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The year
2008 was the last year of the formal four year covenant of
partnership between the K’anhab’al Presbytery of the
Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (IENPG), and the Cincinnati
Presbytery. To cap the activity of our partnership with the
K’anhab’al, we fielded an exploratory team of four members
of Presbytery to visit the K’anhab’al in San Juan Ixcoy,
Guatemala, to review the progress of the partnership and
report back to the Presbytery on the accomplishments of the
partnership.
 From
September 5 through September 15, Linda Askren & Darla
Renner of Reading Lockland PC, Harold Rogg of Calvary PC,
and Ron Cowgill of College Hill PC, participated in the
mission trip to the K’anhab’al Presbytery centered in San
Juan Ixcoy, Guatemala. The purpose was to bring to closure
the previous 4 years of partnership between the Presbytery
of Cincinnati and the K’anhab’al Presbytery, of the IENPG of
Guatemala, while evaluating the potential for future
relationships with the K’anhab’al. The team was delighted
at every turn from the warm reception at the top of the
mountain leading into the valley of San Juan Ixcoy, to the
closing worship where we were sent home with affectionate
prayer support. We concluded that though not all things had
worked, many of the initiatives of the partnership had born
fruit, and beautiful fruit it was. It is exciting to see the
advent of a school and seminary in San Juan Ixcoy. There
were physical improvements at the San Juan Ixcoy church, and
we witnessed worship of over 100 in that revitalized church.
The water purification system, while still functioning, is
not living up to the potential we had hoped for, but work is
still ongoing there. A new building for office and school
is continuing to be used and is becoming more functional.
We believe there is continued reason to be in partnership
with our sisters and brothers in Christ in Guatemala, if for
no other reason that to witness the work of the Spirit among
the K’anhab’al, and to continue to provide prayerful support
for their endeavor. A bonus is the living example of vital
church life even in an environment of poverty of material
possessions, and an example of the Spirit of God at work in
the life of the church and the community it dwells in.
As part of the project work associated with this mission
trip, the Presbytery of Cincinnati provided funds to
complete the installation of a floor in the ongoing project
to provide a school and office building for the K’anhab’al
Presbytery. The floor is now complete, and the leadership
has enrolled 60 students for the coming year.
K’anhab’al Presbytery Committee
Members left to right: Felipe Rafael, Pastor and Vice
President: Domingo Lucas, Pastor and Supervisor of
Presbytery: Gaspar García Loarca, Member of
Christian Service Committee: Mario Vargas, Pastor and
Treasurer: Gaspar López Ramírez, Pastor and President
Relationships Committee: Marcos Lucas.
Ron Cowgill,
K’anhab’al Organizer |
