of New Castle Presbytery
By Tracy Keenan, Missional Presbyter, New Castle Presbytery
What makes us human? What does it mean to be in community and to have meaning? This post is about our trip to Guatemala, but it is also about our churches, our nation, our world, our homes and neighborhoods. If I tug on one strand, the others vibrate.
Here are some of the virtual carry-ons I bring with me on this trip:
Read moreI am Marj Johnson, a member of Concord Presbyterian Church. This was my first immersion experience trip to Guatemala, but I was there before with a work group with my church in 2012 to build stoves. I learned so much this week about all the programs of CEDEPCA and the Association of Mam Christian Women.
On our last day in Guatemala, we were at Lake Atitlán, a volcanic caldera lake. The town of Panajachel, where we stayed, was a typical resort town with a nice beach, boating, seaside attractions, and people relaxing, enjoying themselves, buying souvenirs and eating ice cream.
We took a boat to the other side of the lake in the morning. It was a beautiful day, the sun was out and the sky was blue. We were in a safe boat and we each had enough space and a life preserver. But I couldn’t help thinking about all the migrants who travel by boat around the world at huge cost in unsafe boats, no life preservers, and crowded beyond capacity—what it must be like for them as they travel to the unknown.
By Joseph Russ, PC(USA) Coordinator for Migration Issues, Advocacy, and Mission in the Northern Triangle of Central America
Last week, I had the joy and privilege of accompanying a visit from New Castle Presbytery to Guatemala with local partners like the Association of Mam Christian Women for Development (Association) and the Protestant Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA). In my work as Coordinator for Migration Issues, Advocacy, and Mission in the Northern Triangle of Central America for PC(USA) World Mission, I support local partners like CEDEPCA that address migration issues and jumped at the chance to get to know the work New Castle Presbytery supports.
By Deb Bermingham, Limestone Presbyterian
Buenos Dias!
Our fifth day in Guatemala began with our bus traveling uphill on a winding mountain road. Most of the road was paved but there was a patch of a very bumpy and dusty dirt road. Great job navigating the dirt road by the bus driver who was with us all week. Thank you, Marvin!
We were lucky to have employees and volunteers of the Association join us on the bus at different stops along the route. We were on our way to meet some of the Association groups at their homes and fields and learn about their life. What we saw and learned:
◦ One of the four sewing schools
◦ The stoves built and delivered by AJPU
◦ Cows (for breeding or fattening)
◦ Chickens (for breeding or fattening)
◦ Vegetable products-carrots, potatoes, cabbage
◦ Reforestation project
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