Welcomed by different sectors of society the decision now must be communicated to the 25 thousand public schools and institutes and the nine thousand private schools in the country.

The Ministry of Education had earlier notified all schools to permit indigenous students and personnel to wear tipica clohing, but many schools did not complied. In some cases, schools refused to allow students to register until they went home and changed into western clothing. Private schools apparently were the majority of offenders.

Refusing to allow indigenous to wear tipica has been criticized as racial discrimination and a violation of the 1996 peace accords. About 55% of Guatemala's population is of Maya heritage and most have preserved their culture despite centuries of pressure to change. Each village or people group has its own distinct style of clothing and language or dialect.

Domingo Santo, of the Academy of Mayan Languages, praised the Ministry's decision, saying it is a sign of respect for the rights, customs and traditions of the ethnic groups in Guatemala.

When Kay's cold and congestion developed into a pulmonary infection she was admitted at a local hospital. As the nurses were getting her settled, the doctor poked his head into the room and asked Dan if he could help.

Dan followed Dr. Bonilla into the next room where a man was lying in bed. Fluent in German and English, but unable to understand any Spanish, Nicholas had arrived in Guatemala two days earlier and suddenly needed an emergency hernia operation. Dr. Bonilla asked Dan to translate as he explained the urgency of the situation. Then Dan called a German friend who could comfort Nicholas in his own language.

As they waited for the surgery team to prepare, Dan visited with Nicholas. Nicholas confessed that, once a devout Catholic, he had left the church some years earlier. Because both his mother and his brother had died at age 66, he also faced a superstitious fear of dying during surgery.

Celia Marin de Ordónez writes that about 10:00 PM Monday night her husband received a telephone call at home making the demand for Q8000 ($1000). If they failed to pay, one of the family would be kidnapped and killed.

"We are very worried and we do not know what to do," writes Teacher Celia. "I am very worried for my children because they leave [the house]" to go to school.

They have reported the threat.

At last report, the family has not moved from their home. They wish they could go elsewhere, but they do not know where to go.

Four representatives of CPTLN (Christ for the the Nations/Lutheran Hour) made the nine-hour bus trip from Guatemala City to Las Pacayas to lead the bilinugal VBS November 17-21.

Betty de Vallejos and three young assistants came from Guatemala City to work with LBT Missionaries Stan and Margot McMillen and other local leaders in presenting the "Fruit of the Spirit" to some 300 children.

Margot McMillen attributed the activity's success to using Uspanteco, one of the two dozen Maya languages found in Guatemala. Most of the children in Las Pacayas speak only Uspanteco until they begin primary school where they learn Spanish. And even though they learn Spanish, they understand and learn best when using their mother tongue. Most of the VBS was conducted in both Spanish and Uspanteco.

McMillen also praised the leaders' cultural sensitivity and the fact they took time to explain things not common in the local culture.

An example was when five children began screaming and crying during a drama presentation. De Vallejos consoled the children and carefully explained the idea of disguises and costumes. She even got a couple of the children to try on a clown wig.

The children enjoyed singing Christian songs in Uspanteco and the puppets were a big hit with everyone.

The society has grown so large that it now is seeking its first executive director. Since its beginning, CCCS has operated solely as a volunteer organization and all administrative costs absorbed by the volunteers or by special gifts.

CCCS began in 1968 in Guatemala when it began providing assistance to rural students to attend Divine Savior Lutheran School as boarding students. Since then it has grown to include some ninety project sites in Latin America, Africa, and Palestine.

The newest sites include Chad and Bolivia. Jesús el Maestro (Jesus the Teacher) Lutheran school in Cochabamba, Bolivia has an enrollment of 640 students.

CCCS is a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and a 501 C-3 exempt not-for-profit organization.

Kerigma is a greek word meaning proclamation. The early Christian church’s gospel proclamations were simple and clear, or kerigma. Peter’s Penecost sermon is an example.

A variety of presenters are on the schedule, including Lic. Cornelio Midence, the general secretary of the Guatemala Bible Society, speaking about the importance of God’s Word in missions.

Other presenters and their subjects include: Lic. Arnoldo Milian, Ecology and Evangelism; Dr. Abdiel Orozco, The Holy Spirit and Missions; Lic. Nury Milian, Guatemala Lutheran Church History; Rev. Dale Talsma, Transcultural Missions; and Rev. Herbert Burch, Church Planting.

Talsma and Burch represent the LCMS. Burch was a missionary to Guatemala until accepting a call to California last year. Talsma is a theological education missionary in Guatemala.

The other presenters are Guatemala Lutherans, professionals in various fields ranging from anthropology to engineering, medicine to professional church work.

This year’s gathering includes many of the features common to such events. Bible studies and interactive sessions are mixed with time for drama presentations, music, and even a marshmallow roast.

Since 1994, CAN-DO (Christ Among Nations Disciple Outreach) annually helps thousands of youth and adults experience short term missions domestically and abroad.