A letter from Sarah Henken, on home leave from Bolivia
June 2013
In February I found myself once again in Barranquilla, Colombia’s carnaval epicenter, for the enthusiastic holiday celebrations. The streets pulsated with music at all hours of the day and night, and residents decked their homes, cars, and clothing with colorful characters of the season—marimonda and garabato, among others. Over the weekend at least one Presbyterian church held a carnaval-themed worship service, while others kept vigils to pray for the city. With such divergent responses from churches in the same denomination, what does it mean to bear Christian witness in this context?
For those who abstain from and criticize the festivities, carnaval (the days leading up to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent) represents debauchery, excess, vice—signs of godless living to be rejected by those who know Christ’s saving work. Members of these churches often disapprove of drinking and dancing in general, seeing them as emblematic of immoral behavior unsuitable for those who would offer Christian witness in their living. The church where I preached on Transfiguration Sunday had held a morning fast the day before, with a Bible study at the church on the “true fast” described by the prophet Isaiah.
For other Presbyterians in Barranquilla, carnaval represents joy, exuberance, and community celebration to be embraced as a gift. Carnaval represents the zest for life that characterizes their city, and they see nothing wrong with experiencing the fullness of pleasure with family and friends. On carnaval Monday I was invited to a party thrown by the women of another Presbyterian congregation. We danced and told jokes, and one of the elders was sporting both a typical sombrero vueltiao hat and a homemade heart-shaped pin that proclaimed him a “Carnaval-enjoying Christian who loves life” and a “tolerant Christian.”
Perhaps I am particularly intrigued by these different approaches because I plan to move to Barranquilla this coming October. As an outsider, I try to appreciate the sentiment on both sides and avoid getting drawn into discussions about which is correct or somehow more Christian. My personal nature and upbringing don’t tend toward judging folks for having drinks and dancing at a party. But at the same time I can appreciate the radicality of standing against a cultural norm out of faith-based convictions.
Carnaval in Barranquilla is a bit more “disorderly” (as Colombians like to say when talking about fun and perhaps chaotic celebrations) than my introverted self is inclined to appreciate, but it seems to lend some balance to the usual rhythm of my spiritual life. I have always been drawn to the church’s penitential seasons, to quiet reflection and prayer. But in many Christian traditions the season of Lent is preceded by a final splurge, whether with pancakes, parades, or a party. What does it mean to be church in a way that claims the value of celebrating exuberantly?
I’m reminded of a beloved Bible story about God’s outlandish, outrageous love. In the parable of the prodigal son, the father throws a lavish, spontaneous party to celebrate his son’s return and invites everyone around to take part. The son has done nothing to deserve this treatment—in fact, keeping score by human logic, he seems pretty worthless. But that’s the whole point: God’s extravagant love doesn’t play by our rules, and it’s a love that is always ready to break out in song and celebration.
I don’t have a definitive answer to the carnaval debate in the Colombian church, but it has presented me with this compelling question: How do we, in the church, lift up the beauty and joy in life? Is there room for raucous laughter and celebration? Are we willing to be so overcome with delight in God’s love that we act in playful and undignified ways?
I’ve been celebrating God’s mission with churches in different presbyteries the past few months, visiting as part of my interpretation assignment. Northern Illinois, Utah, west and central Texas, up and down the California coast—it’s been a joy to get back in touch with the churches here in the U.S., strengthening old ties and forming new ones. It’s been beautiful, comfortable, but also odd to be bouncing from place to place in this country instead of my usual stops in the Andes, making my temporary home again at my parents’ house in Los Angeles.
In August I’ll be at the Big Tent celebration in Louisville, Kentucky. Presbyterian World Mission is sponsoring a partner conference there called “The Power of ‘We’: Collective Impact in God’s Mission” and you’re welcome to join us! I’ll be presenting a workshop called “Hand in Hand: Accompanying Victims of Violence” together with Jesús Vargas (moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia) and Mamie Broadhurst (former mission co-worker in Colombia). Please let me know if I can see you there!
I appreciate your prayers for me in this time of travel and transitions, for good health and good rest and that the Spirit would continue to use me to tell the story of God’s mission in the Andean region. Please also pray for our partner churches, Joining Hands networks, and the seminaries we work with in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. Pray especially for the Presbyterian Church in Venezuela, that their light might continue to shine brightly as their nation lives into a new day in the political realm, and as the church mourns the loss of one of their beloved pastors who was killed in a car accident in April.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Your prayers, emails, and cards uplift my spirit and, together with your financial gifts, make my ministry possible, and I’m certainly in need of more of each one! Please continue to support me so that I can continue walking with our partners in the Andean region—through sorrowful and uncertain times, and in joyous celebrations.
Grace and peace,
Sarah
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The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 12
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Blog: Andean Journey