A letter from JoElla Holman, regional liaison for the Caribbean region
Advent 2011
Dear Friends in Christ,
In this season of Advent I give thanks to God for the prayers, encouragement and financial support that you have given me this year. On October 1, I completed my first year in this new call as regional liaison to the Caribbean on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and you have been a big part of this journey.
What a full year it has been! I moved to the Dominican Republic and have slowly settled in there in an apartment on the south coast of the island, just outside the capital of Santo Domingo. I’ve learned to negotiate public transportation, where to buy food, met the neighbors, and have begun to get to know the good folks in the Evangelical Dominican Church and many of the PC(USA) groups who are in ministry in the DR. It was a particular delight this year to participate in their Assembly, Pastors’ Retreat, and Women’s Camp.
Through three trips to Cuba during the past 12 months, I have visited two-thirds of the congregations in the three presbyteries, spent time at the seminary getting to know the students and professors, participated in their annual pastors’ retreat and continuing education event, and celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas. Our Cuba Partners Network continues to grow and deepen the friendships we have with each other and with the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba.
This year also marked the 25th anniversary of CANACOM—the Caribbean and North American Council on Mission—of which the PC(USA) is a founding member. Delegates from the various Presbyterian and Reformed churches throughout the islands gathered this year in the Dominican Republic, hosted by our sister church here. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet representatives from the different churches and to hear about the ministries and the challenges facing each.
On the family front, my dad moved to an assisted-living center in the spring and I helped him pack and move. Then my brother and I closed out his home. My son, Jeff, is completing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville in business administration and economics and is also working full time. So, our family has lived through a number of difficult transitions this year and we praise God for strength and good humor through it all.
I cannot adequately express how much it means to me to know that there are people from my church who are supporting me in the variety of ways that friends support each other. And I covet your prayers for the new year as I try to deepen my understanding of the churches and countries in this beautiful region of the Caribbean and of my role with them.
May the Holy One bless and keep you in this season of expectant hope for the Christ Child, filling your lives with love and joy and peace.
Your sister,
Jo Ella
Rev. Jo Ella Holman
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 280
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 2
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