A letter from Elisabeth Cook in Costa Rica
August 2009
Dear Friends:
As I write, the rain is coming down hard on my roof, nothing unusual for the extended rainy season here in Costa Rica (May-December). The worst is yet to come in October. Fortunately, unlike so many, I have a safe and warm place to be.
These past few months have been about the search for new faculty for the university. Between last year and this, four faculty members are leaving the School of Biblical Studies. It is a challenge to keep up with all the course work both in Costa Rica and in our associated centers throughout Latin America. For me it has been an especially challenging time as I have been struggling with unexplained chronic anxiety. I appreciate your prayers as it makes every task a challenge.
Our largest group of students these months is from Perú and Bolivia. It has been interesting to share with them concerning the many things going on in their countries— especially Bolivia. Our Honduran students have been very concerned with what is happening in their country, of course, due to recent events.
I must say that our students amaze me sometimes. Most of them come from situations of great need and have struggled to fulfil their dream to study. Victor Hugo is one of those students. I met him for the first time when I taught a course in Lima, Perú. He was front and center, inquisitive, a critical thinker, interpreting our study of Ezra through the lens of the many injustices in his country. Last year Victor Hugo finished his undergraduate degree with us and is now on his way to Costa Rica to begin the master’s program shortly. I say “on his way” because, due to economic constraints, he is travelling by land, a week-long trip. We trust he arrives safely. You see, Victor Hugo earns his living as a taxi driver, or rather, driving a taxi that belongs to someone else. They say Lima, Perú, has the best educated taxi drivers in the world! (During my time there an economist drove me to and from classes.)
I don’t know what Victor Hugo’s perspectives are for the future. At the Latin American Biblical Institute (UBL), we do our best to prepare our students for pastoral and academic ministries. Will his dreams come true? Jobs are few and far between, no matter how great the need for theological education. The economy has other priorities. But Victor Hugo is moving forward with his dream, overcoming obstacles we can only imagine, both internal and external. We look forward to having him here again.
Dreams are what keep us moving forward. We have dreams at UBL—to open new master’s programs in the area of gender and theology, AIDS ministries, Bible translation, and others. Our faculty is going through a time of turnover, with several retiring in the next couple of years. We dream of a team of diverse, energized, visionary professors to move us forward into this century.
Some of the challenges we face are the varied educational backgrounds of our students. The educational level varies considerably from one country to another, and while some students come to UBL and excel, others struggle because of a lack of basic skills. Finding ways to meet these needs and provide quality theological education is one of our goals. The diversity of the student body is enriching and many times an eye-opener for some of the students. For people of all different cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds, learning to live together in the dorm is an education in itself. Many inner conflicts come to the fore under stressful situations, which is why we have a staff psychologist ready to work with the students and accompany them during their time here.
One of our big dreams is to renew the deteriorated married student housing that is just off campus. It means tearing down the seven apartments that are there and building something new, both for students and to rent for scholarship income. It’s a huge project, a huge dream that requires financing, and we’re going at it little by little. When the time comes to build, we hope work groups from the United States will volunteer with us in helping make this dream come true.
My own personal dream of working on my Ph.D. is on hold for now. But I trust not for long.
May your dreams, hopes and prayers come true as we dream forth life in troubling times.
Don’t forget to support the mission worker of your choice and thus become a part of the dreams of many as we partner with churches, hospitals, and seminaries around the world.
Sincerely,
Elisabeth
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 283
