Spring/Summer 2014 Newsletter
“In Thy Dark Streets Shineth the Everlasting Light”
My wife, Beth, and I spent several weeks in October and early November in Bolivia and Peru. We went to Bolivia by invitation of the Bishop of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Bolivia, Obispo Javier Rojas. In multiple gatherings of clergy, lay leaders and educators we presented WHF’s new publication of 27 of John Wesley’s sermons in Quechua, one of the primary indigenous languages of the Andean countries, which includes Bolivia. I also gave several lectures on “Wesleyan Theology through the Sermons of John Wesley” and had the opportunity to preach at Cristo Rey Methodist Church in Cochabamba. We did similar events among Methodists in La Paz.
We had the joy of having Johnny Llerena accompany us. Mr. Llerena is Executive Coordinator of WHF’s Institute for Wesley Studies in Lima, Peru (Instituto de Estudios Wesleyanos Latinoámerica). We are very grateful that he could share with us in these high moments. We are deeply appreciative of Johnny’s ministry and for the ways he is extending the mission of the Foundation and Institute throughout Latin America.
In North America Christians are accustomed to moving from the recognition of the Saints (what the secular world calls Halloween) to the celebration of Thanksgiving (a distinctively US holiday); followed afterwards by the preparation for (Advent) and celebration of Christmas. It was interesting to be in Peru and Bolivia in recent weeks where Christians move from All Saints Day almost immediately into all the signs of “Navidad” (the birth of Christ). Many of these signs of Navidad are secular (Santa Claus, snowmen, elves and reindeer), just like in the United States. As a side note: a number of years ago I bought in Peru a small ceramic replica of the “manger scene” with Frosty the Snowman towering over it. I’m sure that would market quite well here in the US also.
It was the experience of the quick transition from All Saints to Navidad (minus a Thanksgiving in South America) which struck me as very interesting. We in the US have Thanksgiving to help “buffer” the startup of preparations for Christmas. However, there are many signs in the US that Thanksgiving may not be doing that any longer: after returning from Peru on November 14 we went to our local grocery (two weeks before Thanksgiving) and found that the pumpkins and other signs of Thanksgiving had been replaced with Christmas decorations.
To the point: What I found interesting in Peru about the quick transition from All Saints (in early November) to preparation for Navidad (in early November and pre-Advent!) was the profound connection between death and birth. Here is what happened:
While journeying by bus from La Paz, Bolivia, back into Peru, we stopped over in Juliaca, Peru to visit with the Methodist Superintendent of that area. Together with Venancio and his family we visited the Altiplano cemetery in Juliaca on All Saints Day. Many families were gathered there, as is their tradition, sitting around the tombs/graves of their loved ones. On top of the tombs they spread out table cloths filled with food, and there they feasted, drank, sang songs, prayed and shared memories (see the photo in this newsletter). What a beautiful scene it was; a very special way to commemorate the Day of the Saints.
The next day we stopped by a store in the area to buy some provisions for our next trip (our next event was to be in Arequipa, about 6 hours away by bus, and about 7,000 feet below the 14,000 feet of Juliaca). As we entered the store there were all the signs of Christmas! Families were moving very quickly from the “fiesta of hope” tied to the belief in the eternal Communion of the Saints to the “fiesta of hope” tied to the belief that in the birth of Christ “God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven” (“O Little Town of Bethlehem”).
In the preparations of this season may we proclaim that all of our loved ones in the faith who have died before us; and all those who are yet to be born into the church; and all of us who are seeking to be faithful witnesses to Christ in the here and now; are all bound up together in a great mystery which unites us in the celebration of Christ’s Advent as Lord of all time and of both heaven and earth.
During this holy season, may you experience this grand, majestic, and universal promise of grace which comes to all of us in the birth of Jesus. “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
Grace and peace, and Merry Christmas,
Mark W. Wethington
(Read more in the WHF Newsletter Fall/Winter 2013)
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Nicaragua
We spent much of our time in Nicaragua being hosted and transported by a volunteer missionary from Western Pennsylvania. Richard Mzorka is a retired coal miner who accepted an invitation to join a work team in Nicaragua. After a number of mission trips, he felt called to move to Nicaragua and work with the Methodist church there. He has been here full time since June after selling his house, car and Harley! When we visited Richard still did not speak Spanish, but that did not seem to interfere with his ability to communicate with the Nicaraguan people. Richard has friends all over Managua-from the tiendas and roadside stands to church members and pastors. He is a very generous person with a quick smile and a backpack full of cookies and crackers which he freely distributes. Street performers, guards, and street people are all recipients of the coins he collects in his pockets and car. The people obviously enjoy Richard and any failure in verbal communication is compensated by laughter and hugs.
The Nicaragua Methodist church is a young church with a growning ministry. President Francisco Guzman is a leader with a strong desire to instill the Methodist identity within his church. His priority is related to that process, even if it slows immediate church growth. Important is him is the knowledge and understanding of what it indeed means to be a Methodist. We met with the 14 pastors, a vibrant and enthusiastic gathering who enjoyed the open discussion that followed an introduction to our work and travels. Their response included a discussion of the challenge of pastoral education and possible supplements to the 16 hour trip to Ahuachapan, El Salvador, to participate in the bi-annual, one week courses provided there. It can be a difficult and tiring journey for these dedicated pastors, most of whom have second jobs and thus, are not free to devote long periods of time for theological education.
Before leaving Nicaragua, we visited the capital and saw evidence of the 1972 earthquake devastation as well as memorials to Sandinistas who fought for the right to land ownership by laborers and farm workers. Between a history of natural disasters and war, this country has has to contend with a lot of challenges and strife. Reports seem to indicate that Daniel Ortega is maintaining a degree of Sandino spirit, but government seems to revert to a less pure form of leadership once it discovers its power. Where does the Wesleyan spirit fit into this context? How does the Holy Spirit dance with these proud and independent people?
Generosity of Spirit
The Last Mango
The people of Latin America possess a generosity that seems to contradict their economic status. We have much to learn from the beautiful desire to share what they have, no matter how little that may be. They exemplify an understanding of the value of relationship and community rather than a protecting of what one has. We visited a rural church in El Salvador in the community of La Provedencia located in the midst of corn plots and mango trees. Mark happened to remark how much he likes mangos, one of his favorite fruits. A neighboring church member had one last mango (the season of mangos had past) that he had been saving. Immediately he ran to his casa and brought forth his last mango, offering this ripe, sticky fruit as a gift to a North American visitor. It was certainly a precious gift…and never a more delicious and appreciated mango. We North Americans who have so much are often less inclined to share from our bounty while our southern brothers and sister find a joy in giving what little they have.
Honduras
We entered Honduras under heavy storm clouds and lightening, arriving in Tegucigalpa over two hours late. We were greeted by Juan Guerrero, his wife Alexandra and their son, Jeremias. Juan, church superintendent, and Alexandra are missionaries from Columbia. The young Methodist church in Honduras is a mission connectionally related to the United Methodist church. The church office building in an upper scale area of the capital has spacious accommodations for work teams, pastors from the outer departments and visitors (including us and then UMCOR representatives later in the week). We arrived late on Friday, September 21 and left the next day for a rural area in the neighborhood of Danli. Saturday night we visited a vibrant young congregation in the village of Obraje. This church grew out of a family who had been involved in worship in another denomination, but felt called to begin a Methodist congregation. The church building has been built largely by community donations and in kind labor, a fact of which they are very proud. Services were first held here in March. The service began with songs of praise and thanksgiving, accompanied by guitar, drums, keyboard and much clapping and dance. This congregation expresses its faith in fervent expressions of joy and emotion, and pastor Alejandro made a quasi-apology/explanation for the exhuberance, acknowledging that if the people did not sing praises, the very rocks would. We spent the night outside of Danli, falling asleep to the same music of crickets singing with the rocks and people in worship earlier that night. Morning we attended a very different service in Danli Central. This church is more tradition and staid (at least compared to Obraje), but the people were as welcoming and friendly in their greetings. Later that afternoon we returned to Tegucigalpa where we experienced a third and still different church service. This one was held in an area known as Fuertes Unidos, an area high above the city in an especially poor and somewhat dangerous section with a million dollar view. The church was filled with children and we later learned they offered a strong feeding and education program for these the youngest.
This exercise in listening and discernment that has accompanied our travel has involved constant re-evaluation and thought in how the Institute for Wesley Studies can best serve and work with the people of Latin America. At times we have questioned the wisdom of naming it in such a scholarly fashion, when the mutuality of exchange will benefit from a grassroots wisdom. These Central American churches clearly are interested in, indeed recognize a need for, theological education and well trained pastors. That need has been made known in every country, in every church. But at the same time we realize over and over again that the spirit is very strong and present in these churches and while we may have much to offer them, they have much to offer us. The presence of the spirit in these people is humbling. Their generosity and love shine in their smiles and embraces and in their appreciation of having been recognized. See me. Hear me. The meeting of a people face-to-face, one-to-one becomes an expression of mutual recognition and value for what is offered, what is received, and even more, what is shared. Are we willing to surrender our own perceptions when they are not tangential with those we touch, those who touch us? What is our mission? What is our vision?
El Salvador
Central America Travel
Mark and Beth left September 5th to begin travels throughout Central America and Peru on behalf of the Wesley Heritage Foundation and Instituto Estudios de Wesleyanos-Latin America. We arrived in Antigua Guatemala, a beautiful colonial town offering language study and a welcoming point of re-entry into the Latin American culture. The country of Guatemala has been in full celebration mode in anticipation of Independence Day, September 15. A wave of patriotism sweeps the country, a contagious unifying force with a heartfelt authenticity unrecognized by these North Americans. In the midst of Mid-Eastern anti-American sentiment and volatility, we find a country and people who are welcoming of our presence. This past week we will have visited with people respresenting four different churches: the Wesleyans, two branches of the Primitive Methodist church and the Nazarenes. All have been most hospitable and excited about talking with us, listening with us and educating us on their particular backgrounds. Our vision for this journey centers on active listening and discernment; an exercise in learning through a geography and culture of grace* where and how we can best interact and work with our Latin American brothers and sisters. (*Reading the book “Geography of Grace by Kris Rocke and Joel Van Dyke has provided thoughtful complement to our processing of experiences). Discoveries thus far have centered on common needs for pastoral education, resources and assistance with solidifying a Wesleyan identity. We have distributed the CD version of “Obras de Wesley”, a gift gladly received. We are surprised to find a separation and division of churches with such similiar backgrounds and doctrine, although not in an antagonistic way. With all suffering from minimal financial support and resources, we have to wonder what could be accomplished with joint efforts. Both Primitive Methodist churches (one identified as “National” and the other as “Association”) offer strong schools with the John Wesley name and Methodist foundation in the same locale in the rural Mayan community of Quiche’. Leadership of these churches have expressed willingness and interest in working together in the exchange of ideas and sharing of resources and welcome the opportunity to dialogue about challenges, visions and dreams. Conversations have been open and dynamic and all have expressed appreciation for the visit. As always we find the people of Guatemala to be extremely hospitable and gracious.
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