A letter from Kathleen Griffin in Argentina
March 6, 2010
Dear friends,
Resurrection hope shines in the midst of darkness and sorrow.
Many of you, for the second Sunday of Lent, may have read Psalm 27. In the midst of the battlefields of life, we hope and wait for the moment when we can contemplate the beauty of our Lord and simply devote ourselves to enjoying the presence of God. Sometimes the only thing that sustains us in life is this hope. This hope in the love, strength, and faithfulness of God, when what we are actually living is pain, doubt, and sorrow, is what keeps so many of God’s children alive and struggling for a better life.
I have three special prayer requests to share with you.
A life-long friend of my husband, one of the leading pastors of the Asociación La Iglesia De Dios in northern Argentina, Pastor Ruben Mesa, lost his wife this week. Pastora Rosa de Mesa had been serving a congregation for two years as an interim pastor in Mar del Plata, about 950 miles from her husband, who is serving a congregation in the Province of Chaco. They were finally together again, when she had a massive heart attack and died almost immediately. They have no health insurance, no life insurance. They are the same age as my husband and I are (early to mid 40’s). Daniel (my husband) and Ruben have known each other and been good friends since before they were born! Please hold Ruben in your prayers, as well as the whole Asociación La Iglesia de Dios. When a small denomination looses a highly respected and much loved pastor, everyone is in mourning.
We also just received news from one of the young women in the youth group at our local church, Micaela, that her brother drowned to his death this morning. Yesterday the family celebrated his 18th birthday. Mica and her family are obviously in terrible pain and shock right now.
Finally, we are still waiting to hear news from friends and colleagues in Concepción, Chile, the urban center closest to the epicenter of the major earthquake and its aftershocks that have been shaking that country. Please continue to hold our sisters and brothers there in your prayers.
May the power of the Cross and the Resurrection keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and in solidarity with those who live simply by the grace of God.
Katie Griffin and Daniel Fratea
The Rev. Kathleen M. Griffin
Profesora de Historia de la Iglesia
Instituto Universitario – ISEDET
Mission Co-worker,
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Pastor Daniel A. Fratea
Asociación La Iglesia de Dios
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 297
