Stepping into Mission in Guatemala, 2009
Methodists from Wellspring UMC in McKinney, Grace UMC in east Dallas, and Northaven joined together for the 2009 mission trip to Guatemala. The ten team members worked with VIM missionary Mary Micikas, her sister Ashley, and Vicente’s construction crew for a week of stuccoing a soon-to-be-completed dental clinic in the Tz’utujil Maya community of San Juan la Laguna on beautiful Lake Atitlan.
Lake Atitlan
We celebrated the hard work each day with warm showers, great food, rousing games of 42 and UNO, or quiet reading, a dip in Lake Atitlan, fellowship, and sing-alongs with Rick O’Connor’s guitar. Trip highlights included a visit to the ruins of Iximche’, the capital of the Kaqchikel Maya at the time of the Spanish conquest, and to a weaving cooperative to learn about natural dyes and weaving on a backstrap loom. In addition to exercising muscles we had forgotten we had, we developed new skills in tortilla making under the tutelage of Loida, the daughter of our Tz’utujil hosts at Casa Rosada. We were enriched by meeting Timoteo, the nurse at the Clínica Metodista in San Juan, and to learn of his dreams for a better future for his people. We felt called to continue to be a part of those dreams. We were honored on behalf of Grace and Northaven congregations to deliver their generous donations of much needed medical supplies to the Clínica Metodista in San Juan and school supplies to the children in the after school tutoring program in San Pablo la Laguna. Before leaving Guatemala, we walked the cobblestone streets of Antigua, the Spanish colonial capital, and danced the “Baile de los Moros” (Dance of the Moors) at the Posada de Don Rodrigo. We returned with a new love for Guatemala and her people and a renewed spirit to deepen our faith by seeking ever more profound ways to accompany the poor.
We are grateful to the members of Grace and Northaven for your prayers and support and we encourage you to consider going on the next mission trip. We are reminded by Northaven pastor, Eric Folkerth, that engaging in mission is an important risk for the church and for our souls.
Zoraida, Norma, Maryann, Jan, and Mack making tortillas Casa Rosada
Jan and dancers at Posada de Don Rodrigo
Antonio, Norma, Timoteo at Clínica Metodista
Rick O'Connor's window at Clínica Metodista, San Juan la Laguna
Ana and weavers of Ajbatz' B'al, San Juan la Laguna
Sing-a-long at Casa Rosada, Rick and Tony
© 2009 Northaven United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved.