CEDEPCA and NCP Agreement Signing and more!

What a great start to an inevitably remarkable trip! After arriving late Tuesday evening, the New Castle Presbytery Leadership Team visited CEDEPCA and a local church. One team member Rev. Edwin Estevez of Riverfront and Grace Methodist Churches preached in Spanish.

Like all trips to Guatemala, CEDEPCA is the first stop. We learned a brief history of Guatemala and how it got to present day. Additionally, we got to learn more about CEDEPCA’s women’s ministry. Through providing empowerment training to redefine such a patriarchal society for these women, they are doing transformative work throughout Guatemala. These classes are also used by women in the Association.

It was a busy day at CEDEPCA as the New Castle Presbytery (NCP) and CEDEPCA signed a formal partnership agreement. This agreement is for three years and entails NCP financial support and at least one delegation to visit Guatemala annually. In turn, CEDEPCA is to facilitate intercultural encounters and send one delegate to the United States annually. Both groups will think and pray for each other often.

To end off the day, we visited a local church. Rev. Estevez preached a powerful sermon in Spanish about self-identity.

It was about not living and acting to appease others, but rather to do what is closest in alignment with God. To do things in the name of God and for God seems to be the best philosophy for this transformative week to come.