A warm bowl of soup on a cold winter evening will help send some local people to Guatemala this summer to build houses.

First Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge has been involved in mission work in Guatemala for 15 years. It last sent a delegation to the Central American country in 2017. A return trip is planned for July 5-12.

The trip will cost about $2,500 for each person making the journey.

To help offset that cost, the congregation is inviting the community to a soup supper from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the church, 1111 Fifth Ave. N.

The menu is beef vegetable and homemade chicken noodle soup, plus chili, cinnamon rolls and drinks.

Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and younger.

“This trip we will be working with a charitable organization in Guatemala called ImagininGuatemala to build houses,” said Ted Hugghins, a member of the church. “We were first introduced to home building in 2015 when several men, women and youth learned about constructing cinder block houses with roofs, lighting, floor and bathrooms.”

“We mix concrete from powder with shovels and water directly on the asphalt street and shovel into buckets to carry. The concrete is mortar for our block placement.”

The foundation plus eight levels of cinder blocks form the basis for each home, according to Hugghins. Walls made of hard wood and a gabled tin roof are then added.

“Most children are so curious to be around these build sites and we find we make quick friends of the Guatemalan children,” Hugghins said.

The Iowans will live with Guatemalan families. There will be free time to go to stores, restaurants and parks, according to Hugghins.

“We will also attend a local church,” he said. “Seeing how the Guatemala people live their faith and worshipping with them has been a primary part of our experiences on these trips.”

On several previous mission trips, the Iowans worked in a wheelchair factory. The home building became the focus during a 2015 trip.

If You Go

What: Soup supper to support mission trip to Guatemala

When: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: First Presbyterian Church, 1111 Fifth Ave. N.

Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and younger