February 11, 2008

Friends,

The New Year has begun and with it has come renewed interest and enthusiasm for those churches and presbyteries that enjoy partnerships with the Kekchi people of Guatemala.

On the weekend of January 10, thirty people gathered at Pines Presbyterian Church in Houston for the first meeting of the four groups with partnerships with this isolated and neglected people in the remote northern departments of the Petén, Izabál, Altaverapaz, and the municipality of Ixcán in the department of Quiche. People came from Washington, Montana, Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas to meet one another, share experiences, and talk about how they could better serve God working together while serving with these remote and underserved Mayan people. The meeting eclipsed expectations for everyone in attendance.

All were veterans. The missioners had been visiting Guatemala for years—some for two or three, but others for 10 years and still others for more than 20. Yet during all those visits over all those years while working with the same Mayan people, most had never met the others or had much of an idea about how the others were working with their particular partner. The meeting was held in order that people could get to know one another and determine how to do their work and fulfill their calling in a more efficient and faithful manner while magnifying their efforts at the same time. Presbyterians have always prided themselves on their “connectionalism,” but here it was in action in Texas, and for some it may well have been the first time.

The weekend began Friday evening as missoners arrived from around the country for time of conversation, worship, and dinner. Praise music was provided by an eclectic group of musicians from Pines Presbyterian Church. Pines pastor Wayne Eberley led the group in worship around the topic of jubilee—the haves and the have-nots. A relaxed evening of worship, dinner, conversation, informal introductions, and a general sense of shared ministry led everyone to a good night’s rest at the home of one of the good members of Pines. This was doubly important because the work of meeting and discussing began immediately after breakfast (prepared by Pines members) and did not end until late afternoon.

Topics that affect every group had been identified: secular, vocational, and theological education, health, money handling, ministries of presence, projects, building, water, and agriculture. Time was made available to address all topics. The group learned that Rotary International, with clubs around the world, also had clubs and partners in Guatemala. These clubs have a particular interest in water and education, two topics of great interest to many people in attendance. We learned that Rotary had worked in tandem with the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee to make water available in villages in the Petén. This was a natural fit and made the idea of working together with the Rotary clubs and the Presbyterians from the partnerships an idea worth exploring—and exploring with energy! Committees on education, health, and agriculture were formed from among the partners, and the idea of a super partnership to address the least served areas was born.

The full day of activity concluded at 6:00 p.m., just in time to enjoy the hospitality of one of the Texas hosts who offered his home to all those in attendance to have an evening of stress-free conviviality.  Some stayed to enjoy formal worship with the Pines congregation on Sunday prior to heading home.

This is the way Presbyterians, and all God’s children, should work together—caring for each other and laboring together as they assist those on the margins to meet their God-given potential while claiming their own salvation in the process. Those in attendance recognized the worth of what they were doing—so much so that they agreed to meet in six months—July 25-27—at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, for another weekend of struggling together in harmonious activity, learning more of God and what he would have us do and be to serve him better and live life in a more complete and faithful manner. We can do far more together than we can do separately.

All are looking to the summer meeting with heightened anticipation due to the positive results of this first effort to work together, to share resources and information, to have combined mission trips, to learn to trust and rely on one another. They invite your participation. Karen Stevens was named official communicator for the group. Email her at kstevens@comcast.net. In a time of trial, suspicion, and cynicism, this meeting shines as a beacon as to what the kingdom can be, should be, for all of us. Let us pray that there will be more gatherings of this kind so that the truth of our faith can be lived out.

Peace,

Roger and Gloria

Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Psalm 4:3

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 258