A letter from Ellen Dozier in Guatemala
June 1, 2007
Dear Friends,
Maya K'ekchi participants in a course called, “It's Marvelous to be a Woman.”We had finished with all the tedious details of the meeting of the directiva (governing body) of the presbyterial (Presbyterian women’s group of the presbytery), things like reading the minutes of three past meetings, discussing at length two amendments to those minutes, trying to decide the date for a workshop and who would be the leader, and all the formal letters that needed to be written to confirm the place, leader, and what food we would have. In my North American way of doing things I kept thinking, why don’t we just telephone everyone! Things like this drive me crazy because it seems to take forever to get anything finalized. But I have learned that in a culture where so few women can read and write, in a culture that feeds on rumors, it is very important to have things “written into the minutes.” So I tried to be patient as I sat through the amendments, corrections, and long discussions.
Just when I thought it was time for the closing prayer and then lunch and we would all be on our way home, Wilma (not her real name) spoke up, “I have something I want to share with you,” she said as she twisted a small towel in her hands.
“About a month ago my husband came into the house. I was cooking and my two daughters were in the kitchen with me. He spit out harsh, vindictive words [She didn’t share these words—it seemed they were too horrible to repeat], and then beat me. He didn’t say why, what I had done or anything, he just beat me and then left.”
The other women listened attentively and when Wilma finished, one said, “Do you love him? If you don’t, leave him, you don’t deserve this!” Other women also said that Wilma had rights, she was a person of value, she should not put up with this behavior of her husband. Wilma explained that she did not want to leave her husband because she did not want her family to fall apart. The discussion went on for some time; we then formed a circle and prayed for Wilma.
Wilma is a woman with the courage to venture from her isolated, rural community to participate in lots of our activities—Bible studies, workshops, visits with other women’s groups. She is a leader in her community. She has heard over and over—and probably believes on one level—that the Bible affirms her as a daughter of the living God. But here she is, struggling to believe in herself as a person of value and worth.
Q'anjob'al women in a workshop with PC(USA) mission co-worker Jeannene Wiseman (top right) acting out the story of Ruth and Naomi.As I watched and listened to this group of women, I thought of several things. First, the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible and how in this moment these Guatemalan women were living out a part of that story. What courage it must have taken for Wilma to share her story with us! But she trusted us enough to take that risk, to make herself vulnerable, just as Ruth had trusted Naomi and went with her into an unknown place. Second, I need to remember that change comes ever so slowly when women have been told for generations that they are “second-class citizens,” that they are the cause of sin in this world, and that their place is in the kitchen and bedroom.
My greatest desire is that the women I live and work with will know that they are daughters of the living God and persons of worth and value. Wilma reminds me that there is much work yet to be done. I am grateful for all of you who have a part in this ministry and ask for your continued prayers, concern, and financial support.
During March, April, and May next year I will be in the States, traveling here and there to share about what I have seen and heard during my years working with Guatemalan Presbyterian women. I’d be very happy to have the change to share some of my stories of these wonderful Guatemalan women who have blessed and enriched my life. If you’re interested in inviting me, please send me an email at dozier@itelgua.com.
Blessings to all,
Ellen
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 63
