Mission Trip to Guatemala 2009: 

Relationship Building

Nine people from Albany Presbytery: Beverly Burnett, Kathy Gorman-Coombs, Kyle Coombs, Kim Koza, Jessica Hohenstein, Jaime Maldonado,  Kendra Burpee, Marilyn Riddle and Irving Smith embarked on a trip to Guatemala on April 14th to strengthen our partnership and relationship with the Mam Presbytery.  Shortly, after our arrival in Guatemala City, we boarded a bus to CEDEPCA, where we heard a presentation by Rev Hector Castenada, who provides Biblical and Theological training at CEDEPCA.  Hector talked about Guatemala in context, its history and current political situation.

In the morning of day 2, we were given an overview of CEDEPCA programs and presence throughout Central America by Judith Castenada, Director of CEDEPCA. Judith took us on a tour of CEDEPCA’S facilities and we were introduced to members of the Women’s Gender Awareness Program. We then heard a presentation by Betty Carrera, National Coordinator, Women’s Pastoral Program and heard from Alice, who was sexually abused as a girl, and is now a pastor of a church in Guatemala. Shortly after lunch, we boarded the bus for a 5 hour trip to Xela, where we would spend the night before beginning the much anticipated mission of our trip.

On Day 3 we left Xela for a 15 min bus ride to the Mam Presbytery at San Juan Ostuncalco, where we were met with open arms by the Executive Committee of Centro Mam. We then split into 2 groups; Group I met with the Executive Committee to discuss the Partnership Agreement drawn up in April 2008, while Group II began work on the project to build a room for the Presbyterial Women to house their sewing machines. Group I and the Executive Committee (Miguel Gomez Sales, Moderator; Israel Perez, Secretary; Pedro Daniel Cabrera, Treasurer; Herminio Regino Carreto Romero, Sub-Secretary; Federico Garcia and Maria Vasquez, President Presbyterial Women) spent nearly 3 hours going over each section of the Partnership Agreement. There will be a more detailed discussion of the agreement in the near future.  After further discussion, The Moderator, Treasurer, and Secretary enthusiastically signed the Partnership Agreement.  This truly brought a sense of joy and thanksgiving. A copy of the signed Partnership Agreement will be posted on Albany Presbytery’s website. At this point we presented a check for $500.00 to the Executive Committee, which was agreed to last year for training of Mam leaders, and children’s artwork from Albany Presbytery Churches.   In talking about Internet training for women, Israel Perez stated that Mam wants other women in their churches involved in training and discussions.  The members of Group I then joined Group II on the work project.  The project began by removing dirt from the shell of the room. The team then worked with the contractor to excavate a 3 foot deep trench along what was to be a wall to pour cement to hold a wall that would serve the first level room and a second level room on top of the first level.  Celia Lopez, the project leader informed us that it would take a month to complete the room. She will provide Albany, records of materials purchased timely statuses of the project.

On Day 4 in the morning, the team visited Nuevos Horizantes, a shelter in Quetzaltenango for women and children, survivors of domestic violence and single women with limited financial resources. We distributed donated supplies and blankets brought with us to the children of the shelter. All of us were warmed by the friendly faces of the children, and helped the children make their blankets.  The team then boarded the bus back to Centro Mam, where we continued building the room.

On Saturday, Day 5 we visited Huitan and the site of the chicken coop that Albany built in a previous trip in 2007. There was uncontrollable joy when members of Albany met the youth of Huitan, whom we had worked with in building the chicken coop. We visited the chicken coop that houses 45 chickens, produces 45 eggs per day and is turning a profit, which is used to feed the chickens. The youth (Sociedad de jovenes seguidores de Cristo”) provided a complete status of the chicken coop. We discussed with the youth and Pastor Albert Vail de la iglesia presbiteriana Mam Jesus el buen de Huitan a project, including costs, by the youth to buy additional chickens to replace current stock and  add up to 300 total chickens, adding a floor to the chicken coop, and moving the chicken coop to another location.  Albany felt that it could support via several churches within Presbytery the chicken supplies, which costs $35.00 per chicken. More on this in the coming weeks.  The youth presented all of the team with gifts, and we presented the youth with pencils.

On Sunday, Day 6 in the morning, we met with the Executive Committee of the Presbyterial Mam (Maria Vasquez, President, Olga Cabrera, Treasurer, Celia Lopez, Secretary) and other women of Mam.  Kathy Coombs, chaired this dialogue with the women concerning domestic violence and abuse.  It was exciting to hear the openness of the women to share their thoughts and issues on domestic violence in Guatemala and their willingness to continue having open dialogue in the future. Kathy will have a more detailed report on this meeting. In the afternoon, the team went to worship at Iglesia Presbyterian Capernaum, the church that Pedro Daniel Cabrera pastors, where Kathy preached the sermon. At the end of each day of our trip, we gathered together for a time of reflection. This day, a question was asked about God’s presence in the events of the trip.  We were in agreement that God was present in every facet of our trip.

On Day 7, we boarded the bus for Antigua.  On our way to Antigua, we stopped at Iximche to visit The Mayan ruins. We arrived in Antigua at ~ 3:30 pm, where we had some free time. In the evening after dinner, Kathy Coombs celebrated communion by flashlight on the roof of the Hotel Victoria, where we stayed.  The next morning we boarded the bus to the airport and our return Flight to the US.

In summary, this trip was most memorable to me of all five of the trips that I have made to Guatemala. Everything was uplifting, and I would characterize this trip as extremely rewarding and very successful accomplishing all that we set out to do.  

Irving Smith
Chair, Guatemala Partnership Task Force                              

When people have asked me that question in the past few days, my instant, spontaneous and genuine answer is, "It was wonderful!" which, odd as it may sound, always surprises me as the words come out of my mouth, because at times during the trip, I wasn't always sure it was wonderful.  I think maybe that is how it is with life – while we are in the midst of significant experiences, our anxieties and the complexities of our emotions in any given moment, our awareness of the feelings of those around us, make it difficult to assess how the experience is while it's happening – and it is only afterwards that we can really know that yes, wow – that was lire change – that was wonderful.