Join us as we mission in Guatemala on March 11-19 to work with the Esmirna Metodista Church in Patzibal, Guatemala. We are in the process of assisting the locals in the construction of a new church. In addition to providing Bible School for the children each day, the group is collecting personal hygiene products, “Pillowcase Dresses” for girls, shorts for boys, and shoes for both children and adults.
We have missioned in this area of Guatemala for many years. Anyone who has been a part of these trips will tell you what a great experience it was. We are currently looking for volunteers to come along and experience this life changing event.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!! All you need is a desire to help and to be an ambassador of Christ’s teachings.
If you are interested in joining the team, making a contribution or for more information contact the church office.
Pillowcase Dresses
Would you like to use your talents to make a little girl feel worthy and possibly protect her from being abused? We are excited to announce a new ministry opportunity that will be making pillowcase dresses to send to those in need. Some fabric has already been donated for this project. This ministry will include not only BUMC, but Blackburn’s Chapel, and Valle Crucis UMC. Our goal is to have 50 dresses ready by February 26th to send with the Guatemalan Mission Team. Patterns and examples are available in the Sunday School Wing of Boone UMC.
Don’t have time to sew but want to help? We need bias tape, ¼” elastic, girls underwear to include in the dress pockets, cotton fabric (5/8 yd minimum) and/or gently used pillowcases.
“Thanking God” from March 2011
For eight years mission teams to the Patzibal area of Guatemala have traveled four hours by bus into the heart of Mayan country to work with Methodists in the area of Chichicastenango. Due to discrimination and mountain isolation these people have yearly family incomes of just over $1,000, average less than two years of school, have virtually no health care and live in dirt floored adobe huts where a large proportion still cook over a fire pit on the floor. Over time people have provided them with shoes, school scholarships, medications and school supplies.
The Mayans’ faith and love of God is an awe inspiring example of what the bible teaches us. God is everything to them. They have never asked for anything except help worshipping God-a new sanctuary to replace the current adobe block building which is too small and subject to earthquake damage. The new building will be a two story concrete block structure with bible study rooms downstairs and a templo or sanctuary upstairs.
In March, 2011 a team of 16 went to Esmirna Metodista in Patzibal. The team wired nearly 30-20 foot long rebar columns for the new building, conducted bible school with the children and attended three worship services. During worship the Mayans did something more important than thanking us, they thanked God for us.
