Lindale Mennonite Church: T&G Guatemala

Home
View Bulletins
About Lindale
Contact Us
Directions
We Are Sent
Lindale Lines
Hear Sermons
Sunday School

Login



Alta Verapaz is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and Baja Verapaz, and to the west by El Quiché. Alta Verapaz houses the Mario Dary Biotope Preserve, preserving the native flora and fauna of the region, especially the endangered national bird of Guatemala, the Quetzal. Also in Alta Verapaz are the towns of San Pedro Carchá and San Cristóbal Verapaz. History In Pre-Columbian times this area was part of the Maya civilization. When the Spanish Conquistadores came in the 1520s they conquered the central and southern highlands of Guatemala, but were driven back from this region by fierce native resistance. Spanish friars asked for a chance to peacefully convert the land to Christianity, which they succeeded in, giving the area the name "Verapaz" meaning "True Peace" since it was brought to Christianity and control of the King of Spain without warfare. In the 19th century this became an important coffee producing region. Source: Wikipedia		Download the March 2006 Letter (doc) Download the Christmas 2005 Letter (doc) Download the MCC Guatemala newsletter (PDF 594K) Note: If you can't open PDFs, you can download free Adobe software here. ECHO September 25 - October 8, 2005 North Fort Myers, Florida Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) is a Not-for-profit Christian organization located on a demonstration farm in North Fort Myers, Florida. Visit www.echonet.org for more information. Their vision is to bring glory to God and a blessing to mankind by using science and technology to help the poor. They strive to provide ideas, training, information, and seeds critical to those working in agricultural development in third world countries. During our time here we are learning a great deal about tropical agriculture, appropriate technology, terracing, and edible crops that might produce in the region where we will live in Guatemala. Regardless of any knowledge and ideas we are soaking in, we recognize that the best and most appropriate information will come from those in the Betel community where we will live in a few months. We excitedly await the opportunity to meet the people in Betel and to learn from them. During our first days on the farm, we have enjoyed a canoe trip in a mangrove swamp, lots of manpower spent on the farm and time in the library reading numerous articles and books to help us prepare for the coming years. Amazing Fruits! Yesterday we experienced the Miracle Fruit that covers over your sour taste buds and makes a lime taste like an orange, everything suddenly tastes sweet. This morning we tasted a Monstera fruit, the only edible philodendron. If you mix the look of an ear of green corn and the taste of a pineapple-banana, you might have something close. MCC ORIENTATION July 6-20, 2005 Akron, Pennsylvania MCC Orientation was a most enjoyable reprieve from our normal work in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was a time for us to regroup and mentally prepare for where God is leading us. Hearing and sharing anticipation, excitement and ideas with other orientees was a highlight of the 2 week orientation. During our time there we read numerous books regarding the life, people and history of Guatemala. We participated in lectures: a study of the book of Ephesians, global economy, peacebuilding, service, gender roles, anti-racism, personality styles, communication and conflict, culture, personal care, and the minutia of MCC paperwork and program planning. We recognize the privileges that we have in relation to the limited access of many other people groups, and strive to empower those with whom we work.