Rev. Denise Griebler reports from Chiapas

(One of the partners of IMM and of Global Ministries is SiPaz.  Denise Griebler represents IMM on the Board of Directors of SiPaz.  Travel for this international board is expensive, and thus they meet intensively once each year in San Cristobal de Las Casas.  Here is Denise's report of that meeting.)

Chiapas Report

August 14 – 21 I was in Chiapas, Mexico for the annual SiPaz (International Service for Peace) board meeting. It’s always a privilege to accompany this amazingly faithful organization as they accompany communities and processes working toward establishing a true and lasting peace in Southern Mexico. NAFTA and the various other free-trade agreements combined with organized crime, the war on drugs, impunity and government corruption are enough to overwhelm. But SiPaz just keeps plugging along to defend human rights, educate toward peace, support people’s efforts to organize and have a say over their own lives and communities.

We were blessed to go to the countryside to visit with a Zapatista community – indigenous Mayan folk who are staking their claim to define, organize and govern themselves. It was inspiring to see women who speak only their indigenous language of Tzeltal emerging as leaders of the community. There are about 371,000 people in Chiapas who speak this language. Many speak no Spanish. And it's just one of the Mayan language groups in Chiapas!  80% of the people who live in Chiapas are Mayan, which is to say, Native American, indigenous, 1st Nations.  Everyone else is an immigrant!

After the interview with the community leaders, they invited us to have lunch with them – a cup of thick sweet rice water called “atole”. We felt so honored to share a meal and informal conversation with these people who say that what they are working for is a world where all worlds fit. I like that. The big mining companies who want what’s beneath their land do not. I pray the Zapatistas hold their ground.

The rest of the week was solid meetings back in San Cristobal de las Casas. We engaged in analysis of the current situation and strategized about how our little organization has and could make a difference on behalf of human rights

and peace. We committed to goals for this year. SiPaz board members are from France, Costa Rica, Germany, Colombia, Holland, Switzerland and the US.

- Denise

SiPaz Board

Women's Micro-Credit Enterprize

 On January 14, 2012, our Guatemala delegation spent the morning visiting our partner ACG - Guatemalan Cultural Action.  We travelled by pickup truck to a nearby community and had a conversation with a women's micro-credit group.  Each of us in turn introduced ourselves and each of them in turn introduced themselves and told us about their particular project, and how they were using the loaned money.  It was inspiring.  Pictured above are the women of the cooperative.

We then went back to the center and visited with the staff.  It is a difficult period for their work.  The international economic downturn has affected gifts to international NGOs also.  They are trying to determine how to continue to do quality work with diminished resources.

Critical Analysis

When the IMM delegation was in San Cristobal de Las Casas in May 2012 for the 15th Anniversary celebration of INESIN the group also made visits to other partners in town.  One of those long time partners is SiPaz.  SiPaz is an international NGO working for peace, and it was also established in the 1990s.

In the photo above Marina Pages, director of SiPaz,  presents a critical analysis of the situation in Chiapas.  Her presence at INESIN illustrates the network of groups who have slightly different missions and who at the same time work in harmony to address the needs in Chiapas.

SiPaz is a partner with IMM and INESIN, and also with Global Ministries.  While Felix Ortiz Cotto was present for the celebration at INESIN he was also able to meet with representatives of SiPaz to find ways that they could work together in the future.  The various groups together form a critical presence for positive effort.

Concejo Ecumenico Cristaino de Guatemala

Concejo Ecuménico Cristiano de Guatemala

 On January 17, 2012, a delegation of Illinois Maya Ministries members met with Vitalino Similox and Nora Colom in Guatemala City at the offices of Concejo Ecumenico Cristiano de Guatemala.  Vitalino and Nora had visited Illinois in the fall of 2011 and we had met them then.  This was a return visit to learn more about their work.  They are affiliated with Global Ministries in Indianapolis, and are developing a partnership with the Disciples of Christ Region that includes Illinois.

 The council does work coordinating a Christian witness in Guatemala.  The blue poster, above lists the member organizations.  Please note also the web address.  (You can also reach their website by clicking on the blue underlined name of the organization in the first line of this post, it is a hot link.)

We had a pleasant visit.  It was their first day back after their honeymoon - they were married earlier in January!

Our delegation was composed of Martha Pierce, Rev. Michael Swartz and Jeanne Omelia of IMM and Sydney of CRLN - the Chicago Religious Leadership Network.

Broadview Detention Center vigil

 The Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ began its annual meeting at 7:15 am with a Prayer Vigil at the Broadview Detention Center, on Friday June 8, 2012.  Broadview Detention Center is where undocumented persons are gathered up and staged for deportation from the United States, and Friday mornings is when the busses of shackled young men leave the center for Ohare Airport.  Religious persons gather there weekly to pray and sing for those being deported and to let them know that there are some people of good will who regret their plight.

The particular reason for this gathering of United Church of Christ conference participants was not only to express solidarity with those being bussed to the airport, but also to honor the memory of Rev. Bob Sandman, a longtime member of the conference who attended these services regularly when he was alive, but who died this last year.

In the top photo Rev. Denise Griebler, a member of the conference, leads worship.  In the bottom photo worshippers wave to the departing busses.  (Some of our bi-lingual pastors were able to board the busses and pray with the deportees and offer support.)

Gloria Vicente

 Illinois Maya Ministry met today, Friday, May 18, 2012 in Warrenville, Illinois, at the home of Rev. Denise Griebler, to listen to a very pregnant Gloria Vicente share about her work in Guatemala as a missionary through Common Global Ministries.  Gloria was able to explain in depth about her experience at Guatemalan Christian Action (ACG).  She also talked a little about her plans for her future work in Guatemala.  Part of the work of IMM is to accompany our missionaries with Mayan people.  

Honoring Bishop Samuel Ruiz

There are different ways of honoring someone who has  died.  Bishop Samuel Ruiz Garcia (3 November 1924 – 24 January 2011) died a little over a year ago.  He was instrumental in building positive ecumenical relations between and among Mayans, Catholics and Protestants in the Diocese of San Cristobal de Las Casas, where he served for many years.

The top photo is of the Mayan altar that was used during the Fiesta at INESIN.   This is a Mayan way of honoring a person, as we would at a memorial service in our church.  We too use candles and flowers.  The basked and bowl are filled with earth and water, respectively.  The various colors of flowers and candles represent the cardinal directions.  This is a way that Mayan folks honor Bishop Ruiz.

The lower photo is of our group from Illinois Maya Ministries including Felix Ortiz-Cotto of Global Ministries.  We are standing on the foundation/slab/footing of a new building that is being constructed at INESIN.  This is how North American Protestants honor someone who has died who was beloved and appreciated.  IMM set a goal of a $10,000 to help build this building that will include an assembly room named for Bishop Ruiz.  And we have met our goal and sent the $10,000.  And we know that additional gifts have been sent by the Wisconsin UCC Conference, and by other donors. 


INESIN is able to receive and benefit from various sorts of contributions to honor one of their spiritual founders.