Newsletter — Ruth Mooney, editor

One of our new students, Herold Ambrocio, from the central part of Perú (la selva, will tell you his story in his own words.

My birth was celebrated with great rejoicing: the first boy after 3 girls! A big event in a macho society. My family invited their friends, neighbors, and the workers from my father’s coffee plantation for a great banquet.

But this wonderful life ended abruptly when I was five years old. The Sendero Luminoso guerrilla group threatened my parents with kidnapping all their children to incorporate us into their army. My parents fled with us, leaving behind our house and all our possessions. I didn’t understand why we had to walk in silence through the mountains in the icy morning air, why we were not permitted to cry even if we fell down in our hurry, why we had to share one piece of bread amongst everyone, when we had never lacked anything. Our parents gave us all the food they could find, with nothing left for them. My morther, 8 months pregnant, got a job in a kitchen, where she could bring us the leftovers. We lived in fear

from both the guerrillas and the army, who arrested and tortured indiscriminately, and many were the nights we slept on the floor as battles raged outside our door.

My father, in his despair, turned to alcohol, and the violence moved into our home. Night after night, the ten of us children would watch helplessly as our father beat up on our mother. Crouched in a corner, we would cry, “Daddy, please stop!”, to no effect.

When I graduated from high school, I enrolled in the Special Command Forces of the army to complete my two year military requirement. I was filled with anger and resentment, and determined to get revenge on the guerrillas who had destroyed my family’s life.

Then, my life changed dramatically: God’s mercy embraced me, healed me, and made

me a new person for his glory. From that moment on, Jesus is my Lord. I learned the importance of forgiveness, and was reconciled with my father. My mother, who was a believer, rejoiced to see the changes in me.

I wanted to serve God and was eager to study. With no money but trusting in

God, I enrolled in a seminary and became a Methodist pastor. But I knew that I needed further study to respond adequately to the tremendous challenges of ministry. My dreams became reality when I was accepted to study at a highly respected university, the Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana.

One of my greatest blessings is my beloved wife Geovana who, with her beautiful smile, causes me to fall in love with her anew every day. As a psychologist, she has offered many insights into my pastoral work. Together we praise God for our daughter, Paula Karissa. I was overwhelmed with God’s love when my daughter was born, when I saw her first smile, heard her laughter and her first words and stroked her soft skin. The hardest part of being in Costa Rica is being separated from them.

Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana

Apartado 901-1000San José, Costa Rica

(506) 2283-8848(506) 2283-6826 (fax)www.unibiblica.net

fFebruary 2014 f

Herold Ambrocio

Then, my life changed dramatically: God’s mercy embraced me, healed me, and made me a new person for his glory.

Coming events:

08 - 17 March Paradise Valley United Methodist Church, Arizona04 - 18 March First United Methodist Church Birmingham, Michigan08 - 15 March University of West Virginia26/03 - 05 April Whites Chapel United Methodist Church, Texas22 -27 April Institute for Clergy Excellence24 -31 May First Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge, Georgia12 -19 May First Presbyterian Church, Caldwell, New Jersey

09 -19 June First Baptist Church, Greencastle, Indiana20 - 29 June West Market Street United Methodist Church, Greensboro, North Carolina01 - 08 June Wimberley United Methodist Church5 - 28 July Global Institute of Theology31/07 - 11 Aug Rose City Parks United Methodist Church, Oregon19 - 25 Oct Grace United Methodist Church, Texas

If your church is interested in sending a work or study team to the UBL, contact our president, Dr. Edwin Mora, at rector@ubila.net

Support the UBL Programs

In Mission Together

The UBL has a place for you:

• Individual Volunteers

• Construction Teams

• Work-Study Programs

• Study Programs

United Methodist ChurchAdvance 10247B “Scholarships”

& Advance 09139A “General Programs”

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E344202 Scholarships

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For more information contact Dr. Edwin Mora at rectorubl@gmail.comLike us on FacebookUniversidad Bíblica Latinoamericana

Work and study teams:

First United Methodist Church, Lewisville, Texas / Feb 7-16. A group of 13 people

came from Lewisville and successfully completed the construction and final details of the second house. Thank you!

Primetimers Feb 15-26

This is an educational and mission service experience for older adults, a program of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. Eleven people, mostly retired

educators, met at the UBL for ten days to study Latin American history and culture and the work of the UBL. They were hosted by theology professor Karla Koll, and two faithful volunteers, Margie Miller and Rick Hendricks. Reflecting on their experience, the group commented that they had learned a semester’s worth of information in 5 days, with many new challenging perspectives that changed their thinking.

The professors gathered for a 2 day workshop led by Priscilla Barredo, a

UBL student from Mexico with a Master’s Degree in Journalism and Communication. She challenged them to think creatively as they plan for the future.

Faculty Workshop