Raising the Roof

As we continue to walk together, we can rejoice with the ILAG church “La Resurreccion” in the neighborhood of El Tuerto in Guatemala City. On July 15th they will celebrate their 15th anniversary of being a church. It is a church of women leaders including a Minster of the Word who is a woman.

This church has had a challenging 15 years. For the first years they had to reach their church grasping onto roots and weeds in order not to fall down the ravine where their church is located. Slowly they began to build the walls one layer of brick at a time as they could afford it or someone volunteered the skilled labor. Five years ago they had to abandon their building because they did not have a roof and the heavy rains were too much to withstand. They worshipped in garages and patios of members and neighbors for four years and last year returned to their church building under a temporary roof which covered half of their building.

For three years now the women of the church have been working to raise the permanent roof of their church building. They have held raffles, bake sales, and hosted community projects in order to raise the funds needed. The worry was that with one more heavy rainy season the foundation of the church would be washed away and the church with it.

The women said that they would do it… and they achieved it, surprising us one Sunday when we arrived and worshipped in a church with a roof! And a roof that extended over the entire building, built by a fellow Lutheran from the Northern Department (State) of Guatemala. They still need windows and doors. They still have only a dirt floor and don’t have electricity or running water. But they have faith in abundance and the will to work hard together to achieve.