Experiences
The February 2001 travel group - five pastors, six lay people, two nurses, and Synod of the Sun Executive, Judy Fletcher - spent nine days in Guatemala. They toured the new quarters for the Diaconia of the National Presbyterian Church of Guatemala, worshipped and participated in the dedication of the newly reconstructed sanctuary of the Gilgal Presbyterian Church in La Ceiba, and visited the Mayan villages of Tzampoj and Chuisajcava where the communities held
special memorial services honoring the memory of Rev. Carl Siegenthaler.In addition to visiting the Mayan villages in the highlands, the tour visited a Diaconia work project in the coastal areas where Hurricane Mitch devastated so many homes and did so much damage. The Diaconia, funds permitting, has plans to construct 19 homes for people whose homes were destroyed by the flooding. To date, they have constructed six homes with 13 remaining to be built.
The group also participated in the Presbytery meeting of Occidente Presbytery in which a group of dissident pastors were welcomed back into the fellowship of the Church following eight years of isolation when they left the Presbytery to form their own synod.
In addition to the wonderful fellowship of the Mayan people, one memory which will last a long while is that of the brilliance of the stars in Guatemala. The altitude in Quetzaltenango (Xela) is about 8,000 feet and in the event of a power failure where everything is absolutely black, the stars are absolutely so magnificently bright that you would think you could reach up and touch them.
The Guatemala partnership team solicits your prayerful support and encouragement of the partnership, its projects, and the Mayan people of Guatemala. If your congregation or group is interested in a "Minute for Mission" or a 20-minute video presentation, contact the partnership team.
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