Letter from Guido and Sara Mahecha in Costa Rica
Christmas 2011
Dear sisters and brothers,
Greetings in these holidays!
This has been a good year in the ministry of education at the Latin American Biblical University in Costa Rica (in Spanish: Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana–UBL).
We would like to share with you some activities and, most important, the people with whom we have been related this year as partners and students.
Weekly liturgy.
Every Wednesday the community shares a half-hour liturgy with songs, prayers and a Biblical meditation.
This space is a break from the academic work, just to feel, think, and listen to each other and the Word of God in a spirit of communion and commitment.
There are other spaces where the students are occupied and preoccupied with the lectures, reading and writing papers.
In June and August a group of students explored the theme of new family models and the challenges that they represent for theological, educational and pastoral ministries.
More than 35 students from Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica participated in this required course prepared by professors Elisabeth Cook (also a PC(USA) mission co-worker), Genilma Boehler (a Methodist pastor from Brazil) and myself, teaching the pastoral theology aspects.
The third activity we would like to talk about is the 24th annual John A. Mackay Conference celebrated in August on Theology and HIV/AIDS.
Rev. Lisandro Orlav
Rev. Lisandro Orlov of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Dr. Genilma Boehler, UBL professor, led us through the theological context of pastoring today and the reality of people living with HIV/AIDS in our churches and communities. The themes each evening were: Pastoral Theology and AIDS; Theological Elements for an Inclusive Church; and Testimonies from Persons with AIDS.
Blessings all this Holy Season of Advent.
Sincerely,
Sara & Guido Mahecha
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 290
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 14
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