Gathering notes

Almost a dozen Crescent Hill folks interested in Guatemala mission gathered Sunday to talk about the recent Guatemala mission trip and follow-up. The half a dozen 2012 Guatemala mission team members there took turns sharing memories and reflections. A dominant theme among the mostly adult Guatemala repeat visitors was that it was like a family reunion, as they reconnected with people from previous trips and connected the dots about relationships among Guatemalans. Visualizing, implementing, and cementing relationship-building was a general theme also. Some team members raved about going to Tikal, while others said that more time spent in El Estor and environs might have been worthwhile. Folks there brainstormed about possible next steps: Jane underlined the possibility of additional support for the theological education institute for pastors and other church leaders, perhaps with leftover funds or through the rarely celebrated at Crescent Hill Theological Education Sunday, the Sunday before World Communion Sunday, when the local part of Crescent Hill’s Peacemaking Offering might go towards the training institute. Jane also talked about the possibility of asking if some of the women who shared with team members craft gifts, or even their PW circle colleagues, could be induced to make some more and send them to us and we could sell them, perhaps at an alternative Christmas fair, perhaps along with some Appalachian crafts, with the money being returned to them. This might result in something ongoing, Jane said, perhaps even involving those mystery sewing machines there (or the Guatemalans might in turn show Crescent Hill folks how to use the Guatemalans’ miniature looms). Jane also mentioned the possibility on the next trip of visiting other outlying churches: Monte Sinai, Hijo del Dios Viviente, and Buen Samaritano, and nearby towns like Puerto Barrios and Livingston.

Perry raised the possibility of joint mission projects such as bringing some Guatemalans to go on an Appalachian mission trip to Hazard and possibly joint fund-raising, for example, for Fletcher and Sarah’s children’s mission in Malawi and then having several Crescent Hill and Guatemalan folks travel there together. He also asked whether Crescent Hill was interested in reviving parallel Bible study or prayer vigils. Soni mentioned the possibility of a scrap-booking project in which some team members and others in the congregation might make scrapbooks about each successive trip/visit, using available photos and possibly other artifacts. Those gathered extended this to talk about the possibility of a Food for Thought Sunday lunch when Crescent Hill folks shared about the recent trip and perhaps other visits, using the scrapbooks or slides of the scrapbook materials. Assuming the August 12 Guatemala Sunday goes as planned, with the mission team-led worship service and the talk by Amanda Craft at lunch after worship, another team this might take place would be in November, perhaps in conjunction with a Guatemalan and Appalachian crafts fair.

Jane reported on her and Ellen’s participation in a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Guatemala mission network gathering planning meeting, after the other team members have returned to the United States, when these folks brainstormed about a networking gathering in Guatemala in January 2013, during the dry season, which Jane had mixed feelings about and wasn’t sure Crescent Hill would be able to participate in.

Jane also mentioned a few things she’s include in future trips, including: everyone bringing a water bottle in advance, not staying at Bruno’s in Rio Dulce, giving people a couple of menu options only for dinner, and pre-ordering breakfast with all of the same menu. She also mentioned that she ran into Marisabela, the El Estor hotel proprietress, at the Hotel Spring in Guatemala City.

The group also talked about thank-you gifts and notes going to the many Crescent Hill folks who helped out, and the details/process of trying to replace the damaged Hotel Marisabela window air-conditioning unit. Perry expressed an interest in gathering more of the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of partners that mission team members gathered while in Izabal. Perry said he’d help draft a possible new partnership plan/covenant, while Jane said she’d set a date for a smaller group to finalize plans for the Sunday, August 12 worship service. Jane urged any who had not to read the reflection statements by Appalachian mission team participants, and hoped that all team members in town would participate in the service in some way, with a handful presenting reflections.

The group also brainstormed a little about the second part of August's Guatemala Sunday: mission co-worker Amanda Craft's Food for Thought talk after worship. Jane suggested that Amanda focus on her work with women in Guatemala and Stephanie volunteered to make beans and rice. Another topic Amanda might address in connection with her work with Guatemalan church women: her own process of family change. More food preparation volunteers will be needed. Perry also indicated he would take a stab at a draft partnership plan, in consultation with others. There was also a general discussion about engaging the congregation more in the partnership. A few participants said the phrase "Guatemala mission task force" might turn some people, and the possibility of a name group name was raised.

There was no discussion about future gathering, although a 9:30 a.m. Saturday, August 11 date had been set tentatively.

-Perry