Guyana, South America

In 1996, Fellowship entered into a partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana. Our mission and purpose: to create conditions for work and joint activities with and through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana, both clergy and lay, to support, enable and enhance their mission and service to congregations, members, friends and neighbors in their respective communities.

This year, 2007, marks the beginning of second decade of our Partnership! We have been deeply blessed by our relationships that have developed over the first10 years. The Spirit continues to guide our companionship as we walk together. Since that beginning in 1996 we have joined with our sisters and brothers in Guyana on 40 different trips: construction, medical/dental, music education, sewing instruction, mental health education, literacy (phonics) training, computer skills and youth camp among other projects and activities. By year-end we will have completed another two trips (music and medical).  A total of 195 different individuals from Kentucky, Oklahoma, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Washington, South Carolina, North Carolina, California, Nebraska, New York, Kansas, Minnesota, Arizona, Missouri, Wisconsin, Colorado, Maryland, Oregon and Washington D.C. plus five from Guyana have been involved with the “traveling teams”. About 30% have gone on more than one trip.

Our Activities in 2007!
February Construction Team

This year’s team consisted of 8 people from Fellowship and one person from Georgetown, Texas.  Our project this year was to restore the Mt. Zion church building, which is located in an area called the Sand Hills on the Demerara River.  Mt. Zion is located approximately 1-1/2 hours from Georgetown, Guyana by land and water.

When we got there we were confronted with a church building that had been unused for over four years due to severe settling issues.  Prior to the teams arrival local construction workers had straightened the concrete piers, poured stabilizing footings around them, replaced several sections of termite-damaged support beans and plumbed the building.  We were charged with the tasks of installing new roofing and flooring, repairing damaged siding on three sides of the building, removing and replacing all of the siding on the front, refurbishing the windows and getting as much of the exterior of the building painted as possible.  We were a small but mighty team completing these planned tasks plus adding an additional step at the base of the existing steps, fabricating and attaching  a new cross to the bell tower, fabricating and installing “Mt. Zion” letters over the front door and repairing the altar rail.  We also poured a concrete porch and installed a roof at the entrance to the school as a token of thanks for letting us use the building for sleeping quarters.  It is important to note that during the eight days while on site many locals chipped in with their help, which is one of the most cooperative efforts over the ten years of construction activities.

Plans are underway for a construction team trip from January 24 to February 2, 2007. 

For more information contact:
Chuck Worrell