Western
Jurisdiction
United Methodist Volunteers
In Mission
WUMMP Mission Trip to Guatemala
August 18-26, 2007
by Ginny Hmalmarson
Purpose and Task
A group of fifteen persons from (UTAH)
Wasatch United Methodist Mission Partners (WUMMP) took a mission trip to
Guatemala during August 18-26, 2007.
The
task
was to help build a clinic for Salud y Paz and the Guatemala Methodist Church in
Cunen, Guatemala.
The
purpose
was to share Christ’s love with the kind and faithful people of Guatemala.
Helped Build a Clinic
We were the fourth team to work on the new clinic, the first in Cunen, a town of 16,000 people. The previous teams built the foundation and walls. Our task was to build the forms for the concrete roof. We cut and ripped planks, installed posts and framing. We cut, bent and wired rebar together. On Tuesday Hurricane Dean passed over the Yucatan peninsula to our north. Since we were on the south side the winds and rain were light. We had rain on four of five days which slowed the work but not our spirits. A hail storm chased us inside the adjacent church building with a metal roof that provided shelter but a deafening racket. Our Guatemalan construction leaders, pastor Alejandro, Aurelio and the pastor’s grandson, also Alejandro, were very patient with us. Tying rebar together and making it tight without breaking the wire takes a good touch. After breaking several wires Larry looked at the younger Alejandro and said, “Somos payasos” – we are clowns. He grinned but Larry noticed he did not dispute the statement. In spite of our lack of skill and the heavy rains we accomplished a great deal, gracias a Dios (thanks be to God). Even those who did nothing but haul lumber and supplies all day played an important role allowing those on the roof to work without climbing up and down, a team effort that the Guatemalans greatly appreciated. The Holy Spirit had a great deal to do with this indeed.
Geronimo prepares for
a medical team
On Thursday Pastor Geronimo visited Cunen to prepare for a medical team coming two weeks later. He and Pastor Alejandro made all the arrangements, planning to convert some of the hotel rooms to be examination rooms. They also visited a nearby town that would also be visited by the team. It is easy to see why the visiting teams always have such good experiences since so much preparation occurs in advance.
Thursday
Worship
After a quick shower and supper we returned to the church and worshipped with the congregation giving thanks and glory to God. Three pastors led the service – Alejandro, Geronimo and Brian. Pastor Alejandro, 78 years old and unfazed even though earlier in the day had dug a deep foundation for a column in the mud and rain, praised God for answering prayer and for being so faithful. Pastor Brian taught us that this was the most important church we have attended – it is THE church, the Body of Christ, against which the gates of hell cannot stand.
Good byes
The work ended at 4 PM on Friday when the power saw finally burned out due to the heavy use all week. We visited with Alejandro and Aurelio about the work and the teams. On Saturday morning we prepared to leave. Pastor Alejandro accompanied us on the bus to a village. He blessed all of us, promised his prayers and then gave a special blessing to our driver, Layo, for safe travel. We said good bye. We dropped Megan at a bus station to travel to Quetzaltenango.
We were each changed in some way most of all that the relationship and difference in purpose and task was now very clear. New leaders sprang up from the group – Jessica and Liz plan to lead teams next year. We all experienced God’s blessing – it is not possible to out give the Master Giver.