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Co-workers
From left, Jorge and Maribel (who work with the Fair Trade program), Conrado (Director of La Red), Jed Koball (PCUSA Mission Co-Worker and Companionship facilitator for La Red, Debbie Horne (PCUSA Mission Co-Worker and Director of the Peru YAV program, Jenny Valles (La Red's administrative assistant...and Jed's fiance), and Jason Woods (former Peru YAV who has been visiting Lima) While preparing to take over as US Coordinator at the Presbyterian Border Ministry site Compañeros en Misión almost four years ago, my predecessor and friend, PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker Sue Thomas, told me two things that have remained with me--1) No day will go as planned, and 2) No two days are the same. These two pieces of wisdom definitely applied to my work on the border, but I've found that they're not things that only relate to life in a place that is known for its transient nature. Days at seminary never seemed to go as planned either, with good and bad moments popping up at seemingly random times. Now that I'm here in Lima for the summer, I'm reminded of and am experiencing Sue's words all over again. No day goes as planned...and no two days are the same.
In some ways though, I've had a routine of working in the Joining Hands office (which from here on out I will refer to as La Red--means "the network" in Spanish) this week. Yet every day has been different. Things are popping up as I begin to define a little better what my job here will look like. My time
La oficina
This is the office of the Joining Hands network in Peru (La Red Uniendo Manos Peru) will be focused on two projects:
1) Working with local congregations here in Lima that have been working, or are beginning to work with, the topic of the environment. After understanding better their involvement (or lack thereof), I can work with them to create educational materials that La Red and the nearby seminary can use with other congregations that want to do the same. Similar materials may then also be created to help educate congregations back in the U.S.
2) Working with the Universidad Biblica de Latinoamerica (UBL), the seminary that is just down the block from La Red's office, to help create a 2 to 3 week course for seminary students from the U.S. The seminary and La Red would work together to offer seminaries an immersion course focused on eco-theology. The idea is that there'd be something concrete to offer to seminaries, yet flexible enough that seminaries could make it a course of their own, one that could fit into their current curriculum.
How to dive into one of these projects (or both) is what I've been trying to decide. There is always the risk of coming into a new place, a new ministry, with so
Eva Kuntz
Eva is from Germany and is volunteering with the Fair Trade program for the summer. Wonderful girl! much energy that toes get stepped on in the process of trying to implement new ideas and plans. As a guest in this place and in this country, I know that I need to really take the time to listen, experience, and ask questions. I'm here to learn and to accompany, not to push my own agenda. Accepting the invitation to participate in God's work that is already happening here in Peru has been such a blessing already. It's meant that I've been able to study the Bible with a small group of people from the local IEP (Iglesia Evangelica de Peru--Evangelical Church of Peru) church in my neighborhood. It's meant that I've already been invited to participate in conversations that are happening concerning the environment, especially with the Day of the Enivronment approaching on June 5th. It also means that I will get to travel down the coast and up into the Andes this next next week so I can better understand the context and breadth of the mission of La Red.
Lunch continues to be one of my favorite times of the day. The conversation is incredibly rich, thanks to the many faces and experiences that come together around the same table. This week the table has been surrounded by locals and visitors, paid employees and volunteers. Perspectives on life have come from a Spaniard, a German, four North Americans, a few local Limeños, and a smart, strong woman from Huancavelica, a poor village in the Andes with a large indigenous population. We've talked about Peruvian history and politics, issues of migration (and that topic had nothing to do with the US/MX border for once), the importance and the concerns of the coca leaf, life in the jungle, and many other random topics. Every day we have a lot to learn from one another. I continue to be grateful for my ability to communicate in Spanish because it has given me the opportunity to have such intriguing conversations with others. Whether or not the various faces in this office associate themselves with a church, it is clear that all who are here have ministry in their heart. Everyone is here to work towards a world that is more just and fair for all. It's inspiring and I'm so happy that I can be here to walk with others in this journey.
Tomorrow will be different from today and today has been different from yesterday. I give thanks to God for this.
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Heather
non-member comment
I enjoyed your post about La Red! Sounds like you're doing great things in Lima, which is a city that I love! My blog is looking for travel tips, photos, etc (like maybe how to volunteer with La Red, or Fair Trade organizations!). If you have the time, check it out at dirty-hippies.blogspot.com. Good luck with your work in Lima! Heather :)