Universidad Bblica

Latinoamericana
Apartado 901-1000
San Jos, Costa Rica
(506) 2283-8848
(506) 2283-6826 (fax)
www.unibiblica.net

f February 2014 f

Newsletter

Herold
Ambrocio

Then, my life changed dramatically:

Gods mercy embraced me, healed
me, and made me a new person for
his glory.

ne of our new students, Herold

Ambrocio, from the central part
of Per (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 fathers 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 didnt 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

Ruth Mooney, editor

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
familys life.
Then, my life changed dramatically: Gods
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 Bblica 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 Gods 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.

Coming events:
08 - 17 March Paradise Valley United Methodist Church, Arizona
04 - 18 March First United Methodist Church Birmingham, Michigan
08 - 15 March
26/03 - 05 April
22 -27 April
24 -31 May
12 -19 May

University of West Virginia

Whites Chapel United Methodist Church, Texas
Institute for Clergy Excellence
First Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge, Georgia
First Presbyterian Church, Caldwell, New Jersey

09 -19 June
20 - 29 June

01 - 08 June
5 - 28 July
31/07 - 11 Aug
19 - 25 Oct

First Baptist Church, Greencastle, Indiana

West Market Street United Methodist Church, Greensboro,
North Carolina
Wimberley United Methodist Church
Global Institute of Theology
Rose City Parks United Methodist Church, Oregon
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

Work and study teams:

irst 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

Faculty
Workshop

he professors gathered for a 2 day

workshop led by Priscilla Barredo, a
UBL student from Mexico with a Masters
Degree in Journalism and Communication.
She challenged them to think creatively as
they plan for the future.

his 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 semesters
worth of
information in 5
days, with many
new challenging
perspectives that
changed their
thinking.

Support the UBL Programs

United Methodist Church

Advance 10247B Scholarships
& Advance 09139A
General Programs

Or:
Through your local
Presbyterian Church
E344202 Scholarships

In Mission Together
The UBL has a place for you:
Individual Volunteers
Construction Teams
Work-Study Programs

Universidad Bblica Latinoamericana

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Study Programs

For more information contact Dr. Edwin Mora at rectorubl@gmail.com