Interconnectedness of All

A Letter from Chenoa Stock, mission co-worker serving in Peru

Spring 2024

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Dear friends,

After over 15 years of living in regions where seasons were not as defined, apart from rainy and dry, the way spring just pops up in the U.S. never ceases to amaze me. Suddenly, I am walking down streets with archways of green leaves above, flowers budding in lush grass, and birds and squirrels, once again, singing and jumping in the branches. And just like that, a new season is upon us.

Enjoying the wonder of the total eclipse in Cleveland, OH.

I also know I am more acutely aware of the wonders of creation these past months, as we in Cleveland were in the path of totality for the solar eclipse in early March. What an awe-inspiring, communal moment to receive this unique gift of the universe – a moment that allowed us to pause from our busy lives and witness our interconnectedness to each other and to Creation, to deeply reflect on our place and our role in this great, big universe.

For Earth Day, a month later, I had the opportunity to continue this reflection as I shared with my home congregation, Forest Hill Church, about my ministry journey with Joining Hands’ networks in Asia and South America. This provided an opportunity to lift up the work of our global partners around the world to address global issues of hunger, poverty and injustice. It was a time to recognize how patterns of exploitation that began centuries ago through colonization are driven by systems – extractive industries, industrial agriculture, etc. – invested in fulfilling the demands of consumerism and economic growth and, in the process, destroying the beauty of the Earth and all living beings in it.

Enjoying the wonder of the total eclipse in Cleveland, OH.

Since then, the Peruvian Joining Hands Network has released five 7-minute videos that provide detailed illustrations of this systemic exploitation and destruction. These videos also explain how the affected communities are working for systemic change through policy advocacy and actions in order to protect and preserve the beauty of their land and livelihoods. (Links to the videos can be found at the end of the newsletter.)

As we heard in our PERUSA Dialogue Series in March, where our Peruvian partner, Cecilia Ramírez, and Presbyterian Mission Agency colleague, Chris Romine, shared with us about their work in addressing structural racism in their local context, we are all part of this hierarchical system. We are all swimming in the same “poisoned waters” of racism/whiteness, extractivism, and capitalism. Some might have more capability to survive, some might be poisoned more, but nobody can escape. So, our role, then, in living in this deeply embedded, centuries-old exploitation or poison, is to deal with the environment that we are living in by recognizing that we are part of it and addressing it as we are able on a personal level and beyond. (Please take the time to listen to the recording as so many great thoughts were shared!)

Women graduates from the Presbytery of Occabamba of the Evangelical Church of Peru (IEP) in Cusco, Peru

One way our partners of the Evangelical Church of Peru (IEP) have taken a system and addressed it in their own, local way is through the work of their women’s ministry course. Amidst a patriarchal country and a denomination that does not encourage female leadership, our partners of the IEP in the Cuzco region began a course to empower and develop women to be stronger and more confident leaders in the church. Pastor Leopoldo and his team travel to different regions of the presbytery to support women in making their voices stronger in the church body. Together, they move through different modules about the Bible, preaching, and doing pastoral care. When they complete the course, they are more equipped to support a church in those pastoral duties, including leading in Sunday School and worship. Throughout this study, they also become stronger women and leaders in their households. Fifty women graduated from this course this past December, and many are now serving in their local churches with new capacity. And just like that, a global system is addressed by recognition and local actions.

Spring is here!

If you are interested in hearing more about how local actions are addressing greater global structural systems, our next PERUSA Dialogue Series focused on climate change will take place on June 13. Come and hear what Peruvians and PC(USA) church members are doing to address climate change at the local, national and international levels. It is our call to you to join us in this ongoing reflection on our role in creation, our interconnectedness as living beings, and our faithful work of addressing it all through global solidarity.

Peace,

Chenoa

Videos of the Peruvian Joining Hands Network’s Environmental Case Studies
(Callao, Peru – 2024)

1) Chillón River – Contamination of the Chillón River and the Sea – https://youtu.be/wJqJXBvoQuo
2) Repsol spill – Contamination of beaches by crude oil spills – https://youtu.be/tG9umeByl40
3) Mi Peru – Contamination from lead, cadmium, and other toxic substances in the community of Mi Perú – https://youtu.be/Ux-zkQoaGbc
4) Hills of Ventanilla – Contamination and damage to the Hills of Ventanilla – https://youtu.be/T9nLm4xkZ7g
5) Wetlands of Ventanilla – Contamination and Reduction of the Wetlands of Ventanilla – https://youtu.be/Wf1vkreuYkc
** These are also available in Spanish.

Link to Recording of Dialogue Series on Confronting Racism, March 14, 2024
https://zoom.us/rec/share/TZeJzbmArcHYHdcfOA9gmDUn5-AqPVhCLDcgUznxh-v1ia7_gagmOD2CV3Krdvox.iXaUlXc_OMQUI1nB
Passcode: dgG?v$p6