Christ Church Global Outreach

Guatemala Sister Parish Ministry

Through the national ecumenical organization, Sister Parish, Christ Episcopal Church, Blacksburg is a sister parish to the Episcopal Community of San Andrés Itzapa in Guatemala. Our brothers and sisters there are a small and strong community of indigenous Mayans whose native language is Kakchiquel and whose second language is Spanish. Itzapa is the name of their community in Kakchiquel; San Andrés (Saint Andrew) is its Spanish name. This community works hard as subsistence farmers and construction workers and they are working to strengthen their entire community. We have been linked as a sister parish or hermanamiento since 1996—fifteen years!

Delegations

Since Sister Parish is based on a “solidarity” model rather than a “charity” model, its focus is on building relationships of mutual respect and understanding over time between Northern communities and Southern communities. Only out of such on-going relationships are projects suggested, proposed, and refined and confirmed through an approval process. Delegations from South to North and from North to South usually alternate.

Now it is our turn for a North to South delegation—hopefully in the summer of 2012!

Interested? Want to know more?

Contact a member of the Christ Church Guatemala Sister Parish Committee: Elizabeth Struthers Malbon, Lynn Talbot, Maureen Perry, Sharon Harrell

Scholarship Project

Since 2004 we have been sponsoring scholarships for students in public schools in San Andrés Itzapa, especially for third through sixth graders at Chay Balaam, a bi-lingual (Kakchiquel/Spanish) primary school close to where our sister parish members live. These funds pay for a required registration fee, one school uniform, a pair of shoes, and school supplies to make it possible for children from poorer families (poorer than our sister parish members themselves) to attend school beyond third grade, when many drop out.

To view a short video of thanks from a scholarship student and a mother of a scholarship student, click on this URL

In February 2012, Christ Church sent to our Sister Parish in San Andres Itzapa, Guatemala, $3,060 for annual support of students in a primary school there. We are grateful to the individuals and families who generously supplemented the funds granted by the Christ Church Outreach Committee (from yard sale proceeds) for this purpose. This project is arranged by our brothers and sisters in our Sister Parish on behalf of children from families in greater need than themselves and overseen by Sister Parish staff. Here is a translation of a letter we have just received from one of the scholarship students:

Brothers and sisters of the Episcopal Church of Blacksburg,

I cordially greet you and hope you are doing well, healthy, alongside loved ones. I, Leslyn Callejas, am very happy for the help that you are giving me, and my parents are very grateful for the assistance that you give them and us and the others who need it very much.

I hope that you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year alongside your loved ones.

Leslyn Yaneth Callejas Paau