Sister Parish, Inc.

Photo Journalism Report from the Tenth Anniversary Activites

For photographs documenting the Tenth Anniversary of Bishop Gerardi's death visit MiMundo.org

Reflections on the Tenth Anniversary of Bishop Gerardi's death

   I recently had the privilege of participating in the 10^th anniversary of Bishop Juan Gerardi’s martyrdom in Guatemala. As part of the activities, I participated in an international seminar called “Constructing Peace from the Truth.”

  Delegates come to Guatemala and often ask, when faced with poverty, violence, and injustice, “But where is the hope?” This was a question asked several times in the anniversary events as well. It is difficult to contemplate that Bishop Gerardi was converted into a martyr just 48 hours after he presented the results of the Recovery of Historic Memory (REMHI) report, “Guatemala, Never Again.”  I was at the presentation 10 years ago and remember the euphoria that for the first time in Guatemalan history, the truth was told about who was behind the 200,000 murders.  The report contains analysis and testimonies, and it is clear that the army and its collaborators are responsible for 93% of all the human rights violations that occurred. But I digress…

  One speaker, who some Sister Parish delegates have met, Claudia Samayoa, talked about the impact of REMHI in the last 10 years. She rightly pointed out that the results are certainly not what we hoped they would be, but that does not mean that good things have not come out of REMHI. Bishop Gerardi did not give his life in vain. Perhaps the main result is that people have overcome their fear and are denouncing not only the past violations, but the present ones as well.

  Examples of both abound. I remember when people talked in whispers, constantly looking over their shoulders. Today, witnesses are giving testimony in open courts in both Guatemala and Spain about the genocide that occurred.  Today, women march in the streets to demand a stop to domestic violence . Today, an indigenous woman pressed charges against the policeman who raped her, and won. Today, a play about the military officer who participated in Gerardi’s murder was presented in the National Palace in front of an audience of 2000.

  The justice system in Guatemala is slow, corrupt, and most crimes remain impune. At times it is frustrating to live here and infuriating to watch how slow things are. Nevertheless, there is hope. People continue to dream, to laugh, to hope, to grow. People insist on speaking out. People insist on telling the truth. The truth will set us free.

Peace

Shannon

Reflections from the Incarnation Lutheran Delegation to Chontalá, El Quiche

November of 2007, seven of us traveled from Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, MN to Guatemala for our first ever visit with our new hermanamiento, the Widows of Chontala. We left Mpls/ St Paul airport bound for Guatemala- a group not really knowing what to expect, a group that didn’t really know each other well, and a group that usually traveled to “safe” places.

We arrived in Guatemala and had our first Guatemalan experience, a guard with a machine gun and a drug dog that was sniffing all of our luggag. We were a long way from home!

We arrived at the Sister Parish Center and settled in.  Over the next day and a half we got to know our hosts, Sergio and his wife and son, Alejandro, and Shannon and Liam. What a great group of people!! So strong in their beliefs, willing to share all of their stories, and committed to making us as comfortable as they could.

 Finally it was time for us to start our journey to Chontala. Not quite the U.S. freeway system, but that isn’t to say we didn’t make good time, that is until the stoppage for road construction. The drivers of Guatemala put the best Minneapolis rush hour driver to shame as we watched about fourteen rows of traffic trying to come together to go over a one lane bridge.  It was an experience to behold!

We arrived in Chichicastenango and began our first trek with our luggage. They were redoing the roads on the way to the Ruth and Naomi Center so we had to walk. No roller suitcases allowed! We were met once again with such wonderful hospitality- people willing to share their talents with us. We learned the history of the Ruth and Naomi Coop, toured the looms, and then we went shopping!! We all definitely enjoyed the shopping!

We set out the next day for Chontala to meet with our new friends. I don’t think any of us have quite gotten over the shock of walking down the road towards Maria’s house and taking a left into the corn field! We found the “hills” to be a far cry from the streets in Minneapolis. I don’t think any of us miss those “hills” but we watched in fascination as the 80 year old grandpa beat us up the hill, smiling and waving as he went by.

 We found people who were willing to share everything they had, who slept on the floor so that their honored guests (us!)could have the finest in the house. We found people that believed in their God with all their soul. We found people that had suffered huge losses in their lives, that had struggled and that were finally succeeding. I think all of us felt very humbled when we thought of what we had, what our children had, and what the people we stayed with had to endure (that would be my word- not theirs) every day.

Three of our group stayed at Maria Tomas’s home. One day we were helping with salsa for the picnic they were going to take us on. Our host went into the fields and picked fresh tomatoes, onions and brought them into the kitchen.  They used simple tools to get them ready, cooking all the ingredients on the wood burning stove.  Finally it was my job to “mush” the tomatoes. I couldn’t imagine what kind of tool existed to do that, so you can imagine my surprise when she took out a blender!!!

The picnic at Lake Atitlan was another importat memory for us.  We reflected on how often we decide to take a drive for a picnic, take the kids to the beach, go on a vacation and not think often about it. For some people from Chontala, it was the first time that they had been to the lake.  Many had never left Chontala before.  This experience brought a new awareness of what we take for granted.

In each of the homes that we stayed in, we saw first hand the many different ways that God works with the people of Chontala. Maybe they had on “company manners” but I don’t think so.  They seemed to genuinely be glad that we were there, even though we couldn’t communicate well, we were a lot of extra work, and it cost them a lot of money to feed us.  However, we never felt anything but love coming from our hosts.

The time came for us to part.  At our final meeting the feelings of oneness had grown so much from the first day when we arrived.  We felt comfortable enough to be able to kid around with each other.  There was lots of laughter.  The tears flowed from all of us on the next day when we said our final goodbyes with promises that we would return and bring more new friends from Minnesota. 

I think we all came home with a new understanding of the things that happen in Guatemala  that the world doesn’t know about.   Maybe it happens in many countries, but the things were so brazen sometimes it was amazing to this Midwest girl.

Written by Eileen Matson, Incarnation Lutheran, Shoreview, MN

Guatemala Genocide Case Witnesses Give Testimony

For the first time in history, war survivors are being given the opportunity to provide public testimony in a Guatemalan court about the genocide committed against Maya peoples. The testimonies began on April 17^th, with Jesus Tecu Osorio, from Rio Negro in Rabinal, giving an emotional testimony to a packed courtroom, with national and international media and observers present.    

With the domestic genocide cases languishing for years with little to no movement and the successes of the Spanish genocide case thwarted by innumerable appeals and injunctions, the courageous witnesses are finally having their day in court. Twenty-nine eyewitnesses and experts are scheduled to testify between April 17th and May 6th.   

Judge Eduardo Cojulun of the 11th Criminal Court is moving forward with the testimonies in support of the ongoing genocide investigation by Spanish judge Santiago Pedraz. Judge Cojulun has expressed a willingness to conduct hearings in the regions of those witnesses not in the capital; a request was filed on April 17th on behalf of a group of witnesses to conduct hearings in their municipality.

Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA)  4-17-08

NISGUA Link

Amnesty International and other human rights organizations in Guatemala are working to support these brave survivors during this especially dangerous moment in history.  You also can help protect those involved in the case against Rios Montt by going to the Amnesty International web site, via the link below, and sending an online urgent action to the Guatemalan authorities.  This type of international solidarity is an effective and important way to protect political space in Guatemala and to support the war survivors. 

Amnesty International Link

 

Sunday school at Incarnation Lutheran

Last Sunday members of the Sister Parish committee at Incarnation Lutheran in Shoreview, Minnesota, shared Guatemalan culture, history, and music with Sunday school classes.  Incarnation has a relationship with Chontalá, El Quiche.   

 

Alan and Shannon shared pictures and made tortillas. 

Shawna taught the kids a song in Spanish.

Mike gave a presentation on Mayan Civilization.

Eileen helped the kids make colorful rhythm sticks.