July gathering notes

No big video conference with folks in Guatemala but some urgency about fund-raising developed out of the July Guatemala gathering.  Doug and Rene spoke briefly but Rene told us little we hadn’t already heard.  No video conference was possible partly because Ramiro was on a truck run to Guatemala City and Rene wasn’t able to reach Pastor Raul Contreras.  We also tried and failed to reach Rosa Marina.  It seems that it’s gout that may be bothering Gerardo.  Apparently the death in Ramiro’s family was last week.  “Momentum” seems to be developing in the four presbytery representatives’ (Raul Contreras, Ramiro, Byron, and Rosa Marina) quest for passports and visas.  Richard Welch had reported to Crescent Hill folks earlier that he and Debby had been trying to help them and hoped that they would meet them in Guatemala City on Friday, July 18, as they tried to obtain passports and possibly visas.  Peter remarked that if Richard and Debby could at least help them with the online visa application/appointment-making process before leaving for the United States hours or days later, that would be great.  Earlier Richard had talked about the possibility of handing the torch over to another PC(USA) mission co-worker if the four did not all have visas in hand by July 18.

The group also talked about a proposed schedule next couple of months including the Guatemalans’ proposed visit and fund-raising for that.

This a version of the draft schedule that Soni and Perry had prepared, which the group generally affirmed:

Sunday, August 2, at 11:00 a.m.:  Guatemalan visit task “puzzle” deployed/unveiled - CHPC

Saturday, August 8, 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.:  St. Joe’s parking – CHPC

Saturday, August 16, at 11:00 a.m.:  Guatemala gathering – place TBA

Tuesday, September 2-Friday, September 5:  Guatemala Mission Network gathering – Cedar Ridge Camp

Thursday, September 11, at 6:00 p.m.:  Guatemala gathering – CHPC

Saturday, September 27, at 11:00 a.m.:  Guatemala gathering – place TBA

Saturday, October 4-Monday, October 13:  Guatemalan partner visit – Kentuckiana, etc.

The group talked about the St. Joe’s fund-raiser, including the news that the church would cover the cost of security by an off-duty law-enforcement officer, and agreed to try to have people in place, charging $5 between 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., an then $10 after that (with night crew having the option to lower the price).  It seems possible there could be four shifts:  11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., and 7:30 to 10:00 p.m.  Peter agreed to help lead from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Soni and Brad the 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. crew.  Having two or three or four people volunteering at a time – using cell phones – would be good. 

The group talked about the need to raise more funds – with CHPC conservatism about fund-raising efforts outside of unified pledge giving and Better Space giving and the imminent reconstruction/inaccessibility of the Education Building/Young Hall would complicate.  A Guatemalan meal and silent auction had been discussed, but the reconstruction might complicate that.  Lagging financial giving might complicate a direct Minute for Mission pitch.  More subtle might be including giving to the trip opportunities in the puzzle design giving CHPC people opportunities to be involved in the visit.  Opportunities to raise by an ongoing (weekly?) yard sale – mainly for CHPC folks – was also considered.

The group talked about possibilities for a visit schedule.  Devoting less time to sightseeing and more time talking – including partnership planning? – was stressed.  Giving the visitors more time to rest/reflect and more choices of activities – along with some specific suggestions – were also discussed.  Soni also reminded the group that a number of people who were widely available during the 2011 visit might not be so widely available (and one out of town altogether).  People who have been broadly interested in Guatemala mission but who may not have been available for regular meetings may come forward, but Soni agreed to invite Shannon Beck and Ginna Bairby to the Saturday, August 16 gathering.

The group also talked about possible involvement by CHPC folks in the early September Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Guatemala Mission Network gathering.  Several people expressed interest in attending, and possibly for helping plan it.

-Perry