of New Castle Presbytery
Reading a book about love is not the same as falling in love.
Hearing someone talk about bungee jumping is not the same as taking the leap yourself.
Watching a cooking show is not the same as sinking your teeth into something delicious, feeling its texture, savoring its many-layered flavors.
Experience bursts us open at our core and touches us in a way that cognition simply can’t.
All eight travelers arrived safely in Guatemala City last evening. The sun is shining and the weather is glorious—unlike at home right now! Seven travelers are representing New Castle Presbytery (Tracy, Rachel, Karen, Arun, Denison, Jamie, and Carrie) and we are delighted to also be joined by Mary Jane from Presbytery of the James in Richmond, Virginia.
As mentioned previously, the Association had an amazing and transformative 2018. We met with the Association Board to review its annual report to NCP for 2018 and 2019 plan of work. Composing these documents are a requirement per the signed covenant between the Association and NCP.
One sentence in their annual report to NCP that emphasized the increase in work read “Please note we can ordinarily fit our activities on one-page, but this year the number exceeds what can be stated with that limit.” (It was four pages long.) Read more
Today we got to encounter women in the Association as we ventured to three microloan groups. We started off the day by picking up some old friends: Rosario, Coordinator of the Association and two Board members. We also picked up Vicente and Alfredo of AJPU, the men who build the stoves, latrines, and filters, and Carlos who provides information about proper animal and plant care for the women. The bus ride was interesting as four languages were being spoken: English, Spanish, Mam, and K’iche!
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.