A letter from Sandi and Brian Thompson-Royer serving in Guatemala
Christmas - Walking Together
After the nutrition workshop for soy bread, pan de soya, I got a gift of a giant loaf with my name en espanol with dough, Bryllan. This is Angel, an elder in the church, with Jesus, a Catholic worker that the Presbyterians are doing the soy project with. — in Santo Domingo, Suchitepequez, Guatemala.
Today I did some Christmas shopping at UPAVIM (Unidas para Vivir Mejor—United for a Better Life—a Guatemalan nonprofit women's organization). Before I shopped, I heard the story of a community of displaced people who are survivors of the civil war and had the courage to begin to build a new community. They were not welcomed, had no access to water—only vacant land in an area where every day their lives were confronted with violence, filth, and unimaginable poverty. Today, 30 years later, it is still in an area wrought with violence and poverty, yet there is hope and programs that support the community. UPAVIM’s building hosts a medical clinic, bakery, day care, Montessori school, scholarships for students, jobs for women, and a large Fair Trade craft business that helps support all of these programs. The fourth floor of their building was funded by a Self Development of People grant, which comes out of the PC(USA) One Great Hour of Sharing offering. We had children sing to us in both English and Spanish. Women shared their stories of how their lives are different because of UPAVIM. One woman had worked there for only a month but for eight years she had prayed for the job because the working conditions and benefits are so good. After the tour and hearing the stories, of course I wanted to shop! I bought a little Christmas tree, butterfly-shaped earrings, and heart garlands all made from recycled pop cans. Also, “angels of hope” ornaments sewn from traditional Guatemalan fabric. There is much more to this story and there have been many unimaginable struggles to get to where they are today, and the struggles continue. These are women with vision and hope to continue to transform their community. I left lifted by their stories and knowing I had helped in a very small way to be part of this by listening and purchasing my gifts.
Annual gathering of the Presbyterian Women
Sharing a meal at the gathering
Just another travel day for the Sinodica
Feliz Navidad is upon us, and like many of you I enjoy giving gifts to my family and close friends. Over the years Brian and I have lessened our giving and consumerism, but we still enjoy giving in other ways. Fair Trade is a way to support artisans in developing countries who are working for a better life. Often we support an organization whose mission aligns with our values and make a donation in a family member’s name. Our gifts show our love to the person who will receive our gifts and in this different way of giving it also helps transform communities and the lives of those in them.
Brian and I have been invited to serve in Guatemala with the women because those before us have worked hard through their love and care to develop deep relationships and partnerships. We walk very slowly to get to know our partners. We are not here to look for the “needs” of the communities we work in. Instead, we focus on their assets, their own gifts, and engage and walk together in ways that we are asked. Our call to be here is more about being and learning than doing. As a result, we are all transformed.
Wherever we might live, this is a season where we take time to connect with our communities. We celebrate together, share our special traditional foods, hospitality, and our love for one another. It is our first Christmas in Guatemala and we will miss our family, especially our grandchildren. Already we have been invited to share with our new friends. By being here during this time we will also deepen our community and friendships through sharing these special times together.
As you consider your gifts to those you love and also your year-end giving, we hope you will consider financially supporting our mission in partnership with the women of the Sinódica (Presbyterian Women in Guatemala). The women are proud to be supporting nutrition classes in areas of the country where malnutrition is nearly 50 percent. “Four in 10 children (43.4 percent) under 5 are chronically malnourished (as measured by height relative to age), a condition that causes them to drop out of school, lowers their productivity, makes them susceptible to illness and even loss of intellectual quotient, which are irreversible effects that last a lifetime. Chronic malnutrition affects 8 in 10 (80 percent) indigenous children” (UNICEF). This next year the goal is to increase these workshops and collaborate with other groups to decrease the levels of malnutrition.
Brian has been spending time working and supporting growth in another community where the local government, nonprofits, schools and churches are partnering on a variety of levels to create healthier families, diminish malnutrition, and improve education in the schools. This November Suchitepeque and Sur Occidente presbyteries in Guatemala and Western North Carolina Presbytery in the U.S. celebrated together a 20-year partnership working together on these issues. In November we were also able to attend a micro-loan training with women. These efforts are another way to empower women and strengthen their capacity for earning.
We hope you will “make love your aim” (1 Corinthians 14.1, New Jerusalem Bible) as you give. We are grateful for your support and prayers. Also your emails and cards help us through our days. We now can receive mail here at Sexta Calle 15-48, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala 9001.
We send our thanks and blessings to each of you in this season of hope.
Sandi and Brian Thompson-Royer
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Guatemala, pp. 39-40
The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 70
Read more about Brian and Sandi Thompson-Royer's ministry
Contact: Brian Thompson-Royer (brian.thompson-royer@pcusa.org)
Contact: Sandi Thompson-Royer (sandi.thompson-royer@pcusa.org)
Individuals: Give online to E200334 for Brian and Sandi Thompson-Royer's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507581for Brian and Sandi Thompson-Royer's sending and support
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
Double Your Impact!
A group of committed donors has pledged to match all gifts sent by individuals for mission personnel support now through December 31, 2014, up to $137,480. This means your gift today will be matched by a gift to support mission personnel around the world, wherever the need is greatest. We invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to double the impact of your gift. Thank you!
