Page 37 - Presbyterian Connection

presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2021
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
Hope after Tragedy
Families whose loved ones were killed re- ceived support to help them get back on their feet.
By Stephanie Chunoo, PWS&D Communications
In Comitancillo, a small town in west- ern Guatemala, 60% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Families, who on average have eight members in the home, live on a daily income of
next day, her worst fears were con- firmed—Elfego had been murdered, one of 16 victims killed in a turf battle between rival Mexican gangs.
“This news left us with great im- pact because no one could believe it, but unfortunately, it was a truth that we could not accept. We have cried day after day, and night after night, but unfortunately, my husband passed away and our dreams col- lapsed,” shared Ana.
Left with no monthly income and debts to pay off, Ana felt helpless.
But it wasn’t just Ana who was affected. Of the 16 victims, 11 were from Comitancillo—devastating the community.
To help assist Ana and other fami- lies who lost loved ones in this trag- edy, PWS&D provided them with live- stock, tools and agricultural inputs,
clothing, food and kitchen items so that they could resume their lives and care for their household.
Our partner, AMMID, assessed every family’s situation and identi- fied what they each needed most. Ana received fertilizer for her crops, clothes for her sons and daughters, two sheep, food and economic sup- port to cover her expenses. While still grieving the loss of her husband, at least Ana does not have to also worry about how to feed her children.
“We thank [PWS&D who] sup- ported AMMID to provide this sup- port, that God gives them more life and health. Maybe I will never thank them personally, but God will reward them for all the effort they have made to help us minimize this deep pain that we are going through,” Ana ex- pressed with gratitude.
about US $2.00.
Consequently, many people resort
to temporary migration to urban ar- eas and large-scale farms in Guate- mala for work. But in recent years, the low price of coffee, worsening labour conditions on coffee and sug- arcane farms, and discrimination against Indigenous youth in urban areas have increased international migration. As a result, many are look- ing to the United States as a more at- tractive alternative—with the plan to send earnings from work in the US back to loved ones in Guatemala.
The process of migration to the United States is perilous. The cost to hire smugglers who guide migrants to the USA illegally is very high. Many young people are forced to take out loans with extremely high interest rates, or in some cases, families will remortgage their properties to make the journey possible.
The dangers of taking this trip have increased in recent years. Through- out the journey, migrants are sub- jected to mistreatment at the hands of migration authorities in Mexico. In addition, many migrants fall prey to criminal gangs who see an oppor- tunity to generate income quickly or take advantage of migrants to trans- port drugs.
Yet, despite the dangers and out of
desperation, more and more young people embark on this journey in hopes of achieving their dreams and accessing opportunities that seem unavailable to them in their home country.
Chasing the American Dream—with a Tragic Ending In western Guatemala, Ana Maricelda López Témaj lived with her husband, Elfego Roliberto Miranda Díaz and their four children, who range in age from four months to six years.
Like many families, Ana and Elfego dreamt of a better life for their kids, one that included buying land to build their dream home and send- ing their kids to school. Elfego also dreamed of buying horns and other instruments for the musical group he directed at his local community church.
However, the minimal income that Elfego earned as a teacher and through piecemeal agricultural jobs was barely enough to support the family. So Elfego made the difficult decision to migrate to the United States to help better provide for his family.
A couple of days after her husband left, Ana started to hear rumours that a group of migrants had been killed in Mexico, close to the US border. The
Ana sits with her four children at their home in Comitancillo in western Guatemala.
PRESBYTERIAN
37
Ride for Refuge Benefits Farmers and Families
In Edmonton, Alta., the Churches of Edmonton Lakeland team pause their walk to snap a picture.
portunity to enjoy fellowship safely outdoors was greatly appreciated,” explained Christine Ball, a member of the Churches of Edmonton Lakeland team in Edmonton, Alta.
Unfortunately, hunger in the world has worsened since the pandemic began. Your incredible support this year will help us respond in places of great need, such as Yemen, Syria, Haiti, Malawi and Afghanistan. Dona-
tions will be matched up to four times at Canadian Foodgrains Bank, multi- plying the impact of contributions.
Farmers will also be supported to learn sustainable agricultural practic- es that help deal with the impacts of climate change, increase crop yields and improve nutrition for families.
Thank you to all who participated and donated in support of this year’s Ride for Refuge. See you next year!
By Stephanie Chunoo, PWS&D Communications
On Saturday, Oct. 2, 77 PWS&D sup- porters geared up across Canada to participate in Ride for Refuge in
suppor t of PWS&D’s food security programs.
The Ride for Refuge is a nation- wide cycling and walking fundraiser that helps charities raise money for the displaced, vulnerable and per-
secuted. Like last year, due to COV- ID-19, teams participated virtually or in small groups.
Your generous support meant that this year we surpassed our $20,000 fundraising goal. Eleven teams cycled and walked to raise over $36,000, making this year our most successful one ever!
Shirley Carter, a member of Team Knox in Waterloo, Ont., shared, “This was my first walk for any cause. I set a modest goal of $200. Through the generosity of my donors, I exceeded that goal by more than double the amount. I was thrilled by their gra- cious support and walked with a happy heart!”
“We enjoyed our walk through the beautiful North Saskatchewan River valley. It is always a delight to meet new people from our neigh- bouring congregations. This year with COVID-19 restrictions, the op-
In Waterloo, Ont., Team Knox gets ready to kick off their ride.