Cloud of Witnesses/Nube de testigos

A Letter from Sarah Henken, serving in Colombia

Summer/El Verano 2022

Dear friends,

“So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.” Hebrews 12:1 (CEB)

I’ve never been a runner, but I imagine a race is run one step at a time, one breath at a time, with a clear awareness of the goal in mind but not dominating one’s thoughts. This might be a good way to describe my mentality these past six months since my mother joined the great cloud of witnesses. Life with a young child was already structured around the ebb and flow of daily routines which have helped me remain present in the task of living and loving day by day, one step at a time.

Sarah and her mother on a camping trip in Yosemite National Park, 2013./Sarah y su madre en un viaje de campamento en el Parque Nacional Yosemite, 2013.

The image of the great cloud of witnesses has been comforting and encouraging to me in this season since my own essays on grief began close to the start of the pandemic. I know most of you have had your own encounters with grief, and I would like to take this opportunity to remember two of the local church leaders who died due to Covid-19, as well as my own dear mother. I hope you will join me in giving thanks for the ways they shared their gifts and their very lives with those around them, and the ways they continue to be present with us.

Elkin Pereira was a devoted pastor serving the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Apartadó at the time of his death. Elkin had become a notable voice for peace and reconciliation in the “post-accord” period in one of the region’s most profoundly affected by the violence of Colombia’s armed conflict. He was a more recent addition to the presbytery’s roster, only a few years older than I, and I was so excited to see how his leadership would develop over the coming years. His loss feels immeasurable for the church, and of course, much more so for his family. His wife Dalia López and their children Stephania and Mateo are often in my prayers. Elkin, your memory is a blessing, present with us.

Elkin Pereira

Teresita Bustamante was a passionate advocate for social justice and for the people she loved, with a delightful sense of humor. A Presbyterian elder with a heart for service, she and her husband Germán Zárate were some of my first friends in Barranquilla, and I could never do justice to the many ways she showered me with love in the 15 years I was lucky enough to know her. Tere organized a virtual baby shower for our daughter, and even though Neyda never got to meet her in person, I know she will grow up with a strong sense of her love as I trust we will continue to be blessed with many more years of friendship with her family: Germán, Laura and her partner Estib, and Alejandro, who are always close in my heart and prayers. Tere, your memory is a blessing, present with us.

Margaret Henken was a gifted musician, a devoted Christian, and my steadfast source of calm, sustaining love. She was a woman of principle, creative and welcoming, and always had a vision of what she wanted to do next in her garden. She taught me to use words with care, eschewing common terms with racist origins and those that were a slip away from taking the Lord’s name in vain. She supported me in countless ways as I grew into the person I am today. I hold my father, John in my heart and prayers always and would invite you to pray for him and for my sister Jessica, niece Victoria, and all of us as we make our peace with this strange new state of separation and carry on with the task of living well. Mama, your memory is a blessing, present with us.

Teresita Bustamante

I can see new cycles are beginning. We are eagerly preparing to welcome a new Young Adult Volunteer to Colombia for the first time since the pandemic put our site on hold. Colombia has just installed a new president and vice president who represent a new day in Colombian politics. My niece and daughter and all of the children in my apartment building and social media feed are growing and learning and calling me to laughter and joy, and also to fierce devotion to the cause of God’s dream of justice and peace.

I know many of you are actively engaged in important efforts to do that good work, and I give thanks for you. I hope you’ll continue to partner with me through prayer and advocacy and financial gifts as you are able as I continue my part of the work here where God has planted me in Colombia. I would love to hear updates about how you are doing, how this pandemic season has touched your life, and what new things are stirring. I am praying for you and hold you in my heart.

Friends, there is work to do. I hear the great cloud of witnesses murmur and shout, hopeful for what might lie ahead. I am not much of a runner, but I have other kinds of endurance, and I know we will all continue to lift each other up along the way. So let’s run the race that is laid out in front of us, giving thanks to God for the gift of each other.

Sarah

Queridas amigas y queridos amigos,

“Por tanto, teniendo en derredor nuestro tan grande nube de testigos, …corramos con perseverancia la carrera que tenemos delante de nosotros.” Hebreos 12:1 (RVA)

Nunca he sido una corredora, pero me imagino que una carrera se corre un paso a la vez, una respiración a la vez, con la meta clara pero sin dominar sus pensamientos. Esto puedo ser una buena manera de describir mi mentalidad estos últimos seis meses desde que mi madre se unió a la gran nube de testigos. Mi vida con una hija pequeña gira entorno a las rutinas diarias que me han ayudado a seguir estando presente en la tarea de vivir y amar, día tras día, un paso a la vez.

La imagen de la gran nube de testigos me ha dado consuelo y ánimo en esta temporada desde que mis propios ensayos con el duelo comenzaron al comienzo de la pandemia. Sé que la mayor parte de ustedes ha tenido su propio encuentro con el duelo, y quisiera tomar esta oportunidad de recordar dos de los líderes locales de la iglesia que murieron debido a Covid-19, y también a mi amada madre. Espero que ustedes me acompañen en dar gracias por las maneras que compartieron sus dones y sus vidas con su prójimo, y las maneras en que continúan estando presentes con nosotros.

Elkin Pereira era pastor devoto que servía a la Iglesia Presbiteriana de Apartadó. Elkin se había convertido en una voz notable para la paz y la reconciliación en el período “pos-acuerdo” en una de las regiones más profundamente afectadas por la violencia del conflicto armado de Colombia. Era una adición relativamente reciente a la plantilla del presbiterio, pocos años mayor que yo, y esperaba ver cómo su liderazgo se desarrollaría en los años venideros. Su pérdida se siente inmensurable para la iglesia, y por supuesto, mucho más aún para su familia. Su esposa Dalia López y sus hijos Stephania y Mateo están a menudo en mis oraciones. Elkin, tu memoria es una bendición, presente con nosotros.

Teresita Bustamante era defensora apasionada de la justicia social y de la gente que ella amaba, con un gran sentido de humor. Una anciana gobernante presbiteriana con un corazón para el servicio, ella y su esposo Germán Zárate eran de mis primeras amistades en Barranquilla, y me queda grande la tarea de enumerar las muchas maneras que ella me regaló su amor en los quince años que tuve la bendición de conocerla. Tere organizó un baby shower virtual para nuestra hija, y aunque Neyda nunca la conoció en persona, sé que ella crecerá con un sentido fuerte de su amor, ya que confío en que continuaremos siendo bendecidos con muchos más años de amistad con su familia: Germán, Laura y su compañero Estib, y Alejandro, que están siempre cerca en mi corazón y oraciones. Tere, tu memoria es una bendición, presente con nosotros.

Margaret Henken era músico dotada, cristiana devota, y fuente incansable de amor tranquilo que me sostenía. Era una mujer íntegra, creativa y acogedora, y tenía siempre una visión de la próxima novedad que deseaba realizar en su jardín. Me enseñó a emplear las palabras con cuidado, evitando términos comunes con orígenes racistas y frases que tomaban el nombre del Señor en vano. Me apoyó de maneras incontables mientras crecí y me convertí en la persona que soy. Sostengo a mi padre, John, en mi corazón y oraciones siempre y les pido que oren por él y por mi hermana Jessica, mi sobrina Victoria, y todos nosotros mientras hacemos las paces con este nuevo estado de separación y continuamos con la tarea de vivir bien. Mamá, tu memoria es una bendición, presente con nosotros.

Puedo ver el comienzo de nuevos ciclos. Nos estamos preparando para dar la bienvenida a una nueva Joven Adulta Voluntaria (YAV) en Colombia por primera vez desde que la pandemia puso en pausa nuestro programa. Colombia acaba de instalar a nuevos presidente y vice presidente que representan un nuevo día en la política colombiana. Mi sobrina e hija y todos los niños y niñas en mi edificio y de mis redes sociales van creciendo y aprendiendo y me llaman a la risa y a la alegría, y también a cultivar una dedicación tenaz a la causa del sueño del Dios de la justicia y de la paz.

Sé que muchos de ustedes están activamente involucrados en esfuerzos importantes en ese mismo proyecto divino, y doy gracias por ustedes. Espero también que continúen apoyándome con sus oraciones, incidencia, y donaciones según esté a su alcance mientras que continúo mi parte del trabajo aquí donde Dios me ha plantado en Colombia. Me encantaría oír actualizaciones sobre qué están haciendo, cómo la pandemia ha tocado sus vidas, qué cosas nuevas están germinando. Oro por ustedes y les sostengo en mi corazón.

Mi gente, hay trabajo que hacer. Oigo gritos y murmullos de la gran nube de testigos, esperanzada para ver las grandes cosas que nos esperan por delante. No seré corredora, pero tengo otras clases de resistencia, y sé que continuaremos levantándonos unos a otros a lo largo de la carrera. Así que corramos con perseverancia la carrera que tenemos delante de nosotros, dando gracias a Dios por el regalo de tenernos como comunidad.

Sarah

Please read the following letter from Rev. Mienda Uriarte, acting director of World Mission:

Dear Partners in God’s Mission,

What an amazing journey we’re on together! Our call to be a Matthew 25 denomination has challenged us in so many ways to lean into new ways of reaching out. As we take on the responsibilities of dismantling systemic racism, eradicating the root causes of poverty and engaging in congregational vitality, we find that the Spirit of God is indeed moving throughout World Mission. Of course, the past two years have also been hard for so many as we’ve ventured through another year of the pandemic, been confronted with racism, wars and the heart wrenching toll of natural disasters. And yet, rather than succumb to the darkness, we are called to shine the light of Christ by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.

We are so grateful that you are on this journey as well. Your commitment enables mission co-workers around the world to accompany partners and share in so many expressions of the transformative work being done in Christ’s name. Thank you for your partnership, prayers and contributions to their ministries.

We hope you will continue to support World Mission in all the ways you are able:

Give – Consider making a year-end financial contribution for the sending and support of our mission personnel (E132192). This unified fund supports the work of all our mission co-workers as they accompany global partners in their life-giving work. Gifts can also be made “in honor of” a specific mission co-worker – just include their name on the memo line.

Pray – Include PC(USA) mission personnel and global partners in your daily prayers. If you would like to order prayer cards as a visual reminder of those for whom you are praying, please contact Cindy Rubin (cynthia.rubin@pcusa.org; 800-728-7228, ext. 5065).

Act – Invite a mission co-worker to visit your congregation either virtually or in person. Contact mission.live@pcusa.org to make a request or email the mission co-worker directly. Email addresses are listed on Mission Connections profile pages. Visit pcusa.org/missionconnections to search by last name.

Thank you for your consideration! We appreciate your faithfulness to God’s mission through the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Prayerfully,

Rev. Mienda Uriarte, Acting Director
World Mission
Presbyterian Mission Agency
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

To give, please visit https://bit.ly/22MC-YE.

For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6