A letter from Sherron George in Brazil
July 8, 2009
Friends,
The reign of God “is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32).
Mustard seed 1: a PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Peru
The first time I visited our partner church, the Evangelical Presbyterian and Reformed Church in Peru (IEPRP), I also visited the Lima branch of the Latin American Biblical University (UBL) where our mission worker Harry Horne teaches. The director and several professors were from the oldest and largest Rreformed denomination in Peru, the Evangelical Church of Peru (IEP). Could the PC(USA) and the IEP also become partners? Suddenly I started getting emails from Pastor Eduardo Arboccó telling about the relationship of Northeast Lima Presbytery of the IEP with the PC(USA). I asked our partnership facilitators, Sara Armstrong and Rusty Edmundson, to arrange time with both partner churches and to meet Eduardo Arboccó. In an email from Eduardo to the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, this phrase jumped out: “I am contacting you thanks to Jamie Milton, who worked as a volunteer of the PC(USA) in our presbytery for a year. Now we are developing a partnership with the PC(USA).” Jamie Milton, it turns out, is from my home church in Mebane, North Carolina!
Standing left to right: Emanuel Solano, Sherron George, Sara Armstrong.
Sara, Rusty and I were graciously received by Eduardo. I asked about Jamie. “It was through Jamie that my eyes were opened to the greater church world, and I wanted to establish a partnership with the PC(USA). If the denomination was not ready, my presbytery was. Jamie attended an event in Colombia and gave me contacts with the church there. I also made contact with Presbyterian churches in Cuba and Mexico. Because of Jamie, we are reaching out to form international partnerships.” Now, that is what I call a mustard seed producing many connected branches! The Young Adult Volunteer program is one of my favorites. This story and lunch with site coordinator Debbie Horne and four of the currently serving YAVs reinforced that. Thank you, YAVs!
Mustard seed 2: an IEPRP student in Brazil
Sara told me that a pastor with great promise invited me to give a talk to the presbytery on Saturday night. It turned out that Pastor Emanuel Solano studied in a mission training center of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil and had used one of my books as a text! Small world! When I saw that most of the crowd that night were young people from Emanuel´s congregation, I put my lecture aside and used a handout for dialogue about holistic mission. He invited me to preach in his congregation on the outskirts of Lima the next morning. It was Father´s Day, very festive, full church, lots of enthusiastic children and lovely Peruvian music. I talked about Jesus’ prayer for unity, and the children helped me name places throughout Peru and countries worldwide where the one universal, missional church exists. I rejoice in the fruits that this mustard is producing in Peru.
Mustard seed 3: Maná Joining Hands for Fair Trade
Front row, left to right: Alexandra Buck; Emilia Serrano, Grupo Maná, Sherron George, Jorge Travezaño, coordinator, Bridge of Hope, Berta Flores, Grupo Maná. Back row: Yochi Zakai from Green America.
Our mission workers with the Peru Joining Hands Network, Jed Koball and Alexandra Buck, took me to meet the JH director, Conrado Olivera and members of the JH network. We visited a nearby district, Chorrillos, to meet two women from an artisan group called “Maná.”
We made our way up the concrete stairs to the top floor of the modest dwelling and entered the sewing room filled with the colorful products of these artisans. They showed them with joy and pride. I sat by the machine of Berta and heard her story. “Seven years agoI was making and selling candy on the street to support my family and helping in the community kitchen. Mission worker Ruth Farrell told me that I could do something much better. I didn’t even know how to sew. Five women came together to form a group and get a loan to buy a sewing machine. Three of those women are still in the group. We take orders for backpacks, conference bags, wine holders and other beautiful things.”
They have become professionals. They do all of the designing, sewing and accounting, and they export through the JH Fair Trade program. They invited other groups to help make 3,000 bags for a PC(USA) General Assembly. The two women shared how this self-sustaining project has transformed their families: they have better houses, the children have shoes to wear to school, and the community improved because of their example and contribution. What dignity! If your congregation or presbytery would like to see their products and place an order for Christmas Fair Trade or another event, contact Alexandra Buck.
Would you like to be a part of a celebration of many PC(USA) mission branches? During World Mission Challenge (September 25 to October 18), 40 PC(USA) mission personnel will visit congregations across the United States totell how God is at work around the world. Learn more at the World Mission Challenge Web site or by calling Ellen Dozier at (888) 728-7228, x5916.
World Mission Challenge will conclude with World Mission Celebration, a large gathering for Presbyterians who care deeply about mission. The event will be held October 22–24 in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Learn more at the Mission Celebration Web site or by calling Lis Valle at (888) 728-7228 x5279.
Your partner,
Sherron George
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 274
