Notes from April 13 conversation

Phone call to Guate partners on Saturday April 13, 2013, via Skype. (Best connection in any phone call that I’ve been on, by a long shot. Whatever we did today, let’s do it again next time.)

Presentes: Gerardo, Benjamin, Roberto, Presidenta, Marlene.

Present: Doug, Stephanie, Perry, Peter

We wanted to ask these questions: How was the presbytery meeting last month? Who are the members of the International Committee? What’s the treasurer’s email address.

We prayed. Doug mentioned Alec’s family. I didn’t take notes.

Someone said that a group went to visit the church in Puerto Barrios to teach Bible to the hermanos.

They had an assembly (of the presbytery, I suppose) to discuss companerismo and communication last month.

“Quiero decir received Kekchi. Centro Teologico en Coban en Centro Naz. Five pastores in course. Gerardo was going to be one of them but he ceded his place to Antonio, who needed it more. But Antonio didn’t show.”

I think they said that on April 15 they would study the book at the SEE, Seminary Evangelico. Went to study in Kekchi. People don’t know Presbyterian structure and leis.

Perry took copy of something. To clarify.

Women. Last year wanted Gerardo to give them training. Very happy when they take.

Perry: Youth meeting?

Gerardo: His training is for youth, too. When went to Montecino, elder had died and did funeral one day.

Pls pray Andres Che (dead)

They had a culto after studying two pages of coros.

At their last assembly they prayed for CHPC.

Panzos. The elders/representatives from Panzos didn’t show at last assembly. Tomorrow a commission goes. Rec’d plans and escritorio of IENPG.

Hermana Carmen, presidenta of women at April 25 assembly in Arca de Noe. Only directive will attend. Will install new directorship. Visit in all churches, capacitator.

Committee of Companerismo international. Raul, Paulo, German (rep presbyter) Ramiro (rep youth) Marlene and Carmen (rep women).

The next section of notes is even more daunting. We were talking with two people: Benjamin and Roberto. I got mixed up who was who. Benjamin’s cell is 457226285. Roberto’s cell is 49729379 and home 56295386.

There’s a meeting April 22 at San Carlos, a vigilia, we pray at Congregacion Amanacer (new) make plans, made first visit. Will go May 3 to visit with culto. Will visit every month. They built templo. They are 10 families and Antonio Yak is officially the obrero there.

Pls pray for unity, for Benjamin (president and moderator) and Macaria who has diabetes.

Someone said (I wrote that it was Benjamin but I think I was still confused over who was who) that on 11/24/11 they received 1 mil Q. On 2/29/12 rec’d 2,286.25 Q. On 7/2/12, they received *,591.52 Q (for Kekchi Bibles). On 8/31/12, they received 3,120.50 Q. On 1/28/13, they received 5,390 Q. Total of 20,388.27 Q

Marlene Zion Zinai (P. Benj) 30 women in church. Five children born.

Stephanie asked Robt how goes school that he build. Some confusion about which school. Escuela con miles de estudiantes, Instituto INEP.

Next call 1^st Sat. in Mayo (Derby)

-Peter

May prayers

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

-On Sunday, May 5, and during the week thereafter: Acacar church, Pastor Mariano Cuz, and members, deacons, and elders.

-On Sunday, May 12, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery Executive Committee, President Benjamin Sacul, and other officers.

-On Sunday, May 19, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery Presbyterian Women organization, President Carmen Quib Caal, and other officers.

-On Sunday, May 26, and during the week thereafter: Estoreño Presbytery youth and young adult organization, President Ramiro Quib, and other officers.

Complex news

A lot of rejoicing in Guatemala and around the world earlier this month when a Guatemalan judge ruled that Guatemala's de facto head of state during the early 1980s, when the Guatemalan government was prosecuting a brutal antiguerilla war, was guilty of genocide against a Mayan group and of crimes against humanity.  General Rios Montt (pictured above) was sentenced to 80 years in prison.  The intelligence chief in his government was acquitted.

At the same time, the current government - headed by a former antiguerilla commander from that war - cited drug-running and gangs as the reason to declare martial law - allowing the government to legally hold people without charging them with anything - in first, one, and, then, another department (the Guatemalan equivalent of state or province) (but not yet Izabal) - but then went after people organizing against land seizures for projects like mines and palm oil plantations.

Apparently some groups in El Estor are doing some similar organizing, and it remains to be seen what will come to there, where the nickel mine company - among others - have also embarked on this type of land seizure.

-Perry

April prayers

- On Sunday, March 31, and the week thereafter: Espiritu Santo church in El Estor’s San Marcos neighborhood, Pastor José Domingo Xo Ical and family, and elders, deacons, and members.

On Sunday, April 7, and the week thereafter:  Monte Sinai church in the village of San Carlos El Pouvenir outside of Puerto Barrios, Pastor Santos Teyul Mucu and family, and elders, deacons, and members

- On Sunday, April 14, and the week thereafter:  Hijo del Dios Viviente church in the village of La Guitarra, Pastor Fidel Juc and family, and members, deacons, and elders

- On Sunday, April 21, and during the week thereafter:  El Buen Samaritano church in El Estor’s Nueva Amanacer neighborhood, Pastor Antonio Choc, and members, deacons, and elders

- On Sunday, April 28, and during the week thereafter:  Panzos church, Pastor Oscar Tzul, and members, deacons, and elders

- On Sunday, May 5, and during the week thereafter:  Acacar church, Pastor Mariano Cuz, and members, deacons, and elders

March gathering notes

Communication by phone and webcam was a big part of conversations Saturday among Crescent Hill and Estoreño folks interested in the partnership between the congregation and the presbytery.  During conversations among Crescent Hill folks only, a decision not to have a summertime yard sale was made.  Instead, the group may try periodic (monthly?) sales out of the church lower level (where things are already collecting) and handling paid parking on the Saturday of the St. Joseph’s picnic (in the lot only?).  Estoreño folks – including Pastor Gerardo, Pastor Benjamin, and Ramiro (but no women) - reported on the participation of five Estoreño church leaders in the first installment of the IENPG-Presbyterian seminary-sponsored Q’eqchi’ language theological training program in Coban and hinted that the presbytery could use funds for transportation for this.  Not discussed were the possible El Estor-based theological training program the presbytery had proposed, partnership extension texts from either side, communication about financial transmissions, or upcoming presbytery meetings.  Celebrating the completion of the 2012 local theological training session by 15 Estoreño church leaders, as well as a birthday, was discussed.  A possible gathering/conversation on Saturday morning, April 6, looms.

-Perry

March gathering

Crescent Hill folks interested in Guatemala mission will gather at 9:30 a.m. this Saturday, March 9, at the Yeagers’ home at 206 Cornell in St. Matthews, to hear about last month’s Guatemala Mission Network gathering; talk about extending the Guatemala partnership, engaging the congregation, and fund-raising; and call our partners.  Everyone is welcome.

March prayers

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

 - On Sunday, March 3, and the week thereafter: Lirio de los Valles church in El Estor’s San Jorge neighborhood, Pastor Mario Xo Ical and family, and members, deacons, and elders.

- On Sunday, March 10, and the week thereafter: Puerto del Cielo church in the El Estor suburb of La Union.

- On Sunday, March 17, and the week thereafter: Arca de Noe church in El Estor, Pastor Gerardo Pop Ich and family, and elders, deacons, and members.

- On Sunday, March 24, and the week thereafter: Altar de Noe church in El Estor’s Los Cerritos neighborhood, Pastor Raul Contreras Tut and family, and elders, deacons, and members.

- On Sunday, March 31, and the week thereafter: Espiritu Santo church in El Estor’s San Marcos neighborhood, Pastor José Domingo Xo Ical and family, and elders, deacons, and members.