On the Road with U.S. Partners

A Letter from Chenoa Stock, serving in Peru

Fall 2022

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Dear friends,

“I’m going to be a mission co-worker when I grow up,” my son, Leandro, says into the lavalier microphone on his head. We were in between worship services at First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, OK and, by this fourth weekend of traveling with me to the East and now the Midwest, sharing stories about our partners and their ministries in Peru, he was very familiar with my role and what I did. With my trusty travel companion, this fall I embarked on my in-person Interpretation Assignment, knowing it would be different with a 4 ½-year-old by my side, but also fulfilling and soul-enriching to be face-to-face with new and old partners in Christ during these months.

Throughout our time in Ohio, North Carolina, Missouri, and Oklahoma, I visited with congregations in a variety of meaningful spaces – sermons and Minutes for Mission, adult education classes, Presbyterian Women, meals, youth groups and more. I enjoyed meeting in person with everyone while also bringing our Peruvian partners into the space through the sharing of their country context, their ongoing ministries, and their personal joys and challenges. I was there to be the bridge of partnership – connecting these U.S. congregations to the realities of our Peruvian partners, while also (hopefully) opening their eyes to the greater systemic issues around the world and those on which our partners’ ministries focus, such as environmental justice and health.

During my travels, I have been sharing that PERUSA, the ministry with which I serve, is a program of the ecumenical Peruvian Joining Hands Network, RUM Peru. RUM Peru is part of the greater global Joining Hands Program of the Presbyterian Hunger Program, where our global partners form country networks, like RUM Peru, of churches/denominations, grassroots groups, community groups and non-government organizations. These global networks, such as the ones with which I served in Sri Lanka and Bolivia, carry out advocacy campaigns that address issues of poverty and related injustices in their local communities, usually focused on water (contamination, access), food and land, trade, and environmental justice. Each network of the Joining Hands Program seeks long-term sustainable change since these systemic issues are not resolved through one project or protest, nor are they isolated to one country. They are issues that interconnect us around the world.

RUM Peru has been a long-time member of the National Platform for Communities Affected by Heavy Metal Poisoning, which represents about 15 communities throughout Peru. This platform led an effort to advocate for the first ever federal environmental health law. The law, which addresses the injustices faced by people living with contamination from mining and extractive industries and includes healthcare and environmental regulations and enforcement on the mining industry, was passed last year. Alongside our partners and the National Platform, we celebrated this victory proudly, while also continuing to advocate for the creation of a commission, assigned to work on the implementation of this law. We recently learned (in late October) that a presidential Supreme Decree was signed to create a commission, that would represent the diverse government ministries and agencies involved and be responsible for initiating the implementation work. There is still more work to be done, but this is a big step and another victory worth celebrating!

Our Evangelical Church of Peru (IEP) partners continue to grow their ministry of theological leadership training. Those of the Sicuani Seminary give thanks that they were able to complete the long-awaited renovation of their classrooms, culminating with the inauguration on October 23. The seminary currently has 26 enrolled students – a hopeful increase from these past pandemic years – and will be celebrating the graduation of final year students in December.

We rejoice with our partners as they move forward with long-term goals, while also finding new rhythms within new routines of their daily lives and ministries.

Our family is also finding new rhythms. As many of you know, due to different circumstances along the way, our family has lived in multiple homes throughout these years, while continuing to serve alongside our partners. Since July, we have been based in Cleveland, OH, as my husband found a job here. Given the many disruptions our family has experienced these past years, we have decided, in discussion with Presbyterian World Mission, that I will extend my term to serve remotely from Cleveland for the next year.

I will continue to walk alongside our Peruvian partners as we discern our call as a connectional ministry, as we re-evaluate the PERUSA Program in a post-pandemic world, and as we listen more closely to God’s Spirit moving us to take meaningful actions to build global solidarity.

As our partners’ ministries continue to follow their call, perhaps differently than a few years ago, I am grateful that I am able to continue to follow mine – of being “a mission co-worker when I grow up” – albeit a bit differently. Thank you for supporting and inviting me to connect and share that call wherever and with whomever it continues to lead me to serve.

Peace,

Chenoa

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