December 20, 2006
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Barranquilla! I have already sent a Christmas
newsletter through the Mission Connections office in Louisville.
(If you did not receive it, you can find it on my
home page on the PC(USA) Web site. But this is an exciting
time of year, and there are several recent news items and prayer
requests I want to share with you, so here I am again.
The first has to do with Milton Mejía and his wife Adelaida.
I mentioned in my newsletter that they left Colombia due to threats
against Milton's life. They have been living in Texas, studying
English and applying to various theological seminaries for graduate
study. We were delighted to learn this past week that both have
been accepted in the master of arts program at McCormick Theological
Seminary. Now they must move from Texas to Chicago. I grew up
in the Chicago area and will never forget the biting cold of winter
on the shores of Lake Michigan. Please remember the Mejía
family in prayer, especially the children, as they make another
big adjustment. Pray too for their financial situation. Even though
we are hoping for scholarship assistance, they will have many
personal expenses.
And now let me share a dramatic story. Our university is expanding.
This year we were able to add a degree program in psychology,
and we submitted three new programs for approval by the Ministry
of Education to begin in 2007: music, law, and international finance.
To our surprise, the programs were rejected. Our president, James
Schutmaat, who is also a noted musician, as are all the members
of his family, went to Bogotá to find out what the problem
was. An appointment with the vice-minister of education was set
up by friends in the U.S. embassy who remember the letters PC(USA)
congregations wrote a few years ago on behalf of the university.
The vice minister studied our papers and expressed surprise that
the programs had been rejected, especially the music program,
commenting that no one was better qualified than James to direct
such a program. He called in the staff persons who had reviewed
our case, and they showed clear prejudice against us in their
comments. The result was that these persons were fired, and the
Ministry of Education approved our programs. We trust the new
employees will be more helpful as we prepare additional programs
in 2007. We thank God for opening doors and we thank you for your
faithful prayers for the university. Please continue to remember
the university, the School of Theology, and each one of our students.
The North Coast Presbytery met this past weekend, and the Reverend
Gloria Ulloa was elected as the new presbytery executive. Many
of you know Gloria from her recent visits to the States under
the Presbyterian Peacemaking program. Please remember her in prayer
as she begins this new ministry.
During the presbytery meeting I had an opportunity to talk with
Jesús Góez. (His name, pronounced “hay-SOOS,”
is a common one in Spanish.) You may remember Jesús from
a newsletter I wrote in 2005 and articles in various PC(USA) publications.
Another article about him is to appear soon in Christian Century.
Jesús was forced to leave his work as pastor in Cartagena
when his son was attacked and he himself began receiving death
threats. But here’s the good news: The church where he now
serves in Medellín had just 11 members when Jesus went
there 20 months ago, but it now has nearly 70 members. They also
have a program of tutoring and nutrition serving over 400 children
of families displaced by the violence, plus a job-training program
for some 150 adults. Surely God is working through this faithful
servant in spite of the trials he has had to face.
And God is working through each one of you as you continue to
remember the work here with your letters, your prayers, and your
gifts. Best wishes for a joyful Christmas and the happiest New
Year ever.
Alice Winters
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
46
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