January 11, 2005
Dear Friends,
Greetings from La Paz, Bolivia!
After three and a half powerful years living in working in Bolivia,
I am preparing to return to the United States. During my tenure
as facilitator, the Bolivian Joining Hands network has wrestled
with issues ranging from trade agreements, to the increasing pressure
to privatize water and other natural resources, to the country’s
struggle to address hundreds of years of exploitation, discrimination,
and oppression of Bolivia’s indigenous peoples. And I've
come to the conclusion that when we speak of economic or social
policy, what we really are talking about are moral and ethical
issues. We are talking about the challenge to help construct God’s
Kingdom here on earth.
In order to be a more effective advocate I have decided to take
some time to reflect on my experiences in Bolivia and go back
to school. I hope to enter a graduate program in the fall of this
year.
Beginning around the second week of May and continuing through
August of this year, I will be on what the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) calls “interpretation assignment.” Interpretation
assignment is a period that allows me to visit with your church,
organization, or group to share with you about my time in Bolivia,
the Joining Hands program, global justice issues, and PC(USA)
ministries around the world.
Many of you have followed my experiences serving in Bolivia over
the past three and a half years through my newsletters and emails.
I would love to visit with you and share the stories of the men
and women I have met, the story of my work in Bolivia. It’s
exciting, challenging, discouraging and hopeful. If you are interested
in a visit, please read further the information below, which details
dates and other specifics, such as financial matters.
I want to thank you all for being my support network during these
three and a half years. You have reflected with me, challenged
me, supported me and prayed for me during both painful and wonderful
experiences.
Peace,
Susan Ellison
PC(USA) Mission Co-worker in Bolivia
What can I do?
The possibilities range from talking to Presbyterian Women’s
meetings, confirmation classes, session meetings, session retreats,
church camp, prayer breakfasts, informal gatherings, doing a presbytery
presentation, mission committee meetings, a Sunday-school hour,
speaking with interfaith organizations working on issues in Latin
America, meeting with local organizations concerned about social,
economic, environmental and gender justice—and other creative
ideas you might have. We can talk about what kind of format would
be most appropriate for your church or organization.
Timeline
I will be making my schedule on a “first come, first served”
basis. If you are interested in a visit, please let me know the
format for my sharing with you (meeting with missions committee,
potluck, Sunday school, etc.), and please provide a preferred
date and second choice for the date. Again, I will be available
from mid-May through August of 2005.
I will try to coordinate regional visits in order to help reduce
costs and the back-and-forth of travel across the country. I already
have one tentative speaking engagement in New York, near Lake
George in the Adirondack Mountains, June 9-12, 2005.
A note on expenses
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pays my salary while I am on
interpretation assignment, so I do not expect any kind of an honorarium.
However, my travel expenses are not taken care of. Travel expenses,
such as flights or rental cars must be covered by churches or
organizations that invite me to speak, as well as housing. If
I am visiting several churches in the same region, those costs
can be split among them. If you would like to invite me but can’t
afford to pay for my travel, please let me know ahead of time.
Some churches may give more than my travel expenses require and
I can try to save for such occasions. Please note that I cannot
accept cash.
Reaching me
Through the last week of April 2005, you can reach me here in
Bolivia. Email is the easiest: sellison@albatros.cnb.net.
It is always good to send a copy to my backup email address, susanhellison@yahoo.com.
You can also reach me by phone at 011-591-719-68-374 or 011-591-2-2238090
My mailing address in Bolivia is: Susan Ellison, Casilla 9383
, La Paz, Bolivia
Ground mail sent after mid-April should be sent to my permanent
mailing address in the States, which will also serve as my home
base during interpretation assignment: Susan Ellison, 2216 Valley
Vista Rd., Louisville, KY 40205
My email addresses will remain the same. My phone number in the
United States is: (502) 458-7445
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
46
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