Old friends: Debby and Richard Welch

Two more Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission co-workers, Debby Welch and Richard Welch, traveled by chicken bus across bumpy roads to rendezvous with the team Monday evening in El Estor.  CHPC folks originally met these folks  through "Amigos de K'eckhi' gatherings when they were helping lead the PC(USA)'s Inland Northwest Presbytery's partnership - originally with all of the Q'eqchi' presbyteries including what became Estore  o Presbytery and later just the Polocic Presbytery, just west of Estore   o.  For the past two years, the two have served as offiical PCIUSA) mission co-workers, living in Coban and specializing in education for the indigenous Presbyterians/people.  Like Leslie Vogel, the two aided CHPC partners adn CHPC by helping obtain passports and visas for CHPC partners to visit Kentuckiana two years ago.  The Welches shared meals with the team, participated in two debriefings/devotions, and plunged headlong into the workshops, with the team and partners, during Tuesday's children's and youth activities and women's dialogue.  This included helping translate.  In the theological educational program and in meetings in El Estor with women of the presbytery and others, the Welches had gotten to know a number of Estore   o folks.  Finally, the Welches shared with the team a status update about the Walton fund.  This fund set up by the Walmart owners for indigenous education where funds were misused historically, and now are only being slowly being released for the theological education in Coban.  This program is a three-year program focusing on Bible and theology that indigenous leaders from central and eastern Guatemala have been involved in - for three years to receive a diploma.  A number of Estore   o folks are involved in the program, including three who have graduated.  In general, many students are Q'eqchi' pastors, but others are from other indigenous/Mayan cultures and/or elders or deacons and a few are even women.  Most classes take place in Spanish, with a smattering of Q'eqchi'.  Students attended for five days at a time, five times a year.  Walton funding for the program has, however, has come somewhat slowly.

Wednesday morning Debby and Richard are slated to head off by micro-bus fro Rio Dulce and Guatemala City, where they were to meet with another group on Thursday afternoon.

-Perry