February 6, 2006
Dear Friends,
Carnival! It is drums, accordion, flute, wind instruments, costumes,
masks, decorated hats, folk dancing, parades, and fireworks. The
main events occur during the four days just before Lent—when
everything else in Barranquilla shuts down—but for a month
before we have carnival-related activities every weekend. Because
Barranquilla’s carnival incorporates folk traditions from
African, European, and native Colombian peoples, all present in
the local population, the United Nations has declared it “a
masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.”
The Presbyterian Church of Colombia (IPC) has not been declared
a masterpiece (as far as I know), but it could be, for it too
incorporates diverse traditions, and 2006 is very much a year
of celebration. Let me share with you some of the things we are
celebrating.
The Reformed University
The Reformed Universityhas received government approval for its
new psychology program, which begins this semester. We anticipate
that psychology and other programs offered by the university will
provide subsidies for the theology program, which now depends
heavily on the Extra Commitment Opportunity gifts you send through
the PC(USA). Programs for law, international finance, and an upgrade
of our theology program are now pending approval at the Ministry
of Education, and we will shortly ask approval for programs in
music, industrial engineering, bilingual education, business administration,
environmental and marine biology. Your help has been vital in
the approval of the university’s programs to date. Hopefully,
you will again write your senators about the Reformed University
in Barranquilla, asking them to emphasize to the Colombian government
that approval of these programs is important to the United States.
The accompaniment program
The accompaniment program has completed its first year, and the
church of Colombia has asked that it continue. During this year
there have been some heartbreaking events. In my last newsletter,
I wrote about Pastor Jesús Góez, who was forced
by threats to leave his church in Cartagena. But there have also
been joyful ones. Jesús is now pastoring again with his
family in another city, and Mauricio (for whom you have also prayed)
is back in Colombia working for human rights. Your prayers are
powerful! Accompaniers help bring answers to prayers like these.
They are ordinary Presbyterians (well, they’ve all been
pretty special, really) who come to Colombia to be with leaders
like Jesús, Mauricio, and Milton Mejía, executive
secretary of the Synod (who has also received death threats) as
they go about their work in defense of human rights and on behalf
of persons displaced by violence.
The accompaniment program, set up by current PC(USA) Moderator
Rick Ufford-Chase on a visit to Colombia in 2004, is managed by
the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship in close collaboration with
Colombians and with our church’s Worldwide Mission Division
in Louisville. An accompanier doesn’t necessarily do anything.
Some have shared special skills, such as teaching at the university
or ministering to health needs, but the important thing is to
be here, to see and be seen. Accompaniment is a statement of concern
about violence and human rights in Colombia. Accompaniers come
for a month at a time. Obviously, it helps to speak Spanish, however
brokenly, but some have not known Spanish at all. For more information,
See Rick’s
blog, or write to Kelly Wesslink at the Presbyterian Peace
Fellowship at kelly_ppf [at] yahoo.com. You could be an accompanier.
Pray about it.
The 150th anniversary of the Presbyterian
Church of Colombia
The IPC will formally celebrate its 150th anniversary in August.
Many groups are coming down from the United States, and others
are coming from around the world. Like Barranquilla’s carnival,
our anniversary celebration has many preliminary activities. We
began two years ago with reflections on the history of the IPC.
Last year we considered what we are doing now as a church. And
this year we are looking to the future. It would be wonderful
if you could come in August and join us for this lively celebration,
which combines traditional Reformed theology and identity with
lively Caribbean and Colombian cultural expressions. Believe me
the Presbyterian Church of Colombia is thoroughly Reformed—and
thoroughly Colombian!
This letter ends a long silence on my part. Shortly after my
June newsletter last year, I began to experience complications
of diabetes. I was hospitalized for a time, and afterwards seemed
to be better. However, later in the fall, the problems began again
and I had a couple of exciting adventures with ambulances. I was
not really myself again till the end of the year. I know your
prayers helped keep me going during this difficult time. Meanwhile,
a “worm” got into my computer and caused it to crash.
I lost all my emails and email addresses. I am slowly rebuilding
my list of contacts, but I cannot write to anyone unless they
first write to me. So if you are wondering why you haven’t
heard from me, this may be the explanation. Please send an email
and let me have your address again.
And thanks to all whose faithful prayers and gifts make possible
my work here. Your concern and involvement in this work, your
letters and emails, your love and prayers are a constant source
of strength for me and for my colleagues in the Presbyterian Church
of Colombia.
Blessings on you,
Alice Winters
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
48 |
