January 2026 Trip Archives - Guatemala Partnership

Women United Can Never Be Defeated

February 9, 2026February 26, 2026Guatemala Partnership

By Valery Nodem, International Coordinator for the Presbyterian Hunger Program PC(USA)

This week, I traveled with Carrie Saathoff, co-chair of the Guatemala Partnership of New Castle Presbytery to the Western Highlands of Guatemala to witness the work of the Association of Mam Christian Women for Development (Association) in person. New Castle Presbytery has worked in formal partnership with the Association for more than a decade and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) has recently begun supporting the Association as well. I was excited to see the projects that I have heard so much about in the last two years. Accompanying us were Andrea Ramirez, our expert interpreter, and Kevin de León, our trusted driver. The four of us had a lot of laughs and good conversation on the road.

Two Histories

January 28, 2026January 28, 2026Guatemala Partnership

By Cathy Higgins and Carrie Saathoff, Co-Chairs, Guatemala Partnership of New Castle Presbytery

Visiting La Merced, a famous church in Antigua

This post shares two histories – one of our partnership and one of Guatemala’s most well-known cities.

As we left the mountains of Totonicapán on our way to Antigua, Cathy was reflecting on all of the progress these faithful, hardworking women and men have made. She had a watershed moment during our visit with AJPU. There are currently 59 women of the Association who are on the waiting list to receive water filters. WHAT?? This was our first project with AJPU that began 15 years ago and now it is being resurrected.

Winding Down Guatemala Style

January 26, 2026January 26, 2026Guatemala Partnership

By Carol Shumway, Trinity Presbyterian Church

After our high altitude hike yesterday to visit a remote group of the Association (28 members) and a visit to the mountainous forest where we saw scores of seedlings having lovingly been planted by each woman of the group, we wound down figuratively and literally as we descended from Xela to Antigua. We stopped en route at AJPU to visit the workshop where the fuel-efficient stoves are manufactured.

Traveling the Rough Road

January 25, 2026January 25, 2026Guatemala Partnership

By Gloria Kilby, West Nottingham Presbyterian Church

On Wednesday, we hopped in the bus and took a 30 minute trip to the Association office, then another 30 minute trip to a small village where we switched into three pickup trucks with local drivers so we could make the two hour drive up the mountain, along the top of the ridge, and over the other side toward the valley below to Las Barrancas (which means “the ravines.”) As always, Rosario, and several Association Board and staff members accompanied us – with a few kids in tow – for the day.

Click this photo or here to join our journey on the rough road!

We laughed a lot as we bounced upward on steep inclines of rough narrow road, with lots of gullies and pot holes, then down again. Often there was little or no shoulder and treacherous dropoffs straight down into a deep ravine. The views were spectacular!