Mountains

Guatemala is a land of mountains—some are beautifully vibrant covered in green—the color of life. Corn is often planted down the side regardless of how steep the mountain may be and in the early morning or after a hard rain the heavens touch the earth as the clouds caress the mountain peaks.

In the capital, I have seen a mountain being eaten by men—one scoop at a time the sand/dirt is taken for construction until it was no more… men can move mountains, making room this time for a development in the ever-expanding Guatemala City.

While this mountain was being eaten another was and still is being formed. In a valley near La Isla dump trucks and trailers bring construction waste to dump into the valley. They pass through a cemetery to dump their loads into the open mouth of the valley which, sadly, is fitting because this mountain does not bring life with its formation.

And we the people in Guatemala face mountains as well in our lives—some people make them, some try to simply find the mountain pass and head for the next and others are moving mountains both for the good and for the bad.

Joventud… the beginning of the youth group

We will be having, for the first time, two groups of youth from Minnesotan churches are visiting the ILAG this summer. We are excited to introduce another generation to the Guatemala Lutheran Church and our members. However, we did not have a youth group… so with the approval of Padre Horacio and the help of two young adult members of El Mirador, Horacio Darynel and I started a youth group.

Youth in Guatemala extends from 8 to 35 years old! Very few of which have really had a chance to be children, especially in the City but in a different way in the countryside, considering the harsh conditions of the City and presence of gangs, needing to help raise younger siblings. In the country the challenge is the girls at times get married at 14.

The first Sunday in July, we invited to the office the youth of four of the churches of the City… El Mirador, Porvenir, La Isla and El Tuerto. Youth from all but El Tuerto were able to attend. We picked a time between the services of each so that it would not interfere and 20 youth showed up for the first time event! We played some icebreakers, sang songs, had a bible study competition, planned the up-coming activities, and then several played soccer for an hour or so.

When they came, each group sat with members of their specific community with body language communicating loud and clear that they were unsure. I played a game with them which forced them to move seats after which, when they were all inter-mixed, telling them that while we have our individual communities we also are a National church here to support and get to know each other. It is my, our, hope to extend the youth program to all of churches of the ILAG and we hope to have a National Youth Gathering in the coming years.

It is my hope that they will make this their own, taking leadership and initiative… but I also know that they will need guidance and help in seeing the possibilities and indeed what they are capable of and what role the church can have in their presents and in their futures.
It is exciting! Please keep this new group in your prayers. They already have decided to present a play to the group from Minnesota when they come to visit… so I hope that we can keep this momentum going.

Susie and Stana

These two gregarious women visited us in mid-June for a day on their way to Xela for language school. They had met Padre Horacio and Esther while they were in Minnesota visiting and emailed us to see if we could help with some logistics of their visit but also had time to host them for a day. We, of course, were happy to help and to host.

They were so gracious and so invested in their visit. We brought them to one of the new churches in the ILAG, in Porvenir called “La Santa Cruz.” Many of the women were able to come for an hour in the afternoon to meet these two women. Susie and Stana were surprised and honored that the women had gotten together for them and really engaged the women of the church asking what their hopes are for the future and a bit about the history of the church. We were given coffee and a piece of bread… each of us guests receiving a ceramic cup while those of the community drank out of disposable cups.

After a short rest and lunch in the Lutheran Center, we went to visit our Lutheran elementary school in El Mirador. Both Susie and Stana are teachers so I can say without a doubt that both the children and the two women enjoyed their time. Each class welcomed them and shared a bit what they are learning. My second and third graders sang head, shoulders, knees and toes in both Spanish and English. Susie and Stana took time to speak with the teachers, supporting them and sharing ideas.

They also brought donations of the shampoo and soap variety but also clothing. Which will be greatly appreciated throughout the church.

On so many levels, it was a refreshing visit. It is always enjoyable to share our ministry with people from other parts of the church universal, but they were delightful and open and truly listened to the voice of the people.