Missouri on a Mission

14/06/2026

After our volunteers return home they are often asked, "How can we help these people in the villages you wired?" We didn't have an answer. The villages are so remote that there is no regular mail service or anywhere to ship donations. However there is a group that is doing wonderful things in Guatemala. It's called Q’eqchi' Partners. Here is their mission statement:

The Q’eqchi' Partners, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed to improve the quality of life of the Maya Q’eqchi' people in Guatemala. Our purpose is to assist in the preservation of the Maya Q’eqchi' heritage, language, rights, and well-being. We support programs that are designed to help them develop the skills, competencies, and attitudes of self-reliance needed for them to develop sustainable solutions to overcome the centuries of extreme poverty they have endured.

The Q’eqchi' Partners, Inc. supports efforts that address health and education inequalities in the region: unacceptably high infant and maternal deaths; chronic malnutrition; more than two million children in rural areas unable to attend school; and lack of access to clean drinking water, decent housing, and sanitary facilities.

Your donations support projects such as providing clean drinking water, sanitary toilets, health care and improved housing. Visit https://qpworks.org to see how you can help.

A Guidestar Platinum Seal non-profit improving the quality of life of rural Q'eqchi' Mayans in Guatemala.

04/05/2026

Our Jamaica volunteers were honored recently at the Missouri state Capitol during Lineworker Appreciation Day. They were all presented with resolutions recognizing their efforts by both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate.

Earlier this week, we honored the dedication and impact of our electric cooperative linemen at the Missouri State Capitol for . ⚡️

Lineworkers who volunteered to travel to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa this past winter were recognized on the House and Senate floors for their efforts to restore power and support communities in need.

01/04/2026

Our Jamaican Restoration is getting a lot of attention. The latest is a podcast from the MissouriNet:

When storms knock out power here in Missouri, crews roll out with the tools and training to get the lights back on. What happens when those same crews travel thousands of miles away to places where the challenges are bigger, the conditions are tougher, and the need is just as urgent? Show Me Today t...

10/03/2026

Our volunteers are in the news. https://www.newstribune.com/news/2026/mar/09/tebetts-lineman-eager-to-help-hurricane-victims/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_News_Tribune&fbclid=IwdGRjcAQc1UFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe4RcCqSjp_p_rMhunNoK9IG7VVeGTy8ER60iyWWiJzfTszrFNNn-OQInSODM_aem_BTbBlyCUaKDD5SgiiDcNPg

An email from Missouri on a Mission landed in Three Rivers Electric's inbox with a sense of urgency: Jamaica's power grid had been crippled after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island in late October 2025, toppling and destroying miles of power lines.

06/03/2026

Guatemala and Jamaica team volunteer Joe Lay talks about his experiences on Lewis County REC's Co-op Talk podcast. Tune in and hear what it's like to turn the lights on for those in need.

Be sure to check out CO-OP Talk this month. Travis' guest is Joe Lay who discusses the mission trips that he has been on bringing electricity to other parts of the world. Here is the link to CO-OP Talk. https://lewiscountyrec.org/march-2026

03/03/2026

Thanks to U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt for recognizing the volunteer efforts of our Jamaica team. His remarks were read on the Senate floor and entered into the Congressional Record.

24/02/2026

Here's a look back at our Jamaica project:

Join us as we follow linemen from Missouri's electric cooperatives who helped restore power in hurricane-ravaged Jamaica.

24/02/2026

Want to join the effort to restore power in Jamaica? Here’s how

NRECA International is assembling one final volunteer crew to support Jamaica Power Service after Hurricane Melissa. We’re seeking Journeyman Linemen Class A from our US cooperative members to travel April 6–24, 2026.

Interested? Email [email protected] with your experience, co-op, and past volunteer work.
Please ensure you have a valid passport. Co-ops are asked to contribute $2,500 toward travel costs.

22/02/2026

Check out the March issue of Rural Missouri magazine with a story on the effort to restore power in Jamaica. Shout out to cover model Colton Stickferd from Black River Electric Cooperative.

Devoted to the rural way of life

11/02/2026

Missouri on a Mission for kids! Thanks to the talented co-op communicators at Co-Mo Connect, our International Program is part of a new book for kids called "Bringing Power to the World." Kids can join Lineman Larry and Kilowatt Katie as they show how electric cooperative lineworkers volunteer their skills to help communities around the globe gain access to electricity for the first time. It features photos from previous international projects. This story helps young readers understand how electricity changes lives and how service, teamwork, and caring for others can make a powerful difference. Check out this and other books in the series here: https://www.catandduck.org