October 31 gathering

Half a dozen plus Crescent Hill folks gathered at Brad and Soni Castleberry’s on All Saint’s Day Eve morning to talk about the Guatemala mission partnership. Those present generally felt good about mid-September’s Guatemala mission weekend. Soni thought the group could have done more publicity earlier on, particular about the Dennis Smith talk. Pastor Jane suggested the Worship Council help sponsor additional vigils (with fasts?) in the future – with whatever focus – and that the church and task force do something like Guatemala mission weekend every year.

Perry updated folks about political events in Honduras and around El Estor and invited folks to stay afterwards to write letters to the head of the Canadian mining company trying to strip mine in western El Estor.

Perry and Ellen )pictured below) also updated folks about the Mission Celebration the previous week in Cincinnati and the Guatemala Mission Network and Amigos de K’ekchi’ gatherings that preceded that. Perry mentioned that the Amigos group (in 2010) and the network (in 2011) were both planning to gather next in Guatemala, the former in Coban. There was a spirited discussion about this and about Roger Marriott’s proposal to gather Q’eqchi’-speaking church leaders every couple of months in Coban to study the Bible and theology in Q’eqchi’.

The group mused about connecting with Estoreño folks – with or without the Amigos – in Coban, possibly for study and visiting Q’eqchi’ cultural sites and possibly other tourist sites in Coban and the surrounding area [possibly in July 2010].

Soni and Jane reported that attendance at the joint English as a foreign language has recently dipped a little. Crescent Hill folks - with Lowell taking the lead - will be providing dinner for many of the Monday and Wednesday class evenings in November.

A call to Pastor Gerardo in El Estor yielded some news: Pastor Gerardo’s wife, Isabel, is sick with dengue fever. A couple of activists in the presbytery’s Presbyterian Women organization will be traveling next week to a nationwide PW gathering. Gerardo’s family lacks money for medical care for his wife and the presbytery is receiving an offering to help pay for the women’s transportation to the gathering, since they lack money too. Gerardo was out of town – apparently visiting one of the outlying churches – during the violence associated with the nickel mine and seemed to know little about it. He said the man from the outlying western church involved was not killed, but was injured and is recovering. At the presbytery’s annual assembly in September, the presbytery did accept a new church, Nueva Amanacer (New Dawning) into its fold. The presbytery also elected new officers, including: Pastor Fidel Juc of the Peniel church in Boqueron as president. (Pictured below is Carlos holding the phone and further below is others listening to the conversation.)

Soni proposed the group try selling the Guatemala cards again and she planned to spearhead this by writing blurbs for the December newsletter and church bulletin. Soni may need help from others selling.

Soni and Jane also raised the possibility of starting up teaching Spanish in January, possibly with Ada teaching, for modest fees.

Jane asked that we streamline the Guatemala partnership material in the Narthex and Gathering Room and include a map with El Estor and/or Izabal pointed out.

Jane and Ellen also talked about Crescent Hill church's possible involvement with two ministries: a network of half a dozen Guatemalan Presbyterian Women leaders who would work with Amanda Craft whose mission work the church will be supporting to resources local and regional PW units and the Looking for Lilith theater project with its "Strangers/Extranjeras" play and Faith Stories effort.

Martha will host the next task force gathering, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 6. Martha's home is in the Highlands.

-- Perry