A letter from Marcia Towers in Guatemala
November 2013
Friends,
I’ve loved having nine groups of Young Adult Volunteers over my time as mission co-worker in Guatemala. Toward the end of each year, we talk about re-entry, and the first huge part of doing re-entry well is LEAVING WELL. Now it is a new time in life and instead of helping others walk through the process of leaving well, my family begins the process of leaving well! In the space of this newsletter I’d like to share with you that I’ll be finishing as a mission co-worker at the end of July 2014, share my journey that has taken me to this place of transition, and tell you that there is still so much to be done before I move back to the U.S.!
I celebrate all the time I shared with Young Adult Volunteers! Here I am (left) with the last group of YAVs in Guatemala.
I feel very grateful about the process of transition, because my plans for change coincided with the PC(USA)’s plans for change. The PC(USA) has decided that Guatemala will close for now as a Young Adult Volunteer site. The program ran for 15 consecutive years in Guatemala, and I was the site coordinator for the last nine years. During my coordination, 41 YAVs served in Guatemala, and probably 25 YAVs served in the years prior. The Guatemala site was one of a few international sites that are set up for YAVs to stay in homes the whole year and provided an opportunity for YAVs who want to learn Spanish to study and practice the language. But it is time for this site to close to make space for other countries where YAVs can work even more with PC(USA) partners on World Mission’s priorities of root causes of poverty, evangelism, and reconciliation.
My plans were also coming together to make some changes. I was an industrial engineer in my undergraduate studies, but through involvement in a college Presbyterian Student Fellowship, I traveled to Mexico on a mission trip and started to feel called to work that could address the poverty and injustices that I was being exposed to. So I got my master’s degree in International Development and soon after began as a mission co-worker with the PC(USA). I love that I did this. I have learned so much about doing mission well, about what makes for a meaningful life, about how to grow in faith and in self-understanding. I’ve touched many people’s lives and been touched by their lives. I’ve been loving this work for almost 10 years.
CEDEPCA is helping me think about leaving well. For my recent birthday they made this sign saying "Happy Birthday" and "We’ll miss you!" It seems a bit soon to miss me, but I’m thankful for their care! I’m pictured here (left) with CEDEPCA’s general coordinator Judith Castañeda
And at the same time I’ve missed some technical parts of myself that I know are gifts also. I’ve always thought that it would be wonderful if I could do something technical that also helps the world. After more discernment, I’m excited to make a transition into being a bilingual speech therapist. This apparently huge change in career doesn’t seem to me to be such a big leap – it combines my technical self with the self that wants to help make the world a better place, it will let me work with the Latino community, and it is a space where I can be present with kids and parents in an aspect where they are feeling vulnerable. I’m looking forward to being active in a church back in the U.S. as an adult, since after my studies I have mostly lived outside of the country.
But I’m not leaving yet! Before my end date, I will be in the U.S. for interpretation during the summer of 2014. And I’m thankful that I’m not returning yet, there is still so much to be done!
At CEDEPCA, we are redefining my job to work myself out of the job as much as possible. I feel fulfilled because as recently as 2009, the Disaster Ministry at CEDEPCA seemed to be just me sitting in my office reading about psychosocial care and thinking about how we could use CEDEPCA’s experience in mental health and theological training. With CEDEPCA’s staff, we’ve been able to make the dream a reality and specialize in psycho-care and education for risk reduction. We’ve responded after four major emergencies from storms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and drought. The staff of the Disaster Ministry is now well prepared for their roles, and now we need to use these remaining months to take over the roles that I’ve still been playing. This means that my job description is no longer to do anything myself, but to do it together with my co-workers so that they build these skills as well.
Thank you for this opportunity to serve God in this transition. Please continue your support for me into 2014, through prayers, correspondence (marciajt@yahoo.com) and the financial support that so many of you have so faithfully provided.
Marcia
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 16
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