This is the first trip to Guatemala for Kim and the second for Gloria.
Today we visited two groups, the Mam Association’s La Estancia group and Mujeres Virtuosas. Our first stop was to visit with artisan Mam women involved with the revolving funds project. They each borrowed money to buy materials to weave their traditional weavings with backstrap looms. The weavings were extremely intricate and beautiful. It may take them 2 or three months to finish a piece. People pick the design and colors before she makes it specifically for them. With the money from that weaving, they can use some to start another piece and have money for other things like another project, a stove, a garden, etc. Eventually, they pay off their revolving funds and continue working and making money.
The relationship between the people of New Castle Presbytery, the Association, and CEDEPCA is like one of their intricate weavings. Each individual is like a separate thread and God is our weaver. All three organizations must work together to make this beautiful creation successful.
The women each greeted us with prayers of thanks to God for our safe travels to be with them. They pray with such passion and fervor. With all their hearts they truly love and appreciate us being here to see and share in their accomplishments. We even prayed for the chickens sacrificed for our delicious meal.
Some women received chickens, some were growing potatoes, and some received seeds for gardens. Others received 75 small trees each for reforestation. Several women were sharing a stove. A few were doing more than one project. They were working together as a community so everyone could succeed.
After lunch, we walked around to see their various patches of potatoes, cabbages, lettuces, broccoli, onions, carrots, beets, radishes, parsley and even Swiss chard. Next, we went to the forest to admire their reforestation plots of new trees.
Just like a quilt has patches of contrasting colors, Guatamala has an assortment of contrasting strips and patches. There are patches of potatoes, patches of each different vegetable, patches of houses, patches of bare ground, patches of old corn fields, patches of forest, patches of towns and villages. There are even very brightly colored cemetery patches.
As we walked in the forest to see the tree projects, we were surrounded by beauty. The sunshine, sunrays through the trees, and wind in our faces were wonderful.
Other patches of land had contrasting trash-filled ravines, trash everywhere along the roads, walking paths, and even in yards. This is the farthest thing from beautiful. We just wanted to pick it all up. The reason for all this trash is that there are no official departments of sanitation, no government-run dumps, and no trash collection.
Despite the trash, corruption, and extortion that exists in Guatemala today, the future is being molded by these strong women trying to make a better Guatemala with God by their side.
The love, joy, strength, confidence, humbleness, and pride of these women in the communities we saw here, just radiates from them all. It is truly amazing and makes us feel so loved and appreciated for being there to share and be in their world for just a few days.
This was such an inspiration and touched us deeply. To see how Christ is working in each and every one of us is totally amazing!
Kim and Gloria
Thank you everyone for sharing with us details and impressions as they are so helpful in painting a picture of the beautiful people of Guatemala, and of thw assistance being provided. 🙏