A letter from Sandi and Brian Thompson-Royer in Guatemala
June 2014 - Launched Out in Love
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Women of the Sinodica greet Sandi
We arrived in Guatemala on Mother’s Day and were greeted by women of the Sinodica with open arms, beautiful flowers, and those sweet Guatemalan kisses. We felt their welcome deeply, a welcome from open hearts. We are so grateful for the time to enter Guatemala slowly. I (Sandi) feel like a toddler learning to walk and talk again. Navigating down the old cobblestone streets takes awareness. We step carefully along narrow, broken-down sidewalks and watch closely so we don’t step in something. When I do look up, I am greeted with “Buenas dias” and warm smiles! Learning Spanish has not come easy for me, but like a toddler I put together my new words and receive correcting and encouragement at the same time. And like a child what makes me happy is fresh papaya, pineapple and strawberries all blended into a yummy smoothie.
Leaving all we know is not easy and frankly at times a bit heartbreaking with a tinge of guilt. My tears welled up as I held on tightly to Maebel, our most recent grandchild, and I realized I won’t hold her for another year. These experiences and emotions have led me to better understand the value of a period of time for itineration and preparation before leaving. As we visited our U.S. churches and communities we saw and experienced an amazing amount of hope and were welcomed and launched out in love everywhere we went. My heart is moved and my faith rejuvenated by our connections.
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Delfina, a weaver at a women’s cooperative
In February we had supper with First Presbyterian Church in Everett, Wash. After our short presentation one of the members asked if we could pray, and they would lay their hands on us. It was at that moment that I realized the power of the laying on of hands. In Acts we read that Jesus sent the apostles out after fasting, praying and laying on of hands. God calls us, the Spirit leads us, and it is the love of our community that sends us out. That simple touch completes us.
Our first two weeks of language school were in San Juan, a little village on Lake Atitlan. The Tz’utujil people here welcomed us into their lives. This village, like most villages on Lake Atitlan, was hit hard during the Civil War, which took so many of the indigenous people. This community is organizing around traditional arts—painting and natural dyes for the weavings. The people are hopeful and many cooperatives work together to gain fairer wages and pride in their art. Walking down the trail to school each day, we were surrounded by lush green coffee trees and garbage. We quickly became close to the girls in our host family, Karen, Tsuceli and Juana Maria, who became our best teachers. Mornings we warmed ourselves around the same fire that cooked our tortillas, eggs and frijoles. Juana, the mom, worked so hard. Two of the three girls were in school. Juana attended college every Saturday and had a full-time job. Yet each day from 5:30 pm on she cooked over a fire, walked to the market, made fresh tortillas, hand-washed the family’s clothes, and on Sunday attended church. Her faith in God gave her the energy to get through each day.
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Our Homestay family: These little ladies are our best teachers
Daily we are confronted with the reality of life in a developing country. Extended families live and work together to provide the necessities we all need: food, water, housing and love. As we are confronted with the crushing reality of survival and suffering, God asks us to open our hearts to walk with the people we meet and be present. We are learning that our version of reality is not the only version. There are many ways to live, and we see and experience courageous hearts and hope every day. The miracle of faith allows our hearts to first break, making enough space for the pain, hope, courage and mystery of the joy people share with us.
I love to share the story of the indigenous women weaving. Girls begin weaving at about 8 years old. They seem to just know from watching their mommas weave on back-strap looms attached to trees, and then they begin themselves. The beauty they create is amazing: magnificent colors woven together, in combinations you wouldn’t imagine going together. These weavings connect them to their culture and identity as indigenous people in Guatemala. The colors and designs all have meanings that lead back to their Maya roots. One weaver told me that she prays as she weaves. Her prayers are woven into her weaving.
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A father and his son haul wood for cooking
Each mission co-worker is invited by their partners. The women of the Sinodica invited the PC(USA) over 12 years ago. They write the job description, decide where we are to live, and are the driving force of activities that happen with the women in the church. There is such a movement of hope with women around the globe right now. The women of the Sinodica are focused on their children, education, nutrition, and keeping their communities alive. We invite you to be part of this journey with us, through your prayers, correspondence and financial gifts. We ask you to help provide them hope. And, like the Guatemalan people we ask you to smile and greet your neighbors as you walk down the street!
As we walk together with the people and with all of you in this Land of the Eternal Spring we are changed forever, dazzled by the brilliant light of the Holy Spirit. May OUR (all of us together) journey provide more hope, empowerment and change for the women. (Brian)
May God’s Love be with each of you,
Sandi and Brian
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Guatemala, pp. 39-40
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