Women's Ministry
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Women in Costa Rica praying at World Day of Prayer
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Alexandra Ramirez Picado lives in Costa Rica and is studying there in CEDEPCA's women's ministry.
She will graduate in May of this year. Her thesis is on myths about women's health and bodies and how these myths affect women.
Here are some of her responses to an interview about her experience with CEDEPCA.
1. How was your situation before you participated in these courses?
I was all tangled up mentally and spiritually.
I felt alone, dirty, without dignity or value.
Experiences of abuse and the myths contributing to them resulted in my partner not respecting me.
2. What have you learned and what changes have you experienced?
I have begun to know and value myself.
I know that God loves me and accepts me as I am, doesn't judge me.
God made me in his image, which means I am a valuable creature to him.
I have to work to take care of my body, to learn to put limits and to defend my rights.
My husband has changed a lot and is helping me. He has learned to respect, understand and value me.
Donate now to help our Women's Program.
Prevention and Attention to Disasters
This program has been very active following the eruption in May 2010 of Pacaya volcano, the effects of Tropical Storm Agatha and the destruction caused by both. The following is a report of their work from May till Dec. 2010.
- 1,926 people received community based psychosocial attention
- 80 people identified to receive training in Community based psychosocial attention
- 495 families received cleaning kits (5 gal. bucket, scrub sponges, detergent, masks, broom, liquid disinfectant, disinfectant dish soap, large trash bags, etc)
- 2 mini-warehouses of tools for immediate community response established.
In March of 2011, a workshop was given for 20 pastors and lay persons on "Spiritual Attention in Times of Crisis." This is a very important aspect of the program as popular theology teaches that disaster is God's punishment for sin.
Donate now to help our Crisis Ministry Program.
Biblical and Theological Training
Message from Karla Koll
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This semester (2011) we have 33 university level students. We are offering four university classes as well as a workshop on writing papers. The one-year corticated program in Christian Education has an initial enrollment of 13 students. In Poptun students are finishing the last of twelve courses for their diplomas in theology. Seventeen students are in the course we are offering as part of the program of the Reformed Theological Institute of the Kaqchikel Presbytery. Another group of students has formed at the St. James Apostle Episcopal Church in Guatemala City. At least once a week another church or organization contacts CEDEPCA to ask if we can help to train their leadership. We are praying for the resources to be able to respond.
Words from two students in the Biblical and theological training Program:
Ernesto Barrientos: CEDEPCA has changed all of my ideas in a week. Why don't the churches teach what CEDEPCA teaches? I am very thankful for the new knowledge I am acquiring about God and the Bible.
Lissette Ordonez; (Karla's words) Lissette shared with me that she came out of a traditional evangelical church background that taught her to view a God who was waiting to punish her if she did anything wrong. When she came to CEDEPCA, she came to know a God who is much more real, a God who, in her own words, "Is as human as I am". She has fallen more in love with God through her studies. She also has been able to open her mind to other religions and to view people who think differently than she does with respect.
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Wish List for Theology Program
- $20 buys a book for our new library
- $35 buys a chair for our classroom
- $85 buys a reference book for the library
- $100 provides a scholarship for a student from outside the capital to attend an intensive course.
- $500 buys a computer for the students to use in the library
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Report from Audit of 2010 Finances on Expenditures of Funds
- Administration...............$29,030
- Women's Ministry............$147.848
- Theology Program.............$48,334
- Cultural Exchange Programs..$138,883
- Crisis Ministry.............$143,900
- Misc. Projects...............$36,974
(Read More about our finances and board online) |
CEDEPCA-USA is a 501(c)(3) organization that raises money to support CEDEPCA's programs. For more information on those programs or on how you can help, please visit our website at: www.cedepca.us. Donations can be made online or by sending a check to CEDEPCA-USA at 3101 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23221.
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