of New Castle Presbytery
The Guatemala Partnership of New Castle Presbytery has just exploded in the last two years….in a good way! There is new energy from churches, new excitement from individuals, and new commitment from the Presbytery. We launched a website, increased our financial support tenfold, and formalized our partnerships in Guatemala. There are now 12 churches within the Presbytery involved—with more in the wings—and more and more individual members have traveled with us to see God’s work up close.
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.
On our fourth day in Guatemala, we traveled to visit two different revolving fund groups of indigenous women in the Association. The women have a strong and remarkable faith. As it says in Joshua 1:9, “…Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” These women displayed powerful courage and strength in conquering obstacles in their lives with hard work and faith. Read more
While our second day in Guatemala was enlightening as we learned about its history and economic conditions, our third day was active, exhilarating, and inspiring. We experienced first-hand the beauty of the Guatemalan highlands by traveling to various groups to receive updates on their projects and form bonds.
Today we traveled up the Pan American highway through the cloud-topped Sierra Madre mountains of the western highlands of Guatemala. We were meeting an amazing group of women and would witness a defining moment for the Association of the Mam Christian Women. What started many years ago was coming to fruition. Women with years of experience, those who had been mentored, and a second generation of daughters were empowered and working together to lead a robust array of successful projects. Read more