The Groff's Blog - Stay current with the Galen and Phyllis Groff's work in Guatemala by reading their blog.

2009 Work Team Project

Important Dates

December 4, 2009 - BEZALEEL BANQUET at Chambersburg Mennonite Church, 6pm.

March 27&28, 2010 - Spring Missionary Conference at Marion Mennonite Church.

Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast.

A representative democracy, its capital is Guatemala City. The nation has been stable since 1996 and has been in a state of continuous development and economic growth. Guatemala's abundance of biologically significant and unique ecosystems contributes to Mesoamerica's designation as a biodiversity hotspot.

Source:  Wikipedia

Franklin Conference Mission Board Involvement

In the mid 1960s Franklin Mennonite Conference became interested in initiating a foreign mission program of their own. In partnership with Eastern Mennonite Missions they decided to open work in Guatemala. After a visit by leaders of Franklin Conference and EMM they sent two families, Richard and Lois Landis, and Larry and Helen Lehman to the field in 1967. The vision was to have a holistic ministry. Voluntary Service workers were sent to work in agriculture and related programs, and nurses soon arrived to begin a health ministry. Literacy and education also became priorities in the work that followed.

The work was begun almost simultaneously among the Kekchis in Alta Verapaz and in the capital city of Guatemala. Today there are 115 congregations among the Kekchis of Guatemala and an additional 12 congregations in Guatemala City. In partnership with the government, a health program is sponsored by the Kekchi Mennonite Church that covers a large part of the Kekchi area. An extensive education program is conducted that includes Bezaleel (a Kekchi Mennonite Education Center) with dormitories where more that 150 students attend. The church continues to grow and minister to the needs of the region.