Recommendations

What I told Gerardo and Pablo, the two Estoreño Presbytery representatives at the Guatemala Mission Network gathering, that I would recommend to the Crescent Hill Guatemala Mission Task Force:

1. That we “forgive” their expenditure of $300 for communication between us which we had sent last February, which they spent instead of the theological education for church leaders program.

2. That we gladly begin to receive detailed financial reports – like the ones we have been receiving in other areas – for communication expenditures (both monthly).

3. That we change our draft partnership plan for 2013-2015 not to give a specific monthly amount for communication and that our partners and we revisit the correct amount in June or July.

4. That we report to the Outreach Council that our partners are spending the communication budget on computer time, cell phone minutes, and equipment rental.

5. That we consider feedback from the Outreach Council and the Guatemalans before we submit to the partnership plan to the session for consideration in March.

6. That we figure out a way to transmit a singed copy of our plan to the Guatemalans later this spring and that we gladly accept their own plan at that time.

7. That we add to the plan, before all of that, another bullet point with a pledge to work with the Guatemalans to explore with them other possible U.S. partners, including perhaps the Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, various PC(USA) grant programs, and (unsaid) micro-credit programs for possible projects such as the proposed chicken proposal, use of the dewing machines, crafts sales to the United States, or a water project.

8. That we would continue to explore alternative ways to transmit financial information to the Guatemalans and that in the future – only after the bank has told us that the money has reached Guatemala - we send single-topic e-mail messages about financial transmissions, with the exact amount and purpose, not only to Rene but also to Roberto (the presbytery treasurer) and others.

9. That all (or a portion of) the proceeds of the possible late spring church yard sale go to the presbytery’s theological education program.

10. That we consider future visits – one direction or another – in 2013 or 2014.

11. That we talk with Guatemalan partners during the morning of the first Saturday of every month – by Skype/Facebook video chat, or, if necessary, by phone – except for we skip this in February 2013.


Gerardo, Pablo, Ellen, and I also engaged in spirited/intense discussion:

1. About whether we need a joint, general covenant

2. About whether our partners had informed us in a timely manner about some alternative use of funds we had sent

3. About whether we had informed our partners about transmission of funds and their intended purposes in an effective, timely, and accurate money

4. About the extent of Gerardo and Pablo’s knowledge about the situation with the Esfuerza congregation and a Guatemalan Presbyterian Women visit to Kzabal

I am also tentatively planning to give World Mission’s Marisa Bustamante a $150 check as our 5% “tithe” to IENPG (more or less 5% of the amount we’ve sent to the presbytery so far).

-Perry