Friday, July 29, 2011

Would-be visa photos





End of July communications

Carlos and I talked with Pastor Gerardo in Guatemala Friday afternoon, after Amana Craft and I communicated about the possible October trip by computer earlier in the week. Amanda and Carlos had talked by phone several times about the Guatemalans’ effort to secure photos of themselves that would be acceptable to the U.S. authorities. Thursday Rene, the IT person for Pastor Gerardo’s church, sent us pictures the five Guatemalans slated to visit us had had taken. But Amanda said that in these beautiful pictures (shown on the next blog post) the Guatemalans were facing to the side, instead of to the front. On the phone, Gerardo suggested that they might go ahead and pay to get pictures taken through a firm that was used to taking them for U.S. visas.

Gerardo also said that the Estoreño Presbytery’s annual meeting would be Sept. through Sept. 24 all the way over in Guitarra, near the Gulf of Honduras coast, where the presbytery’s northeastern-most church is located. West of El Estor, at El Chupon, said Gerardo, the presbytery’s troubled mission church stands to lose their land after Guatemala’s early fall presidential elections. If the right-wing opposition party wins, Gerardo expects the government to take the land – I suspect, for the nickel mining company.

Gerardo also indicated that he needed more information about the trip for the visa application and that he and the other four were interested in what they would be doing in Louisville. He also indicated that they would try to front the visa application money but would come back to us if they needed money or for reimbursement.

-- Perry

August prayers

This month Crescent Hill church will pray with and for our Guatemalan partners:

-On Sunday, July 31, and the week thereafter: Hijo del Dios Viviente church in the village of La Guitarra outside of Livingston, Pastor Fidel Juc and family, and members, deacons, and elders

-On Sunday, August 7, and during the week thereafter: El Buen Samaritano church in El Estor’s Nuevo Amanacer neighborhood, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, August 14, and during the week thereafter: Q’eqchi’ Estoreño, Izabal Presbytery Executive Committee, President Pablo Sacul, and other officers.

-On Sunday, August 21, and during the week thereafter: On Sunday, February 6, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery Presbyterian Women organization, President Maria Coc Tial, and other officers.

- On Sunday, August 28, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery youth and young adult organization, President Roderico Sacul Tiul, and other officers.

- On Sunday, September 4, and during the week thereafter: Peniel church in Boqueron, Pastor Pablo Sacul, and members, deacons, and elders.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Trip update



Amanda and I spoke by Skype Tuesday. She and Pastor Gerardo spoke last week and she is waiting for him to find out more about whether there is a local agency in El Estor, Rio Dulce, or Puerto Barrios where they could start the application process to obtain a visa to visit the United States. Amanda sought more avenues to find out about this – which was new to Gerardo – and we agreed to have us e-mail Rene and Luis to find out more about this, and then she may follow up with a phone call to Gerardo at the end of the week. Amanda said that once the process starts they may be able to schedule an appointment at the U.S. consulate in Guatemala CIty for within about a month. Amanda said the cost for this initial phase of the application process could be as much as 1,000 quetzales, or about $125, which we might be able to reimburse them for. Also, Amanda said she would make photo-copies of the letters of invitation and endorsement that Pastor Jane, Maria Arroyo, and Betty Meadows signed, and send that by courier to Gerardo in El Estor. We could reimburse Amanda for these expenses.

--Perry

Monday, July 11, 2011

Yard sale

Do you have clean, lightly used items that you want to find a new home for? Have a need for something at home or in your yard or car that you don’t want to spend a fortune on? Want to be involved in a different way in Crescent Hill’s Guatemala mission partnership?

Please collect that gently used furniture, children’s toys or clothes, sporting goods, jewelry, decorative household items, craft items, books, tools, and so on items and bring them to the church Fellowship Hall between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 4, and between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Friday, August 5. Contact Soni Castleberry (417-6481) if you need to deliver items before Thursday or if you need help with transportation.

You’ll also have the opportunity to bring your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and yourself to look for that special something at the yard sale itself, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6.

Proceeds from the yard sale will be used to bring five representatives of Guatemala’s Estoreño Presbytery, with which we are in partnership, to Kentuckiana, hopefully this fall.

July prayers

This month Crescent Hill church will pray with and for our Guatemalan partners:

- On Sunday, July 4, and during the week thereafter: Arca de Noe church in El Estor, Pastor Gerardo Ich Pop and family, and members, deacons, and elders

- On Sunday, July 10, and the week thereafter: Altar de Noe church in El Estor’s Los Cerritos neighborhood, Pastor Raul Contreras Tut and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, July 17, and the week thereafter: Espiritu Santo church in El Estor’s San Marcos neighborhood, Pastor José Domingo Xo Ical and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, July 24, and the week thereafter: Monte Sinai church in the village of San Carlos El Pouvenir outside of Puerto Barrios, Pastor José Sub and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, July 31, and the week thereafter: Hijo del Dios Viviente church in the village of La Guitarra outside of Livingston, Pastor Fidel Juc and family, and members, deacons, and elders

Thursday, July 7, 2011

No July gathering

We’re going to skip our scheduled Saturday morning, July 9 gathering. We’ll be sending out an update on the Saturday, August 6 yard sale, with reminders of assignments, and updates on any news on the visa application front. Please continue to do advance work for the yard sale, including asking your friends, neighbors, extended family members, and co-workers to contribute items. The Scout Hut is open for items.

Blessings to those who have just come back from Big Tent or who are going to the Boone County Jail immigration detention center, leading the EFL advanced class, studying Spanish, or participating in Spanish-language worship or Bible study at James Lees this month.

- Perry