A letter from Alice Winters in Colombia
February 26, 2010
Dear friends,
It has been a long time since you have received one of these newsletters. Some of you have never received one. If this is the case, your name and address were given to me by a friend of yours who thought you would be interested in my occasional reports on the situation in Colombia and the work of the Presbyterian church in this context. I will do that again in this letter, but first let me comment on my long silence.
I was in the States for six months, July 2009 to January 2010, expecting to share about our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission outreach around the country. However, a routine physical exam revealed health issues that made it necessary to cancel all travel and remain in Louisville. I am grateful for the understanding of churches, presbyteries, and the harried staff in Louisville who had to cancel my engagements or find last minute substitutes. I'm especially grateful to Sarah Henken of the Colombia Accompaniment Program, who took my place as a speaker in Mission Challenge 2009.
I had never spent much time in Louisville. Now, in between visits to doctors' offices, I got to know the staff persons who stand behind missionaries on the field. Some I knew already, such as Maria Arroyo, area coordinator for South America and the Caribbean, who often visits the Presbyterian Church of Colombia and other partner churches. But now I met her assistant Marisa and even her family. I also saw the incredible amount of work that falls to Maria and the other area coordinators. (Yet busy as she is, Maria took time to accompany me in the hospital when I had surgery!)
The health issues I mentioned had been creeping up on me even before I came to the States; that is why it has been so long since my last newsletter. Peter Kemmerle built up the Mission Connections program and sent out most of my previous newsletters, but he accepted God's call to another ministry while I was there. I appreciate all his creative contributions; he will be missed. (Mary Jane Winter — no relation — is now occupying Peter's place.) You have no idea how much work is involved in sending out newsletters for several hundred missionaries. I sent out my own letters my first few years until Peter came on board, but I didn't have internet, which has become an important tool to help people like you to get involved in our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission outreach. And a crew of talented staffers under the direction of Lis Valle keeps finding new ways of equipping the church for mission involvement.
A special opportunity while in Louisville was my participation on a Strategic Planning Team (SPT), called by Hunter Farrell, World Mission director, to deal with the need to focus and prioritize the work of the department. The SPT was still at work when I returned to Colombia. Although I could not see the project through to the end, I learned a great deal about the work of the Louisville staff and enjoyed fellowship with Hunter, Maria, Lis, Jo Ella Holman, coordinator of Mission Personnel Education and Training, and many others. (Jo Ella and Alexa Smith of the Hunger Program took care of me after my surgery.)
I often urge people to pray for Colombia and the work of the church here. But I want to remind you that the folks in Louisville work hard to support the mission of the church, from the General Assembly Mission Council on down. They need your prayers.
As my health began to improve, I did some limited travel, including the closing celebration of Mission Challenge 2009 in Cincinnati. Wonderful speakers and fascinating workshops filled the days there, but for me a highlight was the meeting of the Colombia Mission Network. Four U.S. presbyteries and three in Colombia form the nucleus of this network which also includes participants in the Accompaniment Program and many individuals who simply share a passion for Colombia. This network is a great way for American and Colombian partners to plan strategies and discuss mutual concerns. If you would like to learn more about the Colombia Mission Network send an email to colombiamissionnetwork@gmail.com or for the Accompaniment program, please send me a note.
My doctors did clear me to return to Colombia, and I arrived in mid-January, just two weeks before the start of the 2010 school year. I am teaching Introduction to the Old Testament, Hebrew, and an in-depth study of the books of Samuel, and I also accompany several graduating seniors as they write their thesis. It has been a joy to be reunited with my dear students again. You may remember Milton Mejía and Adelaida Jiménez, who went to the States in 2006 because of death threats. Last spring they received advanced degrees in theology from McCormick Theological Seminary, and are now colleagues on the faculty of the Reformed University where I serve.
I was also glad to meet up with our new PC(USA) mission co-workers, Mamie Broadhurst and Richard Williams, who are in Barranquilla as permanent accompaniers — check out their excellent blog (Called to Colombia.org) and another fine blog by Linda Eastwood (Linda's Colombia Blog), a McCormick student who is here to do research on the accompaniment program. She was teamed with Carol Weaver, who has just finished her third or fourth stint as an accompanier, but left today — another pair of accompaniers arrives this week.
All the accompaniers attended the Synod meeting this month and, among other matters, heard the Colombians express concern regarding the establishment of seven (!) new U.S. military bases here. I know this is a concern for many Americans too. Please keep it in your prayers.
As always, I want you to know how important your prayers and gifts are to the work here. You, as much as the staff in Louisville, keep in us going. This past year, as I dealt with multiple health problems, the assurance of your prayers gave me strength, and I continue to count on your prayers as I resume my work in Colombia. Your letters mean a lot too, but letters were not forwarded while I was away. The university held them all here and handed me an enormous pile shortly after I returned. You may still be waiting for a reply to your letter; believe me, I'm working as fast as I can!
Blessings on you... Alice Winters
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 293
