Saturday, October 31, 2009
Lyle and Suzanne Back Home Again in Indiana
We received word that Lyle and Suzanne are safely home again and are healthy so far!! The discussion at the US embassy regarding the situation in Chichipate was a fitting ending to their experience. Thank you for the prayers of support during their trip. Continued prayers of guidance are appreciated as we seek ways for them to share their experiences and how our community may respond.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Update from Suzanne and Lyle 10/29
We are finally back in computer land today, after an intense and unspeakably meaningful trip to three Sister Parish Sites. The best news is that our friends Teresa, Martin, Enrique, and Vincente, from Chichipate travelled with us to the second site, and we had some deep and meaningful conversations with them, as well as precious time shared.
Our delegation has been warmly welcomed at each site and the stories and photos will say alot when we get home. Upavim was our first site, and that is an inner city cooperative and resulting community that was started by Lydia Spehr´s Brother and sister in law, Richard and Barbara Fenske. At Tierra Nueve 2 we were treated with a moving presentation of dance, song, and Mayan tradition by the youth of the community, and a Mass that was standing room only where were were warmly recognized. There was also a presentation by the Women´s group showing us their crafts and telling us their stories of sisterhood. In San Andres Itzapa we had the privilege of participating in a Mayan Ceremony at the Ruins in Mixco, along with a visit to a local farm, and a Sister Parish funded school. All of the congregations have let us know how vital it is to their congregations to have a Sister Parish, and that has been an important message for us to hear and experience.
It is late and there is so much more but we are safe and well with full hearts and many stories to process and share. Tommorow our delegation is going to the US Embassy to meet with the Human Rights spokesperson to discuss the situation in El Estor-Chichipate, and other Sister Parish issues.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
In good faith,
Suzanne
Our delegation has been warmly welcomed at each site and the stories and photos will say alot when we get home. Upavim was our first site, and that is an inner city cooperative and resulting community that was started by Lydia Spehr´s Brother and sister in law, Richard and Barbara Fenske. At Tierra Nueve 2 we were treated with a moving presentation of dance, song, and Mayan tradition by the youth of the community, and a Mass that was standing room only where were were warmly recognized. There was also a presentation by the Women´s group showing us their crafts and telling us their stories of sisterhood. In San Andres Itzapa we had the privilege of participating in a Mayan Ceremony at the Ruins in Mixco, along with a visit to a local farm, and a Sister Parish funded school. All of the congregations have let us know how vital it is to their congregations to have a Sister Parish, and that has been an important message for us to hear and experience.
It is late and there is so much more but we are safe and well with full hearts and many stories to process and share. Tommorow our delegation is going to the US Embassy to meet with the Human Rights spokesperson to discuss the situation in El Estor-Chichipate, and other Sister Parish issues.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
In good faith,
Suzanne
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Solidarity Delegation Sunday Update 10/25
Here is the update from Ashley from Sister Parish regarding Lyle and Suzanne:
Because we were not able to travel to Chichipate, 4 representatives
from the community came into the capital are with Lyle and Suzanne
visiting Tierra Nueva 2. I am afraid that names are escaping me, but
three of the representatives that came today have traveled to
Bloomington (Teresa, Teresa's Husband, and another gentleman), and
also Enrique, who is a younger gentleman.
They spent most of today together in Tierra Nueva 2. They will worship
with the community in Tierra Nueva 2 early Sunday, and then return to
SPC. Suzanne and Lyle in particular will have a chance to sit down and
talk with the representatives from Chichipate as well. The delegation
will be heading to the third community we are visiting, San Andres
Itzapa, on Sunday afternoon.
We spent all day Friday and Friday night in UPAVIM--one of the first
Sister Parish communities. All of the women in UPAVIM send many
greetings to everyone at St. Thomas--because, they say, even though we
may not have had a chance to meet, we are all brothers and sisters in
Christ.
Take care,
Ashley
Because we were not able to travel to Chichipate, 4 representatives
from the community came into the capital are with Lyle and Suzanne
visiting Tierra Nueva 2. I am afraid that names are escaping me, but
three of the representatives that came today have traveled to
Bloomington (Teresa, Teresa's Husband, and another gentleman), and
also Enrique, who is a younger gentleman.
They spent most of today together in Tierra Nueva 2. They will worship
with the community in Tierra Nueva 2 early Sunday, and then return to
SPC. Suzanne and Lyle in particular will have a chance to sit down and
talk with the representatives from Chichipate as well. The delegation
will be heading to the third community we are visiting, San Andres
Itzapa, on Sunday afternoon.
We spent all day Friday and Friday night in UPAVIM--one of the first
Sister Parish communities. All of the women in UPAVIM send many
greetings to everyone at St. Thomas--because, they say, even though we
may not have had a chance to meet, we are all brothers and sisters in
Christ.
Take care,
Ashley
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Solidarity Delegation Arrived
Pastor Lyle wrote to say that they arrived and are staying at the Sister Parish headquarters in Guatemala City while receiving some orientation to the history, customs, etc. He writes:
Guatemala City is warm and much like other places in Mexico and Central America in terms of development and look. We took a walk for lunch at a nice local place (plaintain and a blackberry drink were the only departures from what might be expected in the U.S.). We also walked to the city center to view the cathedral and palace.
No one is experiencing any ill effects yet from food, climate, altitude, or insects. We depart for UPAVIM tomorrow.
We will indeed be visiting with representatives of Chichipate! That's very good news. They will travel with us to Tierra Nueva Dos on Saturday. So we will give them our several gifts for the community then, discuss how things are going with the school, and talk about what we might do related to solidarity/advocacy.
With hopes that all is well with you and the folks at St. Thomas.
Grace and peace,
Lyle
Guatemala City is warm and much like other places in Mexico and Central America in terms of development and look. We took a walk for lunch at a nice local place (plaintain and a blackberry drink were the only departures from what might be expected in the U.S.). We also walked to the city center to view the cathedral and palace.
No one is experiencing any ill effects yet from food, climate, altitude, or insects. We depart for UPAVIM tomorrow.
We will indeed be visiting with representatives of Chichipate! That's very good news. They will travel with us to Tierra Nueva Dos on Saturday. So we will give them our several gifts for the community then, discuss how things are going with the school, and talk about what we might do related to solidarity/advocacy.
With hopes that all is well with you and the folks at St. Thomas.
Grace and peace,
Lyle
Solidarity Delegation Updates
I'll try and post updates as I get them from the delegation. I just heard that they arrived safely and are in their orientation in Guatemala City right now. We continue our prayers for safety for all involved and a fruitful time walking alongside the communities they visit.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Winter Shelter Seeks Volunteers
St. Thomas passed motions at both the mission committee meeting and the council meeting to support the interfaith low barrier shelter through weekly volunteers and financial support.
The Interfaith Winter Shelter, a low barrier overnight shelter designed to provide homeless people a warm and safe place to sleep, depends totally on volunteers and is actively seeking volunteers as it gears up for the winter season, which begins Nov. 1. IWS operates as a "rotating site." Three congregations take turns providing space and bedding. Community members serve as volunteer staff.
All volunteers are required to attend one three hour training session. Upcoming training dates are: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m. First United Church, firstunited@firstunitedchurchbloomington.org
Monday, Oct. 19, 6-9 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, admin@trinitybloomington.org
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2-5 p.m. First Christian Church, fcc@fcc-blmgtn.org
Volunteers may train at any location and serve at any location. They do not have to be a member of a faith community in order to volunteer. Volunteers must be 18 or older, or must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while volunteering and at orientation. Online registration and detailed information is available at interfaithwintershelter.org/volunteer/ ,or email one of the training sites.
The Interfaith Winter Shelter, a low barrier overnight shelter designed to provide homeless people a warm and safe place to sleep, depends totally on volunteers and is actively seeking volunteers as it gears up for the winter season, which begins Nov. 1. IWS operates as a "rotating site." Three congregations take turns providing space and bedding. Community members serve as volunteer staff.
All volunteers are required to attend one three hour training session. Upcoming training dates are: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6-9 p.m. First United Church, firstunited@firstunitedchurchbloomington.org
Monday, Oct. 19, 6-9 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, admin@trinitybloomington.org
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2-5 p.m. First Christian Church, fcc@fcc-blmgtn.org
Volunteers may train at any location and serve at any location. They do not have to be a member of a faith community in order to volunteer. Volunteers must be 18 or older, or must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while volunteering and at orientation. Online registration and detailed information is available at interfaithwintershelter.org/volunteer/ ,or email one of the training sites.
CROP Walk
Thank you to everyone who supported CROP Walk through prayers, donations and walking. If you didn't get a chance to donate, you can still do so for the next couple of weeks. A special thank you to our youngest "walker" here and his family for participating!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Solidarity Delegation to Guatemala
Please keep the Solidarity Delegation in your prayers. They depart Wednesday of this week and return the following week on Friday (Oct. 30). We pray for safe travels, a time of learning and growing, and that it will provide us as a community a window into the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Guatemala. We also keep the community of Chichipate in our prayers with the recent violence there.
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