera to speak to a group of youth. As she stood before them, she didn’t just share her journey – she shared her heart.
She spoke about the Camino, describing the physical weight of the 20-pound backpack she carried each day. But then she paused and reflected on the unseen burdens she had carried far longer – fear, insecurity, anxiety, and perfectionism.
Step by step, she said, God revealed those hidden weights and gently invited her to release them.
Through that journey, her faith deepened. Her confidence grew. And her understanding of who she is – and whose she is – became clearer than ever.
She spoke about dreams. About courage. About continuing forward, even when the path feels long or uncertain. And she shared the lessons of confidence she learned so many years prior.
As I listened, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Not only for all that young Karen has accomplished, but for the way she is now pouring into others. She has become a voice of encouragement in her own community, a role model for younger girls, and a living reflection of the message she once received.
This is why we do what we do.
Yes, A Beautiful Me made a difference in her life. But even more beautiful is this: that impact did not stop with her. It continues to ripple outward – touching hearts, shaping futures, and inspiring new dreams.
And that… is a measurable outcome.
