Beautiful Things

A Letter from Cheryl Barnes, serving in Malawi

Fall 2022

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Dear friends,

My work in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe has allowed me to experience the mutuality of relationships that bring such joy and unanticipated fulfillment. This work has also revealed a bit of truth about me and has allowed me to get in touch with my “inner child.”

Those that know me best will attest to the fact that I am sensitive and sentimental. It takes very little to make me “tear up.” I will openly shed tears watching a sad movie or seeing someone in pain or in need. I get watery eyed when I watch a social media post of a beautiful marriage proposal that ends in a “yes,” and my heart breaks for the one who has risked public humiliation when the answer to a proposal is “no.” My tears often betray me in meetings or while preaching in the pulpit. Yet, on these occasions of vulnerability, I am consciously aware of how powerfully my tears ground me in the present moment and that is a beautiful thing. Let me preface the sharing of all of this personal information by saying that I do not suffer from depression or anxiety, and if anyone falls into this group, please make your mental health a priority. For me, I belong to a group of people called “empaths,” those who feel connected emotionally and cognitively with others.

This is just one of the attributes that define who I am, it is how I interact with the world; it is how I was designed by God, and I offer no apologies for this fact. It is also one of the reasons that I find my work as an educational facilitator so rewarding. This work uses all my gifts, it is work that brings utter joy along with the discomfort of tears.

There remains an inner child within me that would feel helpless when she watched TV commercials displaying the poverty in African countries with pleas requesting donations of what one would spend on a daily cup of coffee. As a little girl, I wanted to help the children on those TV commercials and now that I have this chance, I don’t want to disappoint the eight-year-old me. I made a commitment to Mr. Konyani to identify donors to support the building of a classroom structure for the youngest learners. Towards the end of my visit, Mr. Koyani urged me to stay a little longer in order to witness the ringing of the bell in the bell tower on the campus of Chimwala. At noon, the older students gathered at this massive brick tower, to ring a bell to signal their lunch break. Listening to the ringing of the bell combined with the laughter of the children was such a beautiful thing.

In my partnership with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), I strive to shine a light on the challenging situations and unrealized goals of the Education Department. I believe that growth happens when the dry ground is watered, even if watered with tears. Water is life, and our tears are sacred because of their ability for inner renewal. Their presence ushers us into a soft place of recovery from a world that is often difficult to survive within. They are a humbling reminder that we are connected to something bigger than ourselves. Our tears validate every theory about the special relationship between the head and the heart … and that is a beautiful thing.

As always, I am immensely grateful for your financial support and prayers.

Zikomo (thank you),

Rev. Cheryl Barnes

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