Every once in awhile I’ve felt the presence of God: in a totally spectacular sunset, in a touch on my shoulder at a time of trouble, in a quiet whisper when advice was needed. But for one week in Guatemala, I knew he was there most every moment, every day.

Awareness grew as one by one

our group sleepily gathered at the airport. Even at that hour (4 a.m.) you could tell He was within us. Arriving in Guatemala City, no one there to greet us, it didn’t matter as Meghan broke out a soccer ball, pumped it up, and started a game with the young boys standing around. Someone found candy for the on-lookers.

Later that evening, gathered together for our first end of day reflection, apprehension built as we learned of a little dissension within the Mam Presbytery, but God brought us peace and we slept well.

Greeted by bright skies and a great breakfast we were soon treated to an in depth introduction to Guatemala by Dennis Smith of CEDEPCA (briefly, an ecumenical center), then loaded into the PRESGOV (the Presbyterian organization supporting our trip) van for the trip to Xela, center of the Mam peoples. The route, sometimes smooth and wide, sometimes rough and under construction was always picturesque as it twisted ever higher between volcanic mountains and deep valleys, foretelling our spiritual path over the next few days. With Martin, our driver; Eliseo, our guide; and Rev. David Wiseman (well-named), our shepherd, the path was easy.

The main task of our group was to form a draft agreement for a sister relationship between New Castle Presbytery and the Mam Presbytery. One day was allotted for this awesome task. We gathered at the Presbytery offices and began discussions. Toward noon, I whispered something to Sally, who replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll have an outline in ten minutes.” She did. Wow! Thank you, God. And we broke for lunch. In the manner of such things, some of us lingered over lunch, and waited for the very special dessert the proprietress was preparing and the others fretted and checked their watches. Gathered again, with the sun descending, but Sally’s outline in hand, one by one each item was filled in, checked off, and translated into Spanish and English. As most of us disappeared to freshen for dinner, Felipe and one of the David’s disappeared into an office with a lap-top to type the script.

Next day as copies were passed around, compared and edited many of us had time to talk with the Mam women and a few of the youth about their lives and their faith. A teen-aged girl spoke deeply about the importance of a supportive family; a young man about the difficulties of making a living. Through their words, the smiles on their faces, their gift of a warm meal, the light of their life in God shone through.

Some of you would love Sunday in the Mam world. We spent the morning shopping. Church did not begin until two. One of those rocky times occurred and we arrived late. It didn’t matter, church begins with warm-up music and we were greeted by a rousing Mariachi band. Allison and I soon left with the children for Sunday School. She told a story and we learned “Jesus Loves Me” in the Mam language. Meanwhile, Linda (our lay preacher) was asked to give the sermon and the others to sing. It all ended with the breaking of a candy filled piñata and lots of smiles and hugs.

Monday, we traveled to the Agri-Maya project most of you have heard about. Sally and I were to deliver the gift from the children of our congregation to Salome, the head person, whom many of you met when he visited our church last year. Salome’s work has become so successful, that just six months ago, the Presbytery decided he was ready to be on his own. With this change came many legal bills, so the gift we presented him was not only timely, but very much needed. God knew and blessed us with a ray of sunshine. We toured part of his farm, learned how he finds and uses plants ecologically, visited a neighbor experimenting with cisterns, and lunched with his family.

Earlier in the week, communicating with you through prayer, Sally and I made the decision to take a portion of the funds you sent with us and donate them to the Presbytery. We had learned that beyond third grade families must pay for their children’s education, meaning often that only one child in the family could continue his schooling. We asked that the money be divided into four scholarships and that the children receiving them write us about their lives. We also gave them school supplies.

From here on it was all literally downhill, as we moved to a coffee ranch at a lower altitude, where the owner showed us his methods of diversification and Dr. Chuck had his chance to dispense TLC. Then it was on to Antiqua for an afternoon of shopping, a final evening reflection with shared communion, and back to Guatemala City for our return flight.

As I continue to remember and reflect on this special time, I am awed by God’s ability to work through unique people with diverse traits and characteristics to bring about understanding and compassion. I know it would not have been possible without your love, your prayers, your gifts and His abiding presence.

Faith Duncan