April 2007

Greetings from Managua, Nicaragua!

Yesterday and today we have been treated to tropical downpours that drown out all possibility of conversation but have brought temporary relief to stifling temperatures that have remained in the upper nineties for a couple of months now.

Last month I had the opportunity to travel to South Carolina to spend a couple of days sharing with one of my supporting churches. It was a wonderful reminder to me of how valuable it is—as much for me as for those in the United States who support me—to be connected. After all, I am here as regional liaison for Central America as a service not just to our partners in Central America, but also to serve as a resource for our own denomination. I realized that by not staying connecting and sharing with you the daily experience of Nicaraguan life, I am doing a disservice to my work, our partners, and to you all.

So as a result of this recent visit and this awakening of sorts, I want to challenge myself to stay better in touch and to keep you posted from month to month on how I could use your support in prayers. I want to be realistic in what I can really add to my task list each month, so this won’t be a long, drawn out monthly mailing, but rather a brief heads up of what I expect in the month to come so that you all are more aware of what it is I do as regional liaison. With that will inevitably come prayer requests so that I may serve our church and our partners more faithfully.

April began with a restful Holy week for me, hopefully providing me with the energy I will need to face the rest of this month’s agenda.

April 16 and 17 I will be leading a second workshop with the Reconciliation Commission of the Presbyterian Church of Guatemala (IENPG). The plan is to spend quite a bit of time helping them analyze the current conflict situation of their denomination and then put them to work on strategizing how to begin to build a culture of reconciliation. It is quite a huge task, and two days isn’t nearly enough time, but I pray that some progress can be made, new understandings come to, and a commitment to the long-haul process of peace-building in the church be strengthened.

On April 23 I have the honor of being present for the opening of the week-long tenth anniversary celebration of the Latin American Biblical University (UBL) in San Jose, Costa Rica. The UBL began in 1923 as a women’s Bible school but today is a well-respected institution of theological training. Since 1997 the seminary has been an accredited Costa Rican university, which makes it an even more influential and well-known institution throughout Latin America. Its theological education program is carried out in 19 centers in 14 countries. Programs are offered in pastoral theology, Bible, theology, church history, women and theology, and teaching and theology. Programs range from non-degree to master’s degree level. The students do much of the course work in their home countries through programs of theological education by extension (TEE). Most students working toward a degree then attend UBL’s main campus in San José for 2–12 months in order to take specific courses for their degree track and to finish research for thesis work. The PC(USA) is privileged to have had mission personnel cooperating with UBL for many years.

Unfortunately I won’t be able to stay for all of the week’s activities. I have to go to the United States on Tuesday for the Guatemala Mission Network meeting hosted by Baltimore Presbytery. The purpose of mission networks is to facilitate building and maintaining healthy partnerships, as well as provide a place for representatives of various PC(USA) partnerships to share information and coordinate their efforts. At this particular meeting, PC(USA) churches, presbyteries, synods, and agencies involved in partnerships and connections with CEDEPCA and the Presbyterian Church in Guatemala will meet April 25-27 in Columbia, Maryland. Speakers and facilitators will include leaders from the Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de Guatemala, CEDEPCA, PC(USA) mission co-workers from Guatemala, and PC(USA) staff. Please pray that the Spirit will be present and lead our discussions and discernment of how to be faithful partners to one another.

I give thanks to God for the generous support, both financial and spiritual, that I continue to receive from you and pray that I can return that kindness in the form of faithful service to God, the church, and our Central American brothers and sisters.

Blessings and peace,

Tracey

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 38