June 14, 2004

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As I write this we are awaiting word on a visa to work in Peru. As soon as we get the visa, I (Harry) will head for Lima, where he will begin teaching at a branch of the Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana. The UBL has its headquarters in Costa Rica, where it was founded in the early part of the twentieth century to train evangelical pastors.

The branch in Peru was begun in 1996. Efraín Barrera, a Peruvian student of the UBL, felt the need for the kind of open theological education at a university level that the UBL offers. He wanted this type of theological education not only for himself, but also for it to be available to others—in Peru as well as in Costa Rica. Through his hard work and a little financial help from Europe, the branch opened, and the PC(USA) has decided to support this effort by assigning me to work in the Lima branch.

It has always been a thing of joy to me to teach in the Latin American context. There are so many ways that the social context in Latin America resembles the socio-historical context in Bible times! It is wonderful to see students making those connections and finding new ways that God is speaking to their communities through His Word. I am grateful for this new opportunity, and grateful for the ways you all make this possible.

Debbie’s mother is in bed with Alzheimer’s, so she may stay in the Orlando area for a little while even after I head down to Peru. She is already talking about getting involved with teaching children after she gets there!

In the meantime, please continue to pray for us, as we do for you all in your ministries.

Shalom,

Harry and Debbie Horne

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 133