As we move into Holy Week our hearts are heavy, as it has been a tough year for many of us here at Sojourners. Jim Wallis was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent a successful surgery in June. In September, Catherine Woodiwiss, Sojourners’ associate web editor, was struck by a car while riding her bike to work and was admitted into the ICU. Her road to recovery is long and surgeries will be ongoing.
In the midst of all this, Elizabeth Palmberg, a Sojourners associate editor, has been struggling with the return of leukemia. After a time of remission and now many rounds of treatments and transplants, the doctors do not expect her to make a recovery.
At the same time, Sandi Villarreal, Sojourners’ web editor, and her husband, Michael, welcomed Scarlett into the world in November. Elizabeth Denlinger Reaves, Sojourners’ intern program director, and her husband, Scott, welcomed a daughter a month ago. And last July, Sondra Shepley, Sojourners’ director of special projects and resources, married former intern Parker Haaga, and Beau Underwood, Sojourners’ senior director of advocacy, married Casey Osterkamp. For these celebrations, new lives, and many other blessings, we thank God!
It’s been a year of struggle and a year of rejoicing. We wanted to give you a glimpse into our lives here at Sojourners and also ask for your prayers. In particular, we hope that you will pray for our dear colleague and friend to many of us, Elizabeth Palmberg, or as many know her, “Zab.” You might have read some of her reporting or commentaries in the magazine or seen some of her videos about prayer, bread making, and other topics. If you’ve read the magazine or used one of our resources since Elizabeth arrived as an intern in 2002, you have likely seen something created, influenced, or just plain made better by Elizabeth.
As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the hope we have in the resurrection. Please pray for this hope in the life of Zab, her family, and all of us here at Sojourners. Remember us in your hearts or leave a prayer in the comments online.
Karen Lattea is Vice President of Human Resources for Sojourners.
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