presbyterian church – Guatemala Partnership

Coming to a Church Near You

January 28, 2019March 6, 2019Guatemala Partnership

As mentioned previously, the Association had an amazing and transformative 2018. We met with the Association Board to deliver checks and review its 2018 annual report as well as its 2019 plan of work. Composing these documents is a requirement per the partnership agreement with the New Castle Presbytery.

One sentence in the annual report 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.) Some projects that they worked on in 2018 included: family gardens, stoves, VIP latrines, water filters, CEDEPCA training, health clinics, maintaining the health of livestock, formalizing the association, and prayer partnerships. They are truly working so hard and impacting many communities in and around San Juan Ostuncalco. The women shared that “through working together, we are making God’s love visible.” (Read the entire 2018 Annual Report here.)

Climate Change Impacts Micro Loan Groups

January 26, 2019February 25, 2019Guatemala Partnership

We traveled to two more micro loan groups today. We visited the women of Reyna and Mujeres Virtuosas. In the beginning of the day, we hiked up a stony pathway to arrive at Reyna. We met at Carmen’s home, the president of the group, and learned about their various projects.

Reyna invested its micro loan into sheep, chickens, a cow, and plants for reforestation. While the women do sell some plants at the local market, many are used to reforest the community. The only difficult part with this particular project seems to be climate change.

La Cruz y Los Claveles

January 25, 2019February 25, 2019Guatemala Partnership

Today we got to encounter women in the Association as we ventured to three micro loan groups. We started off the day by picking up some old friends: Rosario Diaz, 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!

Ruins and Reunions

January 24, 2019February 25, 2019Guatemala Partnership

Today was largely another travel day with some fun activities mixed in. We traveled from Guatemala City to Xela, which is about a 4 to 5 hour drive.

There was a nice excursion in the middle of the bus ride to the last standing Mayan ruin in Guatemala, Iximche.

It was inhabited by the indigenous Kaqchikel in the late 1400s until it was later conquered by the Spaniards. The site was full of palaces, temples, and Mayan ball courts. There was even spaces for traditional fire ceremonies which were used for spiritual purposes.

CEDEPCA and NCP Agreement Signing and more!

January 24, 2019February 25, 2019Guatemala Partnership

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.

Trip members from Community, Dover, Ocean View, Riverfront, and Westminster Wilmington Churches as well as NCP staff

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.

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