Ellen, Maria, Gerardo, and Ramiro, the elder who helps represent the Estoreño Presbytery with the national church in Guatemala, were all in the evangelical Presbyterian seminary in western Guatemala (pictured above) this week, for the Guatemala mission network gathering that Stephanie and Ellen went to last time it was in Guatemala. We had not asked our partners whether they were sending reps to the gathering, and we had not briefed Maria. Ellen originally hoped to set up a Skype call between Gerardo, Ramiro, Maria, herself, and us, but the gathering got too busy (and I lost my Skype for a day). When we try calling Gerardo Saturday morning, he and Ramiro may still be traveling back to El Estor.
On another note, the thought that I might be on the phone with Gerardo and Ramiro earlier this week pushed me a little harder, and, after a couple of more false starts, I sent the money to the presbytery bank account in El Estor. More or less as we had agreed on among ourselves, the amount was very modest – exactly the same amount that the network had asked all of us with partners in Guatemala to send to cover expenses for two reps – and so I don’t know how this will go over. At least hopefully they'll be able to access the money soon.
It is also possible that Gerardo and Ramiro made some connections with other PC(USA) congregations or presbyteries at the gathering, just as we are very slowly gathering steam to introduce more Kentuckiana congregations to our partnership.
I hope we’ll talk Saturday (in addition to talking about follow-up to the January 21 LiErin Probasco talk and our modest donation)– among each other and with Gerardo – about them sending a mixed group of some half a dozen people to visit us this summer or fall, and then talk with another local church or two to help us host. We may also want to talk about some kind of shared/joint Lenten/ Holy Week Bible study/theological reflection.
Unless she would be able to be at our next meeting (and maybe even if that), perhaps a small group of us can have lunch with Maria later this month to hear more about how the gathering went and about her conversations with Gerardo and Ramiro.
-Perry
P.S. We've blown our chance to send some things through Ellen to Gerardo and Ramiro and on to the presbytery. However, Amanda is going to be there in a couple of weeks and, if we can make progress with presbytery folks about a possible visit to Kentuckiana, maybe we can ask them and Amanda, who is the PC(USA) point person on visas, to confer about this. Also, Amanda is going to be there to meet with the Presbyterian Women there, and if we want to send any message (or anything tangible?) to this group we may. Jennifer will be visiting Guatemala in March, and offered to take Amanda something, which we should consider, but that would be after Amanda's El Estor visit. Perry
P.P.S. Maria reports by e-mail that she, Gerardo, and Ramiro got to talk during the network gathering. They gave her a written report. They said they understood that we were sending some money, but didn't understand what we had designated it for. I don't think Maria had gotten my e-mail beforehand, but - after their conversation - she did ask if she should bring up the possible visit or Bible study. She also expressed interest in talking with Crescent Hill folks after her return Saturday. Simultaneously Rene, Arca de Noe's IT specialist, reported that he had let Gerardo know that we had sent the money. Perry
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