Nuestra América
December 16, 2006

Brothers and Sisters,

We hope that the God of life and history bless you in this Advent and Christmas season. Christmas is special for Christians because we remember that Jesus Christ came to accompany people who are marginalized and in need of God’s love. We lament the fact that many people get caught up in consumerism, which is idolatry of the market, and neglect the real meaning of Christmas.

We’ve been waiting for this moment so we could tell you with certainty about the next step of in our ministry. We’ve been assigned to serve in the Escuela Taller de la Facultad de de Teología en el Seminario de la Iglesia Evangélica Española, that is, the extension division of the faculty of theology of the seminary of the Evangelical Church of Spain, which has its seat in El Escorial, about 40 kilometers from Madrid. We’ve submitted all our documents to the Spanish embassy in Costa Rica, and we hoe to get our work permits in the next few weeks.

This is a big change for us. For 30 years we’ve carried out our ministry in Latin America— Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia y Honduras. Of these 30 years, we have worked 18 years with the PC(USA) teaching theology in Colombia and Honduras.

The situation in Central America has taught us a lot and has presented very interesting challenges. After years of civil wars and peace processes, the conditions in which poor people live continue to be wretched. The real causes of injustice, violence, and corruption are still rooted in the economic, political and social structures of Central America.
Nevertheless, the people of Central America haven’t lost hope. They continue making the effort to improve their lot and, further, they still witness before society as Christians, as in the case of the Presbyterian Church of Nicaragua, which is growing in number but also is developing in its participation in the world.

We think that the accompaniment by the PC(USA) of sister churches in Central America helps local communities to keep their eyes on the prize and believe that together we can build a better world. Many people have managed to survive, increase their harvests, build houses, improve their schools, build clinics and other social service projects. Also with the help of the PC(USA), they have survived natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. The PC(USA) has also helped in leadership training and spiritual formation.

Throughout our years of service with the PC(USA), we’ve seen how the General Assembly Offices in Louisville, Kentucky, have tried to coordinate the work of the many individual churches that minister in Central America and the national churches in Central America.

Now that we’re moving to another continent, would like to urge you not to stop accompanying all the work going on in Central America. And we thank you also for supporting ministries in other parts of the world, such as the work in Spain that we are now preparing for.

We’re vary thankful for all your support, especially when you put is on your prayer lists. This way we know that there are people who know about and care about our ministry, and we don’t feel as if we’re doing this all alone, far from our families, friends, and congregations. And speaking of family, our two sons, Samuel and Pablo, will stay here in Costa Rica.
Our address in Spain is:

Osmundo Ponce y Ana Ligia Sánchez
SEUT
Apartado 7
E – 28280 El Escorial
Madrid, España

We trust in God that our new experience will strengthen even more the ties of friendship and fraternity between the Reformed churches of the United States and Spain. Our greatest desire is that all our local churches could feel themselves to be part of a single, great church of Christ all over the world.

We pray that the God of life and history heap blessings upon you. We send you a our warmest greetings with all our solidarity, love, and respect.

In the hope of God’s kingdom,

Your servants in Christ,

Osmundo Ponce y Ana Ligia Sánchez