Guatemala

Learn how DGFUMC members put faith into action on Sunday, November 17 as soon as the 11:00 a.m. service ends. A brief video will be shown and we'll here from participants of the All Church Mission Trip to Wesley Woods, the UPAVIM trip to Guatemala, the senior high mission trip to work with D.O.O.R. Atlanta, the Habitat for Humanity trip to Mississippi, and the youth service trip to Rogers Park.

We invite all church members to a screening on April 26 of 500 Years - Life in Resistance, a powerful documentary by Pamela Yates that describes the turbulent history of Guatemala from the civil war to the present day. This is a great opportunity to understand the conflict that led to the growth of new communities in Guatemala City, out of which the UPAVIM cooperative was formed. The movie will be preceded by a potluck supper and followed by a discussion led by members of the Sister Parish board, who are meeting at our church. Sister Parish is the organization that links our church to the women of UPAVIM.

The struggle for justice for the 200,000 who died during the violent conflict culminated in the first trial of a former head-of-state for genocide in 2013. General Rios-Montt was found guilty in 2013 in a major victory for the indigenous people who had been targeted by his armed forces in the early eighties, although the conviction was overturned on legal technicalities in a controversial decision by the country's constitutional court. This is an epic story that has been received with standing ovations at many film festivals around the world.

Another delegation from our church is visiting UPAVIM in Guatemala in July this year. If you are potentially interested in going, or if you just want to find out more about the background of the inspiring women of UPAVIM who have visited our church on several occasions, please come to see this movie. Please sign up below or contact the church office if you are thinking of attending.

We are excited to announce that we plan to send a delegation from our church to visit the women of UPAVIM in Guatemala City this summer. The visit will take place from July 12 - 19. Anyone who is interested in finding out more about this trip is invited to meet this Sunday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 213.

This is a different kind of mission trip where we offer ourselves and our friendship rather than our building skills and material wealth. During our time in Guatemala, delegates will spend a few days living in the homes of some of the women, discovering the delights of their culture and the hardships of living on the margins of society. We will witness their courage, strength, and faith in God and will be changed!

Please give prayerful consideration to the idea of joining the delegation in July. If you cannot make it to the meeting this Sunday, there will be other opportunities to learn about the mission. Talk to Pastor Anna or Ina Osborn with any questions.