A letter from Nancy Dimmock serving in the U.S.
April 29, 2015 - Inspiring Stories
Dear Friends,
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land (Song of Solomon 2:11-12).
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Surviving winter in KY
So it is in our new place and in our family. It feels like we have come through a hard physical winter and a winter of the soul. We are still adjusting and very much “in process,” but we are now able to lift our eyes, to notice much beauty around us. Granted, it is not the familiar tropical beauty of flamboyant trees and bougainvillea, but the beauty of dogwoods and azaleas. It is springtime in Louisville, Kentucky.
I have been reflecting on what a privilege it has been to serve a 30-year assignment to “ends of the earth” and to experience God’s incredible faithfulness through it all. Remembering this, we can look to our future as continuing in God’s service with much hope.
Serving as a missionary-in-residence this year, I have been given the task of developing a resource for pastors, using stories that mission co-workers have shared that illustrate the lectionary text. (The resource will be published by the end of 2015.) This has been amazingly easy and very inspiring!
Here are some examples from recent mission co-worker correspondence:
- Illustrating the Transfiguration in Luke 9 (Lectionary Year C), Bob Rice writes about being surprised by joy in the DRCongo:
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Pastor Elia Kalume prays as we worship at Makimbilio parish, the church he pastors in Goma
Pastor Jacques Zairwa glowed as he showed us pictures of the ordination service of all 12 pastors. Pastor Luta shared passionately his vision for planting Presbyterian churches and training pastors in Eastern Congo. We also heard the dark side of their tale. Pastor Enoch lives in Bunakiri, where 300 people were killed in a single night. In Ntulamamba residents were slaughtered for refusing to give rebels their only cow. In Kasika 3,000 women were buried alive. Whole villages have emptied, fleeing orgies of rape, looting and killing. People lack money for food despite living in the "breadbasket" of Congo. Desperation and “survival mode living” seem the norm in this traumatized land. Pastor Luta quickly does the math for us. “In Rwanda 800,000 people were killed in a genocide. In Congo 8 million have died due to war.”
In the midst of this gloom God surprised us with joy in Eastern Congo. We worshiped in a small tent in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Goma. Pastor Joel and others danced with such animated joy that my heart leapt! I was given a shaker and joined him and the others. Here, in one of the darkest places on earth, a joy that can only radiate from the Father of Heavenly Lights broke through the storm clouds of despair and fear. It was a privilege to sing and dance amongst these warriors of faith who face incredible challenges.
- Illustrating John 14:12, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father,” Sarah Henken writes from the Andean region:
New creation. Transformation. God’s amazing possibilities. This is what I keep coming back to when I think about the first delegation visit from the Presbytery of San Fernando in California to Presbiterio Central in Colombia.
The Presbyterian Church of Colombia stands as a strong, small voice for abundant life in a complicated and conflictive context, and those in the San Fernando group were inspired by the creative, bold, and faithful ways that Presbiterio Central witnesses to Jesus Christ. Central and San Fernando are both predominantly urban presbyteries, with much to teach one another as their partnership develops. Seeing firsthand how Presbiterio Central is responding in its context, and worshiping and praying together, has already been a gift. One of the local churches we visited was El Redentor church in Medellín, which was built in an impoverished neighborhood that grew out of the city dump. Over several decades it has been a source of life and hope for residents who overflow the sanctuary out onto the sidewalk on Sunday mornings. Rev. Jairo has been a surrogate father to some of the troubled youth who attend the church’s school. Offering keen insight and great compassion, his goal is to strengthen the community and to bring people to new life in Christ. Today two young men from El Redentor are candidates for ordained ministry, serving as pastors in other churches in the presbytery.
Inspiring. Hopeful. Obedient. Challenging. Blessed and a blessing. They are a part of us and we are part of them. These are two of the 162 Presbyterian mission co-workers currently serving in international mission. And we have just learned that their witness in their part of the world (and by extension OUR witness in their part of the world) is in jeopardy.
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70+ years of mission service -- the David Miller family, Nancy with her parents and brothers)
As the needs of the world have grown, World Mission’s resources have not kept pace. Due to shortfalls in giving in 2014, World Mission is facing the tragic prospect of having to recall up to 45 mission workers over the next two years. We simply cannot let this happen. For 175+ years, we have been part of God’s working through Presbyterian World Mission to build His kingdom of love and peace and justice through many generations and around the world. And the work is not done yet. The fields continue to be “white unto harvest” and the Holy Spirit continues to call this new generation to serve with brothers and sisters around world, but the support is not enough.
We are sharing with you a letter signed by 22 moderators of the Presbyterian Church asking for fervent prayer and sacrificial giving in order to support the church’s mission workers in their countries of service (http://bit.ly/1cgHkGj). Please read it, consider signing it, share it with others and remember this need in your prayers. We have an incredible mission legacy.
In addition to your prayers, our mission co-workers need our financial support. As Frank and I are transitioning out of mission service this July, we realize that we can still be a part of the mission enterprise of our church by tithing to general mission co-worker support. And by encouraging our local congregation to support one or more mission co-workers. (Individuals and congregations can support mission co-workers by sending their checks to Presbyterian World Mission, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.) It’s a mutual blessing! And if each of us gives what we can, we will continue to make a Life-giving difference in the world.
With love,
Nancy, Frank and family
The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study (Zambia) p. 154
Read more about Nancy and Frank Dimmock's former ministry in Africa
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