January 31, 2007
Dear Friends of the Kekchi,
This letter is for folks with partnerships in the regions of
Guatemala inhabited by the Kekchi.
I returned to Guatemala in September after spending six months
traveling and speaking with various churches and groups about
the mission work of the PC(USA), our work in particular, and how
God is using all of us to promote his reign in the world. I have
been fortunate to return to Cobán to live and to work especially
with the Kekchi people.
My work takes me throughout the regions of the Kekchi who live
in the departments of the Petén, Altaverapaz, Bajaverapaz,
Izabal, and a little into Quiche.
All of you represent churches and presbyteries that have been
involved with the Kekchi for years and many of you have made multiple
trips here. You have saved vacation days and money to be able
to share your valuable time with your Kekchi friends. You know
certain parts of Kekchi country very well and particular Kekchi
individuals have become like family to you. I can mention names
like Alberto, Domingo, Sebastián, Patrocinia, José,
and that mention alone will carry you immediately to Guatemala.
I know you worry about them, pray for them, and want to help them
and learn from them. I know also that this is sometimes a struggle
for you as you try to encourage participation from your churches
and presbyteries.
All of you have a lot in common, even though you represent diverse
areas such as Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Idaho, and all
have a heart for the Kekchi. Many of you have shared your concerns
with me and you cannot forget the Kekchi no matter how hard some
of you may have tried. How to best address their needs and yours
while responding to your faith is an ongoing question. I struggle
with the Kekchi daily and I can empathize with all of you.
I know how difficult it is at times to put a group together to
come visit. Some people want to build churches or schools, others
want to have medical trips, others to offer Bible school experiences
for kids, others just want to come and be with their Kekchi friends
because they can better sense and feel God’s presence in
their own lives. How do you accommodate all these interests in
a trip of only a few days? That is difficult and often impossible.
But if you combine your efforts and take advantage of our Presbyterian
system, everyone’s desires could be met.
Some have said to me they have no skills to build things so they
cannot come on a trip with that as a focus. Others say they are
too old or only want to talk, worship, and be with the people
but if a trip involves much travel they cannot handle it or do
not want to do it. Some physicians have said to me if they cannot
use their skills they see no reason to visit. There are lots of
reasons people give for not making the trip even though they have
a strong desire to do it. Because we are all connected, I suggest
that there are enough trips to accommodate every church and presbytery
if we work together. Getting ten people together with a common
focus would be simpler and could solve a lot of issues.
A combined trip or joint effort on the part of people from Tennessee,
Texas, Washington, or Idaho, for example, could generate renewed
enthusiasm as well as enable you to make new friends in the United
States while strengthening the PC(USA). This is what our system
of connectionalism is all about and I suggest it is time to do
it.
An advantage would be that a few from Tennessee could travel
with a few from Washington to the Polochic, an area those from
Tennessee do not know, to do a medical trip for example, or those
from Washington could travel into the wilds of the Petén
with those from Tennessee to work on a water project. The same
is true for those from Texas or Idaho. This would involve little
additional coordination. An initial trip made up of people from
Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Indiana to travel throughout
Kekchi areas could be beneficial and would allow all to report
to their churches and presbyteries what is happening throughout
the land of the Kekchis and would increase your knowledge and
understanding of the Kekchi people.
The Kekchi live in remote areas and are the most forgotten of
the people here. Such a combined effort would help everybody,
especially those of us from the United States. Please respond
with your thoughts and observations. God’s reign does in
large measure depend on us.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope
of the poor perish forever.
Psalm 9:18
Peace,
Roger
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 65 |
