Thank you so much!
At last, the end of the journey in the seminary has come! It seems like a just year ago that my family and I made the decision to embark on this journey of preparation and discernment to join the work that God is already doing in our communities and around the world. As I began my final semester in January, many memories came to mind. Memories of my first steps learning about the presence of God in the communities in the midst of a civil war. Memories of when I was part of a Christian community for the first time in the Llano el Coyo Lutheran Church. Memories of when I received the opportunity to preach for the first time in El Salvador. Memories of when I received the call of God for the first time but I, like many others, rejected his call. Memories when I moved to Waukesha and started a life different than I ever imagined for my future.
As an ESL student I had to face many challenges, but along the way I realized that I was not alone. Just as Jesus revealed himself and joined the conversation that the disciples were having on their way to Emmaus, Jesus revealed himself to me and joined in this journey from the first semester through all of you.
I could not have walked this path alone. First of all, I want to thank God for providing me with two wonderful supervisors in Pastor Chris and Pastor Tony who were always there to support me during moments of frustration and hopelessness, supporting me emotionally and spiritually. They were with me in both the joyful and difficult times. Sincere thanks to all those who were part of the internship committee, for having dedicated part of their time and participating in my training process during the 18 months of my internship. Susan Otto, thank you for your patience, your time and for helping me immensely in the pronunciations in English. I need to also thank Pastor Betty Baires, my mentor, and Jay McDivitt for leading Spanish language worship whenever I was preaching in English at 10:45.
To all of you as a congregation: thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and financial help. A big thank you for your patience and grace when you had to listen to me preach in English, when perhaps my accent made it hard to understand what I was saying. The biggest thank you is for accepting God’s call to open the doors of our church to the Latino ministry. I am proud to be part of a Christian community that not only opened the doors to a new ministry, but also recognizes the sacred diversity that exists in others. Thank you for accepting, participating, and promoting each of the traditions that the Latino ministry has brought to this Sacred Place.
And finally, last but not least, my family. My parents-in-law with their willingness to support in multiple ways these past four years. My family from El Salvador who has been supporting me with their prayers, thoughts, and participation in the ministry. And my amazing wife and daughters who have been very, very patient and supportive of me in every way. My daughters are at an age where they do not remember life before seminary. They only know me as the daddy yelling at them to be quiet because I’m in class on Zoom and too busy with class to come to their activities. They are about to see a new side of their father.
A new episode is about to begin in our life as a family, we do not know the future but we do have the confidence that Jesus will continue to reveal himself and walk with us, just as he did with his disciples on their way to Emmaus.
“First of all I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is spread throughout the whole world.” (Romans 1.8)
Edwin Aparicio, Pastoral Intern
