Hello fellow lovers of Guatemala. Time for an update to our CESSMAQ issue. As many of you know the Mission Presbytery had their trust broken by a paid employee of CESSMAQ. This resulted in the loss of a substantial amount of money. The problem has been identified, the CESSMAQ Committee has been relieved and the paid employees have been terminated. Recovery of the funds is now in the hands of the Presbyterian SYNOD of Guatemala.

Way forward:

1.   Closer involvement of the Maya Quiche Presbytery (MQP) with CESSMAQ and the mission trip work projects.

2.   The Mission Presbytery (MP) Guatemala Partnership Team (GPT) will require tighter controls over the CESSMAQ book-keeping – Possibly (suggested to Maya Quiche Presbytery) independent book-keeping through an outside bonded accounting firm.

3.   Proof of purchase for all items needed for mission trips, receipts, visual viewing of items purchased, visit to completed or in progress project sites and, confirmation from the MQP that work is being done per their approval.

4.   Visit with the MQP Executive committee in either May or June and the newly appointed CESSMAQ members.

Friends we (the GPT) are deeply committed to keeping our partnership in place and the re-building of a trusted relationship with MQP and CESSMAQ. Over the past 11 plus years there have been many many positive and successful mission trips to Guatemala. These trips have supported the indigenous Mayan people. It is our desire to continue that work. We have all promised to learn from our mistakes and to be more diligent in our partnership and to work hard not to let the problems of the past dictate the future mission work still to be done. God has been with us in our deliberations and we hope that you, our supporters, will continue to back us.

God Bless you and thank you.

Your Mission Presbytery Guatemala Partnership Team.

532491

Hello fellow lovers of Guatemala. Time for an update to our CESSMAQ issue. As many of you know the Mission Presbytery had their trust broken by a paid employee of CESSMAQ. This resulted in the loss of a substantial amount of money. The problem has been identified, the CESSMAQ Committee has been relieved and the paid employees have been terminated. Recovery of the funds is now in the hands of the Presbyterian SYNOD of Guatemala. 

Way forward:

1.   Closer involvement of the Maya Quiche Presbytery (MQP) with CESSMAQ and the mission trip work projects.

2.   The Mission Presbytery (MP) Guatemala Partnership Team (GPT) will require tighter controls over the CESSMAQ book-keeping – Possibly (suggested to Maya Quiche Presbytery) independent book-keeping through an outside bonded accounting firm.

3.   Proof of purchase for all items needed for mission trips, receipts, visual viewing of items purchased, visit to completed or in progress project sites and, confirmation from the MQP that work is being done per their approval.

4.   Visit with the MQP Executive committee in either May or June and the newly appointed CESSMAQ members.

Friends we (the GPT) are deeply committed to keeping our partnership in place and the re-building of a trusted relationship with MQP and CESSMAQ. Over the past 11 plus years there have been many many positive and successful mission trips to Guatemala. These trips have supported the indigenous Mayan people. It is our desire to continue that work. We have all promised to learn from our mistakes and to be more diligent in our partnership and to work hard not to let the problems of the past dictate the future mission work still to be done. God has been with us in our deliberations and we hope that you, our supporters, will continue to back us.

God Bless you and thank you.

Your Mission Presbytery Guatemala Partnership Team.

532494

Chronological list of events surrounding CESSMAQ and the misappropriation of funds.

September 2010: Guatemala Partnership Team (GPT) members, Bryan Anderson, Rob Mueller and Bob Yarbrough, traveled to Guatemala to re-new the CESSMAQ/Mission Presbytery (MP) charter.

1.       While there we were informed by Noe Sam Yac that he had not been paid in 2010.

2.       This prompted an investigation into what happened to funds that were sent to CESSMAQ.

3.       GPT requested a report for MP on all wire transfers to CESSMAQ over the period 2009 through 2010.

4.       March 2011 Bob Yarbrough was contacted by Kirk of Kildare PC in Cary NC sharing that they too had questions about missing funds being sent to CESSMAQ.  Teleconference between GPT members Bryan Anderson, Rob Mueller and Bob Yarbrough and Kirk of Kildare members Hal Jordan  and Virginia Anthony was held to discuss this and plans on what to do next. It was suggested that an audit be done of the CESSMAQ books. Virginia Anthony had information that funds had been stolen by the Secretary and used for personal issues.

5.       An audit firm from Guatemala City Guatemala was commissioned to do an audit of the CESSMAQ books. Audit to start in May 2010. Heartland Presbytery,  Kirk of Kildare and GPT all agreed to fund the audit in that we all had a stake in the outcome.

6.       Report received that all requested wire transfers of GPT funds to CESSMAQ had been done and had been received by the bank in Guatemala. CESSMAQ was working with the bank to find when the monies had been received and who signed for them.

7.       June 2011 The audit was completed and presented to the Maya Quiche Presbytery (MQP) (sponsor of CESSMAQ) by the audit firm. The executive presbyter sent an email to Bryan Anderson, Rob Mueller and Edward Esparza. They have accepted the results of the audit and are working on the legal issues. Bryan Anderson was provided a copy of the audit. Once translated it was confirmed that the Secretary/book-keeper of CESSMAQ had embezzled a large amount of money for personal gain and had misappropriated other money to cover her actions. She was immediately terminated by MQP. MQP has informed the GPT that they have agreed to have the secretary make restitution of a small amount of the money stolen.

8.       GPT notified MQP that the dismissal of Noe Sam as director of CESSMAQ was not received favorably. We also informed them that not seeking further action against the secretary was unsatisfactory. MQP’s actions to sanction the members of CESSMAQ and to relieve them all of their duties and the assigning of a new CESSAMQ committee was approved by the GPT. It was further noted that MQP would be writing new rules and regulations governing the actions of CESSMAQ and as a fail-safe to having a re-occurrence of this awful situation. The GPT met with the EP for Mission Presbytery as part of the ongoing sharing of information and status of our investigation.

9.       GPT has asked MQP for the list of names of the CESSMAQ and a copy of the new guidelines. We have also further emphasized our disagreement with MQP’s decision to remove Noe Sam Yac as director of CESSMAQ. The audit revealed that he had nothing to do with the missing money and that his job description  prevented him from having anything to do with money handling. Job discriptions of the CESMAQ President and Treasurer authorize only them to receive and disperse funds donated to CESSMAQ.  The audit revealed that both the President and Treasurer relied on thier trust of the book-keeper to dispese funds without a review of proper use of the funds. The GPT, as a fail-safe, has also requested that an independent professional book-keeping firm be hired to handle the CESSMAQ books as we move forward.

10.   Until MQP responds to our requests and shows good faith in continuing our partnership we have suspended all dealings. All monies currently held by MP for the Guatemala Partnership will be held in the bank till such time as we re-establish partnership work with MQP/CESSMAQ.