TNII Delegation 2024
Day 6, San Lucas Toliman
Wednesday October 16, 2024
"It’s impossible to adequately describe a day on delegation in Guatemala, but I will try. We wake up this day in San Lucas Toliman, the nearest volcano shrouded in fog. My favorite part of delegation is the home stays in Tierra Nueva Dos but today we are off to another city on Lake Atitlán called Santiago Atitlán, a special place and a favorite of mine. I like it because it seems to represent a microcosm of Guatemalan history and because it’s a very colorful place to visit. Ninety-five percent of the women wear the colorful, traditional Mayan dress; unfortunately only 5% of the men wear traditional clothes here, mostly the older men. There’s a reason for this gender difference and it’s related to the armed conflict in the 1980s and 1990s. More on that later.
Santiago Atitlán has many stories to tell and helping us today on a walking tour is a local by the name of Dolores Ratzan Pablo, a trilingual Maya T’zutujil woman (there are 22 separate Mayan groups/languages). We meet her in the plaza of the main church and she paints a vivid picture of the city and its history. The Spanish built this church upon the ruins of a Mayan temple from 2000 BC. This was a typical way the Spanish treated the local Mayan people through the centuries and has set the stage for ongoing struggles between the two groups to this day.
Santiago Atitlán represents the wide sweep of Guatemalan history; the Maya civilization, the conquest by the Spanish, the attempt to destroy the Mayan culture and people, the armed conflict and the survival of the Mayan culture. But back to the church and the story of Father Stan Rother, originally from Oklahoma, now on the way to sainthood. He is certainly considered a saint already by those in this area, and deserves it. After coming to the city he recognized the great needs here like poverty and hunger. He developed a school and a clinic to address those needs. He also physically assisted with some of the building himself, plus started a weaving and agricultural cooperative. His work was cut short in 1981 when he was murdered/martyred in the rectory of the church; a great loss to the community.
Now back to our story of the discrepancy between the genders in the traditional clothing. On a tour in the community, we visited a weaving cooperative that has operated for over 20 years. Twenty-two families are involved in the cooperative. They make the authentic, handmade traditional clothing that Guatemala is famous for; not the machine made stuff you can buy in the tourist spots. It can take months to make some of the fabric and clothing produced here for both men and women. The men make the pants and weave long lengths of fine fabric on large looms. The women weave on backstrap looms and embroider other clothing. During the armed conflict the Mayan men quickly learned for self preservation to stop wearing the traditional clothes or die at the hands of the army — they were too easy to identify as indigenous and possibly “threatening”.
I visited and witnessed a Maximon ceremony here over 20 years ago; today we only visit briefly. This is a traditional Mayan sacred ceremony where individuals seek healing and blessings. It is a multisensory experience. An elaborately carved and dressed wooden figure is faced by a shaman who is burning candles and incense while he’s chanting and addressing the issues of the individuals seeking his interventions. Mayan culture and religious practices pre-date Christianity by thousands of years, and many of the sacred texts of the Mayan people were destroyed by the Spanish early on. But the Mayan people continue to preserve their culture and religious practices despite the pressures of the dominant culture.
We also visited the Peace Park in the city, except it hasn’t always been peaceful. It commemorates a local massacre during the armed conflict. Thirteen people lost their lives here, murdered by the army in 1990; probably by men who were shanghaied by the army from another Mayan group. It’s a very sad story, but with a unique outcome in the country of Guatemala. It turns out those murdered in 1990 were actually seeking peace with the army that day because of the strife the army created in the community. After the massacre, community leaders actually approached the president of Guatemala at the time and sought to have the army banned from the area. They were successful, demonstrating the power of nonviolent civil action.
Consider coming on a future delegation to Guatemala. You will be amazed, overwhelmed, and enveloped in love and care by your new friends (family really) in Guatemala.
- Rick
Day 5, The Struggle for Rights:
The struggle for indigenous rights is an ongoing effort in the western highlands of Guatemala. This is an area with a significant Maya population, high poverty and a substantial percentage of women indigenous farmers. Today we visited the organization Comite Campesino del Altiplano (CCDA) to learn how they are defending land rights and supporting farm production of indigenous families.
Key efforts include pressuring the government to live up to prior agricultural and land rights agreements as well as supporting indigenous communities who are being displaced from their land, often violently, by corrupt actors. They are also supporting agricultural production in various ways including distribution of fair trade coffee.
They’ve had some successes in obtaining protective orders and reclaiming land for some communities. But the need is great, funds are limited and progress is slow. The work is daunting and it is also dangerous. Lining the walls were the photos of 18 members who’ve been killed and 7 who’ve been jailed, a sobering reminder of the difficulties and risks of the work.
After our visit we wondered how they can persevere when positive change comes in such baby steps. We reflected on their powerful sense of commitment and tenacity in the face of challenging odds, and their faith and perseverance as they work to bend the arc of justice.
We closed by remembering these words from the prayer “Prophets Of A Future Not Our Own”:
"We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own."
- Nancy
Day 4 Delegation
Today was a day of activity and transitions. We started with heartfelt goodbyes with our host families and then gathered at the church. There we spent the morning with the women’s group as they guided us through activities and skills that might typically be taught to women in the community. We stretched our muscles during a sunny, energetic aerobics and yoga session, followed by an interactive craft activity filled with laughter. We have been impressed with the dedication of the group’s leaders as they work to lift up the women of the community and we are pleased that St. Joan of Arc supports their efforts.
Then we toured the community, visited the health clinic and park, and listened to stories about the formation of Tierra Nueva II in the 1970’s. Finally it was time to say more goodbyes (“until next Friday”) and drive to Guatemala City to overnight before leaving for Lake Atitlan.
- Nancy
Day 2, Welcome to Tierra Nueva II
Today was our first day in community; for some delegates, their first time in TNII and for others of us, it was a coming home to old friends and family. First order of business was to meet our host families and get settled in before coming back to the church for a welcome gathering. It feels a little like we’ve come full circle as Jeff and I are staying with someone we met when she was 11 years old, and now she is a new mother of two young children of her own.
At the welcome gathering, we were serenaded by the Estrellitas de Maria – the children’s choir, then were asked to come join them in a song, and eventually found ourselves singing our own song to those gathered. Fortunately, Juan had engineered it so we were singing Imagine, a tune we’re all familiar with. The Becados (Scholarship Students) did a lot of work putting together entertainment, with dancing and eating of traditional foods, followed by a grand finale of a fireworks that was simultaneously terrifying and thrilling. Throughout the day there were many many hugs and greetings from SJA to TNII, so many hugs from all the lovely children, and LOTS of photos. If you have ever been a delegate here, trust me, you are remembered and asked after – your presence here left a beautiful memory in the homes of those you visited.
- Rita
TNII Delegation Update, Day 1:
What a welcome! Such a crowd to greet us as we came out of the airport. As our returning delegates ran to hug friends they recognized, I assumed only a few people from TN2 were our welcome committee. Surely some of the folks with balloons, whistles and U.S flags must be waiting for some other travelers. But no! The whole throng of intergenerational smiles and hugs were for the seven of us! It was like diving into a lovefest that started 30 years ago!
- Marty
Celebrating 30 years -Memories
There are so many memories we want to share with you. We've curated a few for you to enjoy here.
Rylee Toms delegation reflection:
Something from this trip that will stay with me forever is how welcoming everyone in TNII was, especially our home stay families. I loved playing board games and sharing laughs. Google Translate was extremely helpful most of the time, but once my mom and I were trying to tell our host mother that we got bananas from Sandy’s dad. What popped up in the translation was: “The banana is the dad of the papaya.” It’s one of my favorite stories. I will also remember the hugs from the 25 people who drove 2 hours and waited another 2 hours for us to arrive at the airport, and the tears we shared when we had to say goodbye.
Carol Bell delegation reflection:
2017: There are so many stories and experiences that I could share about this journey to our sister parish in TNII. I’ll focus on what was unique to me.
We went on a two-day journey to Lake Atitlán. Along the way we visited a coffee plantation, a Mayan learning center and sacred grounds. We learned of the hardships faced by the people of Guatemala, the unfairness of government and the stifling of the native people. The best part of the trip was having Marian and Eluvia with us. We learned together, we laughed, we danced, we sang, and we drank coconut milk. One morning Marian and Eluvia shared the story of how they came to Tierra Nueva, Mariam 9 years old at the time, and Eluvia who was a young mom. It was a story of how these families came to new land with nothing and built a community. Through all these experiences we shared we became immersed in each other’s lives. When you live and learn together friendship grows quickly!
Somehow, probably my husband, word got out that it was my Birthday. Everyone shared happy wishes and that was that or so I thought. When we returned to the hostel for the evening, we were told we were all going to meet to “decompress,” something we usually did at night. Turns out rather than decompress we were celebrating, complete with a beautiful cake. Eluvia then stood by me and said she wanted to share her wishes for me. Written on a small piece of paper, with Alejandro translating, she read kind and wise words. While in real time I had known her a mere few days, I felt like I was hearing from a dear and very long-time friend, a woman I loved and respected. I don’t have the exact translation but essentially, she wished me a life with meaning, love and purpose. It was the best Birthday card and greatest Birthday ever!! Eluvia is now my lifelong friend. Our group shared the cake and laughter as we celebrated not just my Birthday but the joy of friendship and family! This is how I learned the meaning of solidarity.
Mindy Ahler delegation reflection:
In the early days of our relationship, TN2 had been talking about the need to have a school. We agreed on the importance of having one and seeing their struggle to get one we offered to help build it with our funding. TN2 folks knew it was the government's responsibility to provide schools and that if we funded the building of it, they would be let off the hook on their responsibility. So we agreed to support them in prayer. They negotiated with the government and the government agreed to provide the building materials, the community would build the school and when it was built the government would provide the teachers. Doña Mari Pichiya was the key person behind getting the school built because she had a dream that Padre Alfonso came to her and told her she needed to get this done. She recruited community members to build the school (shaming them into it when they didn’t show up the first Sunday to do the work) which they did. Once the school was built and teachers provided and classes began (the government had fulfilled their promise), they were having a hard time keeping people from trying to build housing on the school playground. They came to us and asked if we could pay for the building of a fence to keep people from building houses on the school grounds. We did this. In gratitude, the youth group painted a message on the fence publicly thanking SJA for contributing to the education of the children in TN2 with this fence.
Addendum:
On the delegation during Holy Week in 2010, Doña Mari was one in the community chosen to have her feet washed. I found this very moving, both due to her long-time leadership in the community and because at that time she was quite ill with cancer. She had given so much to the community of TN2 and contributed to many improvements for the children and future, yet she had always been so humble about her part in it all. The re-enactment of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples seemed a fitting way to honor this woman who had been such a faithful disciple.
Nancy Wiens delegation reflection:
Our 2008 delegation visited a one-room municipal museum in the small mountainous town of Rabinal, Guatemala, and I was moved to tears after viewing exhibits about the massacres of the 1980s. It is estimated that at least 5,000 Mayans in the Rabinal area were killed or 'disappeared' by the Guatemalan army and army-led civil patrol groups during the armed conflict. It was heartbreaking to see hundreds of photos of murdered townspeople and to hear Ellen Moore, a Sister Parish staff member, talk about recently volunteering in that town as a peace 'accompanier' and recognizing family names among the photos on the wall. We were touched by this opportunity to grieve for and honor the victims of a tragic time in the history of Guatemala.
Norma Linseman-Schuh’s remembrance of creating a mission statement as communities together on the 1995 delegation:
"We met as friends...always starting our days with welcoming embraces, opening prayers, songs, and laughter. Working on opposite sides of the room independent of one another, both delegations drafted separate goals as a starting point. We then shared our respective ideas, which, despite our different cultures, history and circumstances, were amazingly similar with two exceptions..."
"At the top of SJA's list was "personal growth.” For the people of Tierra Nueva Dos, that was a stumbling block. The goal of the Sister Parish relationship, they explained, is to benefit the community, not the individual. Our focus on self undoubtedly seemed out of place to people who identify so strongly with their families, communities, churches, indigenous groups and a shared economic and political struggle. It was a good reminder to be wary of the ME perspective that people blessed with abundance often develop."
"Included in Tierra Nueva's list were the words, ‘commercial (material) exchange'. That gave SJA pause for concern. We had omitted any reference to financial help by design. While we want to support the people of Tierra Nueva Dos in their struggle to meet basic needs, Sister Parish relationships are not meant to be project focused or missionary in nature... We wanted to avoid the 'big sister ministering to the little sister' implication, and rather convey our intent of establishing an ongoing relationship of mutuality. 'Although we are all children of the same God, we do not have the same resources,' said Bernardo. 'We believe that we could receive material things without hurting our dignity, but it is not material things that we expect.' 'We have integrity and do not view you as a gold mine,' added his compañero Paul."
"Collaboratively developing the mission statement was a learning experience which illustrated that both parties give and receive in a Sister Parish relationship... we managed to refine and combine our individual ideas into one, unified, and mutually satisfying statement of purpose...."
Tim Leone-Getten
In 1993, Father George formed a committee to study how St. Joan's could become more directly involved in Central America. He had had some impactful visits and connections in the region and was looking for a way that we as a parish could increase our solidarity beyond our borders. Mary Beth and I had been working and traveling in Latin America on and off for several years at that point and eagerly joined the committee. After exploring a number of organizations, we settled on Sister Parish. It seemed like a good fit for SJA due to its focus on forming deep relationships between communities, based on solidarity, not charity. Sister Parish was working in Nicaragua and Guatemala at the time, but as a group we opted for Guatemala, which was great for me as I had spent the last few summers there and was growing very connected to it. In fact, I had just gotten a job at an international school in Guatemala City and we were moving there in August of 1994. We eagerly volunteered to help set things up by visiting the community and getting to know people before the first official delegation the following spring.
By December, our hermanamiento was set. We were paired with a fairly new parish on the outskirts of the capital. It had been formed in 1987 as an extension of a community that had formed in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in the early 80s. Thousands of families had been left homeless both in the city and throughout the central highlands and needed to find somewhere to live. Some chose to invade land outside the city and claim it. In the case of Tierra Nueva, the land was held by the national bank and was not being used or developed due to it being considered unsafe in the event of earthquakes or the landslides that often happen during the rainy season. So people came to this new land from all over the country to start a new life, many leaving the towns their families had lived in for millennia, to form a community that represented the rich cultural diversity of Guatemala. There were people from every corner of the country, from multiple races and speaking many languages. Despite their differences, they organized themselves and established a community at the center of which was their church.
When in 1987 many of the children of the original founders of the community, formed the new neighborhood aptly called Tierra Nueva II, a new church was built. By the early 90s, they were looking for ways to strengthen their position as a community. One way is to form relationships with people in the United States, Canada or Europe. While many connections between North America/Europe and Central America are based on possible short term financial support, Sister Parish had as its primary focus building solidarity and relationships between peoples over the course of many years. The long term goal of these deep relationships is world peace through increased understanding among people. To Mary Beth and me, this sounded like exactly the kind of project with which we wanted to be involved.
So one Sunday morning in early December 1994, we left our apartment building in Guatemala City at the crack of dawn to take the 45 minute bus ride to Tierra Nueva II in time for early morning mass. That morning, we were greeted by Bernardo Batres, who was working for the church at the time. He had become interested in this work through his relationship with the parish priest, Padre Alfonso, an amazing guy from Belgium who had been in Guatemala for decades working with and living with the poor.
After mass, Bernardo introduced us to many people who have become great friends to us and to SJA over the years—Aura and Paul Quiroz, Doña Maximina, Gregorio Paz, Efrain and Estela, Doña Mari and many more. They had formed the first hermanamiento committee at TNII and welcomed us so warmly. They clearly understood the concept of relationship building based on solidarity. We instantly felt that this was going to be an excellent place for our SJA friends to connect, learn and grow. After meeting the group, Bernardo gave us an extremely informative tour of the community which we video taped to show everyone back in Minneapolis when we returned for Christmas later that month. It was clear that he was a natural at this cultural connecting stuff—so well spoken, so thoughtful, so kind. In fact, since he is so much taller than most Guatemalans and had a beard and long hair and was wearing sandals, we thought we had met Jesus himself. When we joked with him about our observation, he said his name is actually Bernardo de Jesus Batres. Perfect!
So after this great introduction, we got ready to return to Minnesota with our report for the committee and Father George. Then, just days before Christmas, we learned that Padre Alfonso had been murdered. He had been shot by gunmen as he returned home following a celebration of Las Posadas with the community. As we prepared to meet with our SJA committee, Mary Beth and I figured that to the people of SJA, it would seem too risky and scary to continue building the relationship. But once in the meeting, the group was not only brokenhearted, but firmly committed to look for ways to support the people of TNII. Father George said this is exactly why we entered into this work in the first place—to help each other in times of need. This was totally true. In fact, perhaps the main motivation of parishes in Central America to get involved with organizations like Sister Parish is for the huge impact and security that a bunch of gringos can provide. Repressive governments thrive on isolation to carry out their evil deeds. The presence of foreigners makes that work very difficult to carry out, and everyone understands this.
It was full speed ahead preparing for the first delegation of SJAers to visit Tierra Nueva II in early 1995. We joined the group and helped the Sister Parish staff with logistics and interpreting tasks. That first delegation was an amazing experience for all of us and really laid the groundwork for the relationships of the past 30 years. We were also there for the second delegation which focused on connecting youth.
We have so valued this hermanamiento and what it has brought to our lives. We have learned, along with hundreds of our fellow parishioners, that often times the most important thing to do is just to BE. We have learned that the best way forward is not always to try to fix things we see as broken, but to listen and to accompany and to follow. I returned to TNII recently and it is amazing how the community has grown and developed. I am amazed at how this group of creative, caring people have faced incredible adversity and improved their lives so much. Just like in Minneapolis, things are not perfect in TNII, but they are so much better due to the boundless energy and perseverance of our brothers and sisters in Tierra Nueva II. Here's to 30 more years!