A letter from César Carhuachín in Colombia
Early Winter 2013
Greetings from Barranquilla City, Colombia:
Blessing in the name of Jesus in this Advent season! We are expectantly waiting and preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ! This is Advent’s spirit! Jesus is “coming,” “arriving” (literally from the Latin word Adventus).
I thank God for this year 2013, because it is my first year of service for the World Mission unit of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Colombia, South America. Also, I thank you for your prayer and financial support. This has been a significant year. It has been a time to learn a lot about the ministry of being a mission co-worker… and I am still learning, so I ask for your prayers about that.
The graduate, Aura Marina Salazar, delivering her graduation speech on Nov. 01
At this last month of classes, on November 1 the Reformed University had the 2013 graduation ceremony. It was a wonderful ceremony with 18 graduates: 2 from the Music Program, 2 from Psychology, 2 from International Business Administration, and 12 from Theology. Aura Marina Salazar, a graduate from the Theology Program, gave a wonderful speech. I didn’t know, but the Theology Program is the strongest program at the Reformed University and that was reflected in the graduation. Let’s continue praying for the PC(USA)’s ecumenical partner, the Reformed University of Colombia. Particularly because in this coming year, 2014, they will be offering four new programs: Bilingual Education and three other programs related to Business Administration.
Some professors and students at the International Day of the Elimination of the Violence Against Women on Nov. 25
On November 25 the Theology school participated in the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women celebration at Peace Park in Barranquilla. Some professors and students attended this event. Many NGOs and other women’s groups and associations participated in the program, making speeches, presenting dramas, singing, etc. Something that called my attention that day is that we were the only theological school present. And our church partner here, the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, was the only church present and participating in the program. I praise God for the work that this church is doing in social reconciliation and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ among women.
On Thursday, November 28, the Music Program gave a classical music presentation by several students in the reading room of the school’s library. I attended, and it was delicious to my ears, a blessing. It’s amazing the quality of that presentation, which was very professional. Listening to a classical music performance after a full day of work helped me to rest and relax a little bit. I thank God for that! And the library workers were excited about that also!
On November 29 the Theology and Music Programs played the final game of the Inter-Programs Soccer Tournament… and we won. I played the game!! The Theology Program won the tournament. This is the first Inter-Programs Soccer Tournament of the Reformed University. The experience became a good time to fellowship, to laugh and to enjoy a sport together. This tournament helped me to know some students and other colleagues much better.
Students from the Music Program performance a night of classical music on Nov. 28
On Sunday, November 3, I visited Third Presbyterian Church, located in the Rebolo neighborhood, an area that suffers the difficult situation of unemployment, robbers, prostitution and drug trafficking. Currently this congregation doesn’t have a pastor, but Catalina, a teacher of the American School, who is a ruling elder of that congregation, is the person who is leading the worship. She is leading also a youth program on Saturdays—with great results, because that Sunday I saw several young people at the service, young couples, and some older members. The Rev. Guillermo Suarez is the pastor who goes once a month to serve Communion. I had a rich conversation with him after the service about the Rebolo neighborhood.
On Sunday, November 17, I visited Sixth Presbyterian Church in the Las Nieves neighborhood. This neighborhood is an area with the same conditions as Rebolo. The Rev. Luís Cadrasco is the pastor there. This congregation is ministering to youth on Wednesdays in a neighborhood named “La Chinita,” where the situation of unemployment, robbers, prostitution and drug trafficking is worse than Rebolo. There are young people (minors) involved in acts of crime such us drug trafficking, theft and assaults. I don’t have any pictures from the Third and the Sixth congregations because the people told me not to bring my cell phone or a camera. Please pray for these two congregations. They are a light in the middle of dangerous communities. Among financial difficulties they are sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and working faithfully with youth at risk.
I post weekly news about the mission work in Colombia on my Facebook page Cesar Carhuachín in Colombia; “Like” it if you want to receive them. If you want to write me a note or contact me, feel free to use my email cesar.carhuachin@pcusa.org.
I want to thank you again for your prayer and financial support during this first year of my ministry as a mission co-worker in Colombia. If you are not a part of the God´s mission in Colombia yet, I invite you to consider it. Please, check my World Mission page for information about it: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/rev-cesar-carhuachin/.
Grace and peace.
César Carhuachín
2014 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Colombia, p. 54
Write to César Carhuachín
Individuals: Give online to E200425 for Cesar Carhuachin'ssending and support
Congregations: Give to D507559 for Cesar Carhuachin'ssending and support
