2007 Women’s Gathering/Self Esteem Workshop
For more than 30 years, Presbyterians from Upstate New York and from the Mam Community in the highlands of Guatemala have shared meals, prayers, and friendship. Across languages and miles, this partnership has shaped both communities in lasting ways.
We have known each other through births and deaths, seen our children grow up and assume leadership positions in the church, witnessed changes, for good or for bad, in our denominations and in our governments. Through it all the relationships have continued, as together we have “encouraged one another to greater faithfulness.”
A Partnership Rooted in Relationship
The Albany/Mam partnership started in the mid 1980s through First Presbyterian Church of Albany. The connection grew out of the work of Matt Samson, then a Parish Associate, who was working on a PhD dissertation about Presbyterian Mission work in the Mam community. During the 1990s, the partnership remained rooted at First Pres. In 1999, a larger group, which included people from other congregations, went to Guatemala, which piqued even more interest. After several smaller trips in the early 2000’s, a 2007 delegation of 12 from four churches marked the moment when Albany Presbytery affirmed the partnership.
2012 Youth Trip
Over the years, people of all ages, from 12 to 82, and from congregations all over Albany Presbytery (including First Pres Albany, Scotia Trinity, Mayfield Central, United Church of Granville, New Scotland, Cambridge, St. Peters, and several others!) have joined in. If your church is one of them and not mentioned, please let Kathy Gorman-Coombs know! We’d love to have a complete list. Participants have included elders, deacons, pastors, teachers, veterinarians, social workers, lawyers, photographers, and more! We have had youth trips and women’s trips which offered different perspectives and experiences.
First Sewing School
Shared Projects and Ministries
Together, we have helped launch two sewing schools, one of which evolved into a self-sustaining Co-op, called Saq Be; built chicken coops, supported pig farming and agricultural projects, and supported theological education.
Recently we have supported young people’s participation in the Tamar Project, an empowerment program for young women, teaching them about healthy relationships and staying safe, as well as the Joseph Project, a similar program for young men.
Currently, in partnership with CEDEPCA’s Disaster Response Ministry, we are supporting a pilot project providing vegetable seedlings and training on the best farming practices education for 100 women and their families.
Prayer Partners
Today, we are building direct congregation-to-congregation prayer partnerships. Folks here in Albany Presbytery pray for people in the Mam Presbytery and they pray for us. We hope someday to have ongoing communication (as technology will allow). Here is a list of our current prayer partners:
- Amsterdam United Presbyterian Church, Amsterdam, NY 🙏🏽 Monte de los Olivos, aldea El Rincón San Martin Sacatepéquez
- Brunswick Church, Troy, NY 🙏🏽 Presbiteriana Getsemaní cruz de Ajpop la nueva concepción, San Juan, Ostuncalco
- Charlton-Freehold Presbyterian Church, Charlton, NY 🙏🏽 Iglesia Jesus el Amigo Fiel Guillermo Meza Aldea las granadias, San Juan Ostuncalco
- Christ Church of the Hills, Schenectady, NY 🙏🏽 Luz Verdadera aldea las Barracas, San Juan Ostuncalco
- Delmar Presbyterian Church, Delmar, NY 🙏🏽 El Verbo Divino aldea La estancia San Martin Sacatepéquez
- First Albany Presbyterian Church, Albany, NY 🙏🏽 De Cristo, Centro San Juan Ostuncalco
- First Presbyterian Church, Glens Falls, NY 🙏🏽 Iglesia Horeb, aldea la nueva concepción
- First United Presbyterian, Troy NY 🙏🏽 Monte Sinaí Caserío Los Peñalonzo Palestina
- Mayfield Central Presbyterian, Mayfield, NY 🙏🏽 Agua Blanca Aldea Agua Blanca San Juan Ostuncalco
- New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Albany, NY 🙏🏽 Rey Divino aldea la Victoria San Juan Ostuncalco
- New Scotland Presbyterian Church, Slingerlands, NY 🙏🏽 Monte de los Olivos aldea el Carmen Palestina
- Northville Presbyterian Church, Northville, NY 🙏🏽 Jerusalem, aldea Toj Ali San Martin Sacatepéquez
- St. Peters Presbyterian, Spencertown, NY 🙏🏽 Jehová es Mi Pastor, Buena Vista San Juan, Ostuncalco
- Stephentown Federated Church, Stephentown, NY 🙏🏽 Dios Viviente Aldea Pueblo Nuevo San Juan Ostuncalco
- Trinity Presbyterian Church, Scotia, NY 🙏🏽 Jesús el Buen Pastor Centro se Huitan
Shared Learning
When we meet with the Mam Presbytery leadership, we exchange ideas about evangelism, community care, educational approaches, youth faith formation, and how we experience God in our lives and in relationship with each other.
Through it all, anyone of us who has gone, either once or on many occasions, will tell you:
“We don’t go to change Guatemala, we go to be changed.”
It is a truly transformative experience, with a tangible sense of God’s presence.
Growing in Faithfulness Together
During a Bible study with the women about the Mary/Martha story, I was sure that when asked “who do you relate to—Mary or Martha?” they would all say “Martha” because they are always working so hard. But to a woman, they responded “We are Mary. Yes we work hard all day, but always we are praying, listening to Jesus, being with our God.” I’ve never heard that story the same way since.
The hardships faced by the Indigenous Guatemalans, including drought, earthquakes, hurricanes, war, genocide, poverty, hunger, unsafe water, are beyond anything most of us have known. Yet in the midst of it all, they remain stalwartly convinced of God’s abiding presence with them. They sing, pray, dance, and celebrate even as they work hard, suffer pain, heartache, and loss. They care for one another.
Karla Koll, a longtime Mission Co-worker in Central America and CEDEPCA’s seminary professor, once told me that the purpose of USA/Guatemalan partnerships was “to encourage one another to greater faithfulness.” Not to fix Guatemala’s problems, or help them become more like us, or even for us to become more like them – but to provide simply mutual encouragement.
As we in the US struggle with increasing division in our nation and our government, the people of Guatemala have much wisdom to share. They have lived within the context of corruption, chaos, and repression for decades, even centuries. They teach us what quiet resistance and steadfast discipleship look like even in the midst of an unjust environment. We have much to learn from them.
What to Expect from this Journey
This immersion trip is more than a visit. It’s an invitation to transformation. Participants will experience firsthand how faith in action grows through long-standing partnerships and mutual learning. As we walk alongside our Guatemalan brothers and sisters in Christ, we will see the world through new eyes, growing our understanding of God’s work in them and in us. Through shared worship, stories, and service, we’ll return renewed in faith, ready to strengthen and live into our own congregations with the hope and connection that come from our partnership.
An Invitation to Join the Journey
For more than 30 years, Albany Presbytery has walked alongside the Mam in Guatemala, growing together in faith and friendship. Join us April 15–22, 2026, for a one-week immersion experience with CEDEPCA. You’ll share life with our partners, witness their resilience, and return renewed and ready to bring new vision and purpose to your own ministry. One week in Guatemala won’t transform Guatemala, but it may transform you.
