On Christmas Eve, 1986, two Guatemalans named Lisbeth and Gladys went to the trash dump—the poorest, most dangerous place in Guatemala City. Frankly, this was the last place either Lisbeth or Gladys wanted to be. They were simply following up on a request from some friends in the US—to go hand out blankets to the people who lived and scavenged in the dump. The women were shocked by the extreme poverty they found. They returned the next Christmas and then the next. Bible studies, health care and additional classes were started. When Lisbeth and Gladys decided to quit their jobs to grow the ministry, people thought they were crazy. Two women had no business working in the city dump! But, in 1991, Potter’s House—its name based on Jeremiah 18:1-6—became a legal non-profit.

Today, Potter’s House is still completely staffed by Guatemalans and continues to grow—its work fueled by both Guatemalan and international volunteers. An evangelical Christian organization who for nearly 20 years has been serving the scavenger families of the Guatemala City garbage dump. A short flight from Miami or Dallas brings volunteers to help in many ways, including a daily clinic, teaching and tutoring, micro-enterprise training, more.

For 30 years we have been walking alongside poor individuals, families, and communities to develop long-term relationships and community centers that we work to build together. Unlike organizations that simply address economic or physical poverty, Potter’s House seeks to deliver five holistic development programs through our community centers: Family Development, Education, Health and Nutrition, Micro-Enterprise and Community Development. From physical to spiritual to mental transformation, we want to empower the poor across Guatemala to make significant changes in their own lives and their communities.