A letter from Cesar Carhuachin in Colombia
June 2013
Greetings from Barranquilla, Colombia:
Cesar Carhuachín preaching at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte Campus, June 01, 2013
It is hot, very hot, in Barranquilla…and humid! I arrived in Barranquilla last Thursday, June 20, at 5:43 pm. My flight was interesting…I was traveling with my 2 pieces of luggage, 1 carry-on, 3 plastic containers of 54 gallons of clothing, house things, etc. (I used space bags) and 4 plastic containers of 31 gallons of books for my classes!! About 300 books. The lady at the US Airways counter had to make a long phone call to make sure that everything was ok. I paid what I was supposed to pay per additional bag and, thank God, nothing more! In Barranquilla airport I had no problem at all, thank God again!! I really was expecting questions, maybe some problems for too many additional bags…but the people in Colombia were very nice with me. I understood that like a welcoming attitude…even though one of the custom officers said, “This guy eat books.”
The Rev. Milciades Pua, President of the Colombia Reformed University (CUR) and Elder Helis Barraza, Administrative Director of CUR, were at the airport to meet me and to take me to a studio apartment. I will stay there until I find a place to rent. My books will be located at the CUR library, where professors and students are allowed to use them in the reading area. I made this decision when I saw the reality of a small library with a huge need of new books…particularly in Spanish. “The university has received donations of books in English, but most of the students read only Spanish,” said Ludy, the library director.
Gathering at the Reformed University to celebrate staff birthdays and to welcome the new PC(USA) mission co-worker César Carhuachín Photo by Linda Eastwood
The studio apartment where I am staying is located about eight blocks from the school. Although the distance is not bad at all, the walking in the morning, going back home at noon, and then going to the university again in the afternoon and returning home again in the evening is really a challenge because of the hot and humid weather. This experience reminded me of when I lived in Buenos Aires 15 years ago! Now I am looking for a place closer to CUR, something around two or three blocks.
Going back a little bit, to my last weeks in Charlotte: I had the opportunity of preaching at the worship service of Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte Campus. I preached about “Making a Difference” based on Luke 7:1-10. I enjoyed this very much, especially because the seminary had many visitors—prospective students—that day. Praise God, people are enrolling in our seminaries today!
During this first week here in Barranquilla I have participated in several meetings. The university's staff kindly had a gathering to celebrate some staff birthdays and to welcome me at CUR. It was a nice and happy celebration with the participation of two musicians who are professors at the university. Also, I participated in the annual evaluation, listening to reports from all departments that are part of CUR. And in a simulation staff meeting where they rehearsed how to make their presentation to the school accreditation group, which is going to visit the next month.
Dinner with Linda Eastwood and Laura Burger at Crepes and Waffles, honoring Laura's birthday Photo by Linda Eastwood
Also, in this first week, I met the Rev. Dr. Linda Eastwood, Coordinator of the Colombia Accompaniment Program of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. She is teaching at CUR an intensive course on “Science and Religion” with Dr. Anna Case-Winters, professor at McCormick Theological Seminary and with Laura Burge, an alumna from McCormick. It was good to hear about how this program is impacting the lives of many Christians in the U.S.A., because they are learning “firsthand” about the reality of displaced people. And how the Colombian people are being blessed by receiving brothers and sisters from the North to accompany them in their particular experience.
I want to give thanks to the Revs. Luís Tejera, Luis Miranda and Richard Contreras from Hickory Grove Baptist Spanish Church of Charlotte for providing me an empty van to transport my luggage from my home to the airport. They drove me as well. Also, to my friend Pablo Fernando for helping me to find a car dealer to buy my car. And, to some colleagues and friends from the Presbytery of Charlotte, Tamara Williams, Debbie Wilkinson, Katie Sloan, Jim Bramlett, Elizabeth Hyland and Pam Smith for taking me to two farewell dinners!
On Sunday, June 30, I preached at the Iglesia Presbiteriana “Comunidad del Camino” a sermon titled “Co-workers in the kingdom of God," based on Matthew 20:1-16. This was my first invitation to preach here in Barranquilla. It was an interesting experience. I did an interactive sermon with great participation from the congregation and from visitors. A blessed experience.
You can contact me any time at cesar.carhuachin@pcusa.org (see the "Write to" link below). I invite you also to like my Facebook page Cesar Carhuachín in Colombia, where you will find news about my mission work. If you’d like, please check my page at the PC(USA) World Mission website https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/rev-cesar-carhuachin/ (or use the "Read more" link below), where you will see different ways to join my mission support team through your prayers, correspondence and financial commitment. Thank you very much for your interest and for considering joining me in God´s mission in Colombia.
Grace and peace.
César
2013 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Colombia, p. 30
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