written by Colleen Holt and Debbie Bartrow
The United Women in Faith, Nell Dyer Circle, at Conway First United Methodist Church recently provided an opportunity for people to be a part of the church’s upcoming Guatemala Stove Builders Mission team, even if they will be unable to travel to Guatemala in January to help build stoves for Mayan families.
At the church’s recent Christmas Coffeehouse, supporters were able to make donations to financially fund a tote bag, and the ladies of the Nell Dyer Circle hand made each bag on Dec. 3. At the coffeehouse, each donor personally signed a tag card that will be attached to each bag indicating their support and the fabrication by the Nell Dyer Circle members.
Each Guatemalan family receiving a stove built by the Conway team in 2026 will receive a tote bag that can be used when shopping at market. The bags will also be filled with other items such as sewing kits, toiletry items, dish towels and long handled spoons.
The Mission team, sponsored by Conway FUMC, will travel to Guatemala in January to work with the United Methodist ADVANCE project Stove Builders of Guatemala. This project has a goal of helping people help themselves. It trains local Mayan men to build fuel efficient stoves which gets the fire up off the floor of the house and vents the smoke out of the house – a life-changing event for Mayan families who are still cooking on the ground with a fire in their homes.
At least two teams from Conway FUMC have worked with this project in past years, organized by Steve and Bonnie Laycock of Conway. In addition to building stoves, the groups have brought books for the Mayan children and have participated in traditional Mayan activities with the families.
For more information about Stove Builders of Guatemala, please visit www.stovebuildersofguatemala.com/.
