From the Desk of the Dean
Brother Ignacio’s commitment
Several weeks ago I was teaching the course: “Biblical Interpretation,” with a group of SEMILLA students, all pastors of the Mennonite Conference in San Pedro Carchá, Alta Verapaz. All the participants come from the K’ekchi’ indigenous people. Therefore, Spanish is their second language, and this presents a difficult academic challenge.
The most intensive phase of the course lasts one week, just around 40 hours of class work. Sometimes, it is an exhausting task because they are not full-time students. They have to attend other duties and activities. They have responsibilities of leadership, pastoral care, preaching, and teaching in their congregations. Plus, they have to work to earn money to sustain their families. Several of them must walk many hours, long distances, in order to attend the courses. That is a great effort that we must understand and admire.
More than a simple course, sharing with them was an adventure of faith. I challenged them to interpret the biblical text within their own context and culture. When they were studying, their eyes and faces shone full of admiration and happiness. That was because they were discovering that beyond the literal text we can find the spirit of the text, an unlimited richness, and wisdom for our daily life and reality. The examples that they used to illustrate their discoveries and thoughts were very connected to their context, culture, and situation. They worked with profound enthusiasm and responsibility.
At the end of the week, they needed to choose a biblical text from the gospels and to interpret it by using a hermeneutical process. After that week of classes, they would have two weeks for doing the final assignment. It was a wonderful and refreshing experience to read their papers. They were written with simplicity and strongly connected to their reality and life. The thoughts emerged from the depth of their hearts but with a profound sense of responsibility before the biblical text. All of them accomplished that task on time, excepting one, brother Ignacio. Unfortunately, because Ignacio lives in a village that is very distant from the main office of the Kékchi’ Mennonite Church, he couldn’t be present on the day that I assigned for presenting that final paper. I felt sadness at his absence.
Some days after returning to SEMILLA, I received a phone call from a remote village in Alta Verapaz. It was from brother Ignacio! He apologized for not being present on the specified day for presenting the final assignment, but he explained to me that he had indeed done the work. And as proof, he asked me for time and patience for reading the paper by phone. I smiled. He said, “I know this is unusual, but I want to prove to you that I have done the paper. And after reading the paper, I will send it to you by mail.” Because of his insistence, I agreed, and he began to read. Opening my heart, ears, and mind, I listened to pastor Ignacio who wanted to share with me the wisdom that he found in the biblical passage in Luke that speaks of the sick woman who touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak. His voice was full of emotion when he shared his main findings and conclusions:
- The sick woman was a courageous woman who challenged the power of Jesus.
- She was a simple woman who broke the tradition and found healing and blessing.
- She was a woman whose faith would
stop Jesus on his way; that faith would heal and liberate her[continued on p. 2] from marginalization.
- In the passage, there are two women who are symbols of the profound love of God: the little dead girl who was revived by Jesus was 12 years old, the woman who touched the edge of Jesus ‘ cloak had 12 years of being sick. Both of them mirror the fullness of God ‘s love for humanity. God‘s love is for all generations and people.
- That woman returned to her home with a new sense of life; she had been dignified, restored, and liberated from all sin and sickness.
Thank you brother Ignacio! You taught me the meaning of responsibility. Besides that, you told me the place of technology used with wisdom. Brother Ignacio, you passed the course with an “A.” Congratulations...
Hans Denk Lectureship 2009 and
Celebration of SEMILLA's 25th Anniversary
On February 25, 26, and 27 we gave thanks to God for the first twenty-five years of ministry of SEMILLA. The Hans Denk Cátedra (Lectureship), celebrated every two years, embraced the theme “Church, Word, and Proclamation in a changing society.” Around 120 people attended the event.
The lectures were shared by Anabaptist theologians, who are professors at SEMILLA and other theological institutions. The first one, provided by Brother Jaime Prieto, a Mennonite from Costa Rica, shared thoughts on “the church and its commitment with history.” The second, presented by Brother Hugo Zorrilla, a Colombian Mennonite resident in USA, reflected upon the theme “Word, Faith, and Celebration.” The third, by Brother Gilberto Flores, Guatemalan resident in USA, considered the theme “Proclamation and mission today.”
During the commemoration of SEMILLA’s 25th anniversary we recognized the importance of our collaboration with communities of faith in our geographic region. We have studied its history. We have learned to contextualize the Word for our Latin American churches, and we have looked for better methods to carry out the mission of proclaiming the gospel in our lands.
The evenings were times of celebration. One night, we rejoiced at the graduation of those brothers and sisters who completed their biblical, theological, and pastoral studies. During the liturgy of graduation, former missionary and SEMILLA founder Amzie Yoder shared with us his preaching. The following night, we sang, prayed, read the Bible, and participated in the preaching that former Rector Juan Martínez shared during the anniversary celebration. As part of that, we remembered interesting facts, testimonies, and anecdotes related to SEMILLA ‘s history and journey. The last night, we had a very special time of sharing. We enjoyed very Guatemalan food and shared in a hymn sing. In our celebration, other institutions shared our joy. Representatives of Church, theological, and missionary organizations, from Latin America, North America, and Europe accompanied us during the Hans Denk Lectureship and the 25th Anniversary celebration. It was a refreshing time of sharing, reflection, feast, and renewal for all of us.
Yanett Palacios,
A Testimony of Faith and Commitment
My name is Yanett Palacios. I am 41 years old. I was born in the mountainous Ixil Triangle region of western Guatemala. It is a beautiful land infected by the violence of the thirty-year civil war. Growing up there was a difficult, and I still keep sad memories in my mind.
One day, I had the opportunity to move to Guatemala City, and I became involved in educational projects with children. I like education, so this was a wonderful experience for me. Soon, I recognized the need for more training in order to improve my educational ministry. My main interest was to study the Bible and Theology, and I enrolled at SETECA (The Central American Theological Seminary). At that time, my husband did not share my dream, and my studies at that Seminary were interrupted.
Later, my husband and I began attending a Mennonite Church. We felt very welcome and were invited to participate in several activities. Together we began to explore ways of serving in the Church. We initiated our studies at the Mennonite Bible Institute (IBM) in Guatemala City. We studied three years there. During the third year, we were sent for an internship in the “Fuente de Agua Viva” Mennonite Church in Boca del Monte. The purpose was to improve our practices and skills with pastoral care.
When we finished our internship, we were called to work as pastors at the “Roca de Salvación” Mennonite Church, Zona 6, in Guatemala City. It was the beginning of my pastoral vocation. Pastoral care has been a challenging, and beautiful experience in my life. I have had the opportunity to share with people and families in the neighborhood surrounding the church. I have served, trying to mirror God ‘s love, in the midst of the reality, poverty, and difficult situations of people in the community. Besides that, it is wonderful to share the pastoral work with my husband. We preach, teach, care, and serve together in our community of faith. Serving God with a sense of faith, faithfulness, and joy has brought growth to our family.
When we began our pastoral ministry, we also committed ourselves to strengthening our theological formation, and so we came to study at SEMILLA. As a student of SEMILLA, I have nurtured my understanding of the wholistic gospel, my commitment to the Church mission, my discipleship, and my spirit of servanthood. I have obtained better and practical tools and skills for my pastoral and educational work. Besides that, I have grown as a woman, mother, wife, and friend.
Finally, I testify that being pastor is a wonderful and meaningful experience. It is a challenging task, but I have received a lot of blessings in my life. Frequently, I face problems, needs, and sufferings; but nevertheless, God has been present with me on the journey. His Holy Spirit has given me strength and wisdom in my life and work. This nourishes my faith, courage, and hope; it sustains me as a follower and servant of Jesus.
Extra Credit
by Lucy Camel, Coordinator of CASAS Spanish Language Studies
Working in CASAS has been very enriching for my life. I consider my work like a channel of blessing that radiates to many people. Here one learns more than just Spanish, culture, and history. I would like to share a few examples of those “extra” lessons.
One of our students explained why she was studying at CASAS. “I am an elementary school teacher and would like to apply the Spanish that I have learned in order to better teach English to the children. Also, I want to communicate better with the parents of the children, of whom the majority are undocumented and don’t speak English.” It was exciting for me to know that my work was only the beginning of something greater and that its effects are greater than one can know. Recently the same student wrote me after some years to says that she is still teaching children, has Latino friends and in her free time she loves to visit restaurants of Latin food. It brings me joy to know that she has found a community where she can develop and also that it can be an oasis in the desert for many families.
Another student has returned several times to Guatemala to visit friends. She has a great spirit of service where she works in a medical clinic with many Latino clients. She is in charge of providing information in Spanish and also explaining the health needs of the Latino clients to the doctors. Additionally, she has received some calls from a nearby hospital in her home in the U.S. to help with translations. Now she is taking a translation course of medical vocabulary to better help her clients. Personally, I admire all the people who offer their life, time, and personal gifts to serve those most in need.
After his time in Guatemala, another person expressed that his perceptions of people with different ideas, colors, and countries has changed much. He now treats others with more respect because of his experiences here.
Each person that comes to our program brings their own ideas and thoughts about Latin American countries. Through living and studying at CASAS, the students develop a true understanding of life here. I firmly believe that each person can make a difference if everyone puts in their small grain of sand. I am happy to be part of a staff with a mission of benefiting beyond our borders.
Memories of Charity
Victoria Aracely Díaz Palacios
Charity was our first CASAS student. One evening, she prepared a delicious dinner for us. All of us enjoyed the food. She always said, “Mamá Díaz, I am happy in your home. I like your paintings, and your food is delicious.” She said that because I like to paint landscapes.
One day, she told me, “Mama Díaz, the “cheque” is not here. I placed it on the mirror, but it is not here.” I thought, “Oh, she lost the check for this month.” But then I saw the check and I told her, “Look, the check is here.” But she answered, “No mama Díaz, I said my “chicle” (gum)!” We laughed a lot.
When she returned to her country, my little granddaughter missed her a lot. She wanted to see her. The last day, the youth group of my Church prepared a good-bye dinner for her. There were beautiful words and hugs for Charity. She gave us some souvenirs; but especially, she gave us her heart.
A Poem
Charity, dove of peace,
Peace that my land yearns for,
My land that offered you her love,
Love that young people like you are looking for.
(in Spanish)
Poema
Charity paloma mensajera de Paz
De paz que anhela mi nación
Nación que te brindó amor
Amor que buscan los jóvenes como tú
The Diaz Palacios family hosts CASAS students in Zone 7 of Guatemala City. Charity attends Eastern Mennonite University.
