Jim Fitz's Christian
Peacemaking Reports - 2006
[En
Español]
Hello, I am Jim Fitz. I sensed a call to do full time peacemaking in
the Fall of 2002, at which time I left my work managing Plow Creek
Fellowship's produce farm.
As a part of that peacemaking, I volunteer three months a year with
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in
Colombia. The presence of CPT gives
protection from the threats of the paramilitaries and guerrillas to
some eighty families.
Since many of the problems in Colombia originate here with our
government policy, I spend the rest of the year working to make people
aware of how our 1.6 million dollars a day in US Colombian military aid
is making the situation worse.
I promote peace and justice in the following ways: I
give slide presentations, talk to people personally, participate in a
weekly vigil, have booths at fairs, line up others to speak, write
emails to supporters, and pray regularly. I depend on donations and
your prayers to support this peace work.
I am available to give talks and slide presentations about my
time in
Colombia. Contact me at: jimfitz(at)plowcreek.org
or 815-646-4672.
Introduction to Peacemaking in Colombia
[En
Español]
2006 Reports
Jim's 2006 Peace Plans
2006 Reports
2006 Colombia Letters
Letter
#12 Last Days in Colombia January 2, 2007
Letter
#11 Conversations [En
Español]
December 8, 2006
Letter
#10 Workings of the Spirit [En
Español]
November 26, 2006
Letter #9:
Peacemaking in Cucuta, Colombia
[En
Español]
November 15, 2006
Letter
#8 Getting My Visa Renewed
November 4, 2006
Letter
#7 Two Days on the Opon (continued) October
28,
2006
Letter #6:
Two Days on the Opon October 23, 2006
Letter #5
Breaking the Silence October
16, 2006
Letter #4
Light in the Opon
October 9, 2006
Letter #3
Warm Welcome
[En
Español]
October 2,
2006
Letter #2:
September 24,
2006
Is the War Working?
Meditation Exercise
What Can I Do for Peace in Iraq?
Judging War by Death's Tally
Tennessee Camping at the Papa Festival
Catching Up With Companions
Valle Nuevo Visit
Letter
#12 "Last Days in Colombia"
January 2, 2007
Dear friends,
My three months in Colombia and on the CPT team there were drawing to a
close, and Noah was leading the team worship which would be my final
one this time. He asked people to share anything they wanted to share
with me or to say prayers for me. Michele shared, "I really
appreciate the fact that when you took me downtown to make a copy of my
passport, you also introduced me to your many friends that we met along
the way. I also appreciate how you shared CPT brochures with those we
did business with."
Pierre said, "I just always chuckle inside whenever I see you giving
out a Peace Pilgrim pamphlet. I can't help but think that you are a
peace pilgrim too." He added, "And you will be Uncle Jim to our
two-year-old daughter Vania from now on!"
As I listened to these and other sharings and looked around at each
person, suddenly a light went on in me which made me share, "You have
each helped me become more of what God meant me to be during
these two and half months together. You have touched me deeply."
I am considering returning to Colombia under a little different
capacity in September. Your prayers that the Lord's will would be done
are appreciated.
Often people ask, "Do you see any positive change or hope for peace in
Colombia?" Here are a few things I noticed:
---When President Uribe first won the Presidency, he campaigned on the
platform that he was going to blow the guerrillas off the map, and that
he would never negotiate with them. Well, now for the last two years
his government has been negotiating with the ELN, the second largest
guerrilla group in Colombia. Some of our trusted consultants have said
there is real hope for these talks to be a model for future fair and
just agreements between the warring groups in Colombia. One of our
trusted consultants has been a part of the talks.
---For the 2007 elections in Barranca, three trusted friends have
declared their candidacy. Two of them are for city council and one is
for mayor. It has been said about the mayoral candidate, "He is
zero corruption." And I would say this is true of all of
them. Not long ago they would have been afraid for their lives to be
running for office.
---Here is Jorge, showing his certificate from a course on nonviolence
and leadership that a Development Organization taught to the people in
the community of Opon. I still remember how excited he was to tells us
about how violence can happen in the home even with just
words as well as with guns. It was a good reminder that we need
to work against violence on all fronts, even in ourselves. I doubt if
this development organization would be operating if CPT had not paved
the way.
---More and more the churches are getting involved. Two strong
examples are the changes in the Mennonite Brethren and the Pentecostal
church which I observed personally. The churches have a very important
part to play in bringing a solid justice and peace to Colombia as they
lift up the ways of Jesus in loving enemies, in being reconciled and in
building honesty in a society that has been steeped in fighting and
corruption for 45 years.
Thanks for your prayers that have helped bring these positive
changes. Please keep it up.
Jim
top
Letter
#11 Conversations December
8, 2006
Hello friends,
Those of you who know me personally know how I love to talk with
people! And praise God, for He continues to use these conversations for
the building up of His kingdom.
On the bus trip to Bogotá (a week prior to leaving
Colombia), I
had a three hour conversation with my seat mate, Jorge (name is changed
for security), an older fellow who shared with me some of his
experiences living in Colombia during the present conflict “
which has
gone on all his adult life.
When I was young and saw all the suffering of the poor, there
was a
real temptation in my anger to think the only way to bring justice was
to take up a gun. One of my friends and a natural leader took up the
gun and soon was killed as a young age, killing any future
contributions to society as well. Somehow I was saved from going down
that road.
I now have a business that works in the countryside. One time
in order
to do our work, I had to pay off two of the guerrilla groups by giving
them jobs and pay off the Paras by giving them building sand. It was
either do it or face being kidnapped. Another time I was moving a
container of machinery and the Paras said they needed it. I told my
driver, "Your life is worth more than the machinery. Let them
have
it. God will provide us with more machinery." This kind
of thing
really makes it hard to do business here in Colombia.
Another time I was offered a loan of 4 million dollars
interest free
for a year and 4% after that. I asked a lawyer about it and he advised
me not to touch it, as it was surely someone laundering drug
money. I feel God saved me from getting caught in that one. "
The upshot of this conversation? Jorge had me show my slides in his
office, and invited his secretary, his son and a friend who happened to
drop in to see them. The friend was an atheist, which led to some
interesting conversation, in which I shared how I moved from being an
agnostic to a believer. They ended by thanking me heartily for CPT
peace work and wishing me the best. Jorge added, "When you come
back
next year, we need to work on getting you speaking to the students at
the university, for they would be very open to what you have to
say."
Reflecting on meeting Jorge and many, many others makes me believe more
and more what Mother Teresa said, "There is no such thing as
coincidence."
Peace,
Jim
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Letter
#10 "Workings of the Spirit"
November 26, 2006
Hello friends,
The other Sunday a former paramilitary, Jose, who is the leader of a
Christian band, invited CPTers to come to the worship service where
they would be playing. So I went.
Jose left the Paras (the illegal paramilitary organization) as a result
of conversations he had with CPTers in the Opon four years ago through
which he came to see the futility of using a gun to try to solve the
40-year-old conflict. Jose told me Sunday, "There were about 50
of us who left the Paras at that time. Some ended up in jail, as they
were so used to criminal activity, it got them in trouble. Others
returned to the Paras, and a few of us started to try to straighten out
our lives. I am graduating from a seminary course Dec. 17. Can you come
to my graduation?"
"Regrettably," I replied, "I won't be here in Colombia then."
Recently, when I was picking up a switch at the hardware store, the
clerk asked, "Who are you? And what are you doing here in Colombia?" I
gave him a brief explanation. "CPT started in 84 when Ron Sider
preached if we are serious about following Jesus' call to be
peacemakers, we need to be prepared to lay down our life for peace, the
same way soldiers lay down their lives for war. This has always been an
inspiration and a challenge to me."
Then after the store closed, he showed up at our door and began to
inquire a lot more. This ended up being a 45 minute visit. He shared,
"You know, only about 600,000 Colombians out of 40 million are involved
with the armed groups in this civil war. A few people really have
messed it up for the rest of us. I responded, "It has been my
experience that most Colombians are very friendly and good people." He
replied, "It is good you come here. When you go back home to the USA,
let people know most of us are not corrupt drug traffickers."
Since I arrived in Bogotá a few days ago I have shared about
peacemaking and the work of CPT with about with nine Colombia Mennonite
Brethren (MB) pastors. One said, "I have been to the US where the
churches talk a lot about peacemaking, but you have come here to
war-torn Colombia to share and to work at peacemaking. That means a lot
to me. You have left your family at home. I imagine they pray a lot for
you. Your sharing is very challenging to us. Will you come and share
with my congregation on Sunday?" "Sure," I responded, "I would be glad
to."
And then when I shared at both the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute
and the above congregation, I sensed the Spirit powerfully at work both
times. They had lots of good questions. About 15 of them took
applications to go on a CPT delegation in December. Many shared that
they would be praying for CPT.
Paz, Jim
PS: I arrived back home from Colombia just before Thanksgiving
– but
still have a couple more letters to send you about my time there. I
would appreciate your prayers as I face the challenge of all the
transitions that I must make as I return home.
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Letter #9:
Peacemaking
in Cucuta, Colombia
November 15, 2006
Dear friends,
I was traveling with Juan, a rural Pentecostal pastor, on the way to an
evening worship service near Cucuta, Colombia. He told me this story:
"One night the Paras (Paramilitaries) took a 23-year-old mother in our
church and shot her in front of her children, because the Paras thought
she had killed her Para friend. The community was afraid to go to
recover the body, for fear of what the Paras might do to anyone who
showed sympathy to the mother. So they called me. I went that very
night and recovered the body and gave her a proper funeral in our
church, as a way of saying that the church was not going to be
intimated by the Paras threats. As often happens here in this war, it
was soon found out that the killing was a mistake for she had had
nothing to do with the killing of her Para friend. Then, led by the
Spirit, the church carried the coffin to where Paras lived and buried
the body there.
"This made the Paras face their awful mistake every time they
passed
the grave. As a result many of the Paras quit. They even had fights
among themselves. And this event became the beginning of the end of the
Paras control in the region. Three years ago we could not drive this
road we are on tonight for fear of the Guerrillas or Paras. They are
still around, but their control of the people is greatly diminished."
This time with Juan was a result of a earlier visit with his daughter
Jenny, in the days waiting for my visa papers on the Venezuela border.
Jenny is a peacemaker in a 1200 member Assembly of God Church. She used
to be a leader in her church. She said, "I moved lots of people
as a
leader. People looked up to me. Then the Lord showed me how I had been
abusing people with this power. This caused me to step down from
leadership. To be a peacemaker I needed to stop hurting
people."
She than took me to her church building to meet some of her friends who
are working in peacemaking. One older woman from Austria who has been
there a long time is leaving the comforts of this church here to go to
work in Africa. This is against the advice of the church pastors, who
said to her, "Here you have everything you need. Why do want to go to
Africa, where you will lose all the security of the church here?" Jenny
said, "She is like Peace Pilgrim, always satisfied with whatever is
given, and a real witness to not looking for her own security in the
material world. Materialism is a problem in our church here for many of
us are fairly wealthy."
Change is a'comin. Alleluia!
Peace,
Jim
Letter #8:
Getting My Visa Renewed November 4, 2006
Dear friends,
I arrived at the border with Venezuela after a long six hour journey of
climbing and crossing the magnificent Andes mountains, including being
above the tree line and in the clouds at times.
I went to the Colombian Consulate and found it full of people
waiting. I went to the desk and, without even allowing me to say
my name or why I was there, the secretary said, "Just have a
seat. She will call you". I waited for an hour and half while
some 40 people came and went, and I wondered if I had been
forgotten. Finally the secretary saw me and said for me to go
into a side room.
By this time I was rather anxious. I hoped that all 25 pages or
so of papers that I had brought for my visa would be OK. The
Consulate, Ziada, said, "Didn't you hear me call for those
who needed visas?" I hadn't heard her.
I nervously gave her the stack of papers. As she began to go
through them, she read about the beginnings of CPT, and she asked, "Who
are the Mennonites and Quakers? Are they Christians?"
I answered, "We, the Mennonites, Quakers, and Brethren, are Christians
who believe that peace, justice and helping the poor are a central part
of the teaching of Jesus. If you read the New Testament, you will learn
that Jesus taught a lot about these things."
"It talks here about loving your enemies. Do you really think
that is possible?" Ziada asked. " I know it seems
impossible," I
replied, but my experience has been that if we will ask God to
help us
do that, we will be surprised as to what will happen. He can do a
miracle even with us."
I then gave her a brochure, "Who are the Mennonites?" She read
over half of it on the spot. Then I gave her the CPT Colombia
Brochure; after reading a bit she remarked, "You guys
really believe in this stuff about about loving your enemies,
huh?" I then ended by giving her Peace Pilgrim's
pamphlet
on "The Way of Peace," showing her Peace Pilgrim's photo on the
inside cover and saying, "For 28 years she walked across
United States talking about the way of peace to whomever would listen.
If people gave her food she ate, and if not, she fasted. If someone
gave her a bed she would sleep in it, and if not she would sleep along
the road. This is something I give to people as a way of promoting the
way of peace, and it has been a help for me to understand the way of
peace. Perhaps it might be a help to you."
A couple of days later I called to see if my visa had come
through and the first thing Ziada said was, " That Way of Peace
pamphlet is really good." A few days later my visa came
through so I can stay in Colombia until the 21st of November.
Peace,
Jim
top
Letter #7: "Two
Days on the Opon"(continued) October 28,
2006
Hello friends,
The next morning Lisa and I ate breakfast with the Los Neques
family. Henry, the man of the house, told us, "Last week
from
Monday to Wednesday soldiers were stationed just across the river. They
didn't do us any harm; they just bought some cheese from us. At
night
we can hear the helicopters which watch the pipeline." We had a
long
discussion about snake bites and their pet squirrel.
Next we stopped at Mary and Steve's. Mary made us fresco
de
guanabana. Ummmm! Lisa and I had a long talk with
Mary. She was concerned about the fact that they did not have gas
for the community boat, which kept her and others from attending a
meeting on getting electricity into the community. Ten years ago they
had cleared a path for the electrical poles but nothing further ever
came of it. If the project does not get going this year it will cost
them more next year. At 11 am a military helicopter was
heard nearby. Mary said, "It is looking for the
cartel"
(gas-stealing Mafia). She stated, "It has been a
long time since
the military has been through this way." Mary is
soft-spoken but
articulate and a dedicated leader in her community.
Next was a stop at Martha and Joe's. Their son Donald and
his
three young children live with them. I spent a lot of time with the
children outside. Martha shared some of her history, "I
am from
the north coast and have had 12 children, eight born in the Opon.
One was killed while fishing on the Cienaga. It was said that he
was killed because of mistaken identity."
Next we made a return visit to Florida and the soldiers were once again
making lunch in the same place. We asked Sergeant G, "Why have
you not
moved?" He responded, We needed to cook here
because there was
clean water - but you are right, and we will move right after
lunch. Also our food supply which we were waiting for has just
come in last night by helicopter."
Next we stopped at Carey and Al´s. They had
just
received
their diplomas from a training course on personal and community
development. We took their pictures with the diplomas. Al
excitedly shared, "Since five families, including some key
leadership
people, have abandoned their farms here due to threats of the armed
groups, this program is very important for our future because it trains
us to be leaders. We are excited about the potential in this to
rejuvenate our community. We learned in the workshop that
nonviolence begins in the home and in the ways in which men and women
treat each other."
Finally we went to the Cienaga to visit Felipe. Lisa, who knows a
great deal about birds, was our guide to the wonderful festival of
birds along the way. Felipe was there with his partner and three
sons. He was repacking fish in a big styrofoam chest with
ice. He had been fishing, and we talked a bit about preserving
the fish and the legalities and illegalities of fishing. He said,
"I found a trasmayo (an illegal fishing net) in the lake the
other day
and came home and burned it." Felipe added, "I
heard Manuel is
fine. Someone came to my house telling me to go talk with him, but I
don't feel safe enough to do so without an intermediary.
I hear
Manuel isn't mad."
We closed our visit with a good time of prayer. Felipe's
wife
participated in this prayer time, something she hadn't done
before when
we prayed with Felipe. We ended the day with the trip home,
getting into the port in Barranca at just before dusk.
Peace is coming,
Jim
Here
Mary and I are looking through a CPT magazine.
I shared stories that went with
the photos about our
violence reduction efforts from Iraq,
Palestine, Arizona, and Canada.
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Letter #6: "Two
Days on the Opon" October 23, 2006
Hello friends,
As we entered the Opon region, one of the first things Lisa and I
noticed was the gas cartel getting empty barrels from areas of
high grass on the river bank, along where we accompany the farm
families. We did not mention this to the army we were about to meet
because this could cause a firefight and that would increase the
violence rather than work toward our goal of reducing violence.
As we approached the center of La Florida, we could see a large group
of soldiers under a tree on the bank. We pulled up to talk to
them. Sergeant G came right up to us and said, "We are
just
passing through." We started by explaining that we were
members
of Christian Peacemaker Teams, and that we accompany the farm
communities here to help enable them to stay on the land and reduce
the violence. They were new to the area and did not know us.
The sergeant seemed very interested in talking to us, and very sincere.
They eventually found us chairs and we had a 2 and1/2 hour talk while
they made us lunch. I showed my photos of CPT work around the
world. We talked about how they were putting the civilians at risk by
being in the village. The sergeant agreed and said that after
lunch they would be moving on.
I eventually pulled out copies of the CPT magazine with the photo of
the soldiers just watching the gas-stealing cartel go by. The
fact that I had been present when this had happened and taken the photo
insured a great conversation about this. The sergeant was shocked
by the fact that this photo was of soldiers and not
paramilitaries. He remarked, "This is
corruption. Was
the sergeant punished?" I showed the photo of us
meeting
with the colonel to follow this up and also said, "I did have
an
interview with the Army lawyer later and he told me that this colonel
was trying hard to set an example so that this corruption does not
continue."
Sergeant G, who had been in the army 11 years asked, several times, in
different ways, "Do you think God could forgive someone who has
killed
another person" This question seemed to trouble him. (I wonder
how
many American soldiers struggle with this same question.) Lisa
answered, I think God is a merciful God and will always
forgive us if
we are truly repentant. At the same time I think we are always
challenged to pay attention to how we are living our lives and to see
if the way we are living our lives is in line with God's
will. He seemed to reflect deeply on all we said.
When we got on the subject of war, Sergeant G remarked, "War is
a
racket and it makes no sense for Colombians to be killing each
other." The corporal remarked, "The guerrillas
are the entire
problem." All and all it was a good conversation. After
eating
lunch we closed with prayer and the soldiers who were interested
came. They had apparently been at the worship the night before
with Jorge and Lucy in the Cienaga. Sergeant G remarked," It
was a very
moving experience for all of us."
We ended with reminding them again, "If the paramilitaries or
guerrillas would attack you here, the civilians could easily be caught
in the crossfire, so please be moving on as soon as
possible."
Sergeant G responded, "My colonel told us that too, and we will
be
moving on."
Next we stopped by the house of Lucy and Jorge, the pastors of the new
church. They spoke about the service the night before with the
soldiers and how they all set their guns down and closed their eyes for
the final prayer. They said that Felipe and Manuel, the man
Felipe hurt with the machete, are both in the Cienaga. There have
been no further problems. They have spoken with Manuel and he tells
them he feels their drinking is entirely to blame for their fight and
that he doesn't feel a need for revenge. They said, "Both Felipe
and Manuel have continued drinking and we will meet with Felipe only
once more if he continues drinking." I encouraged them, "Keep
meeting with Felipe even if he is drinking; that is when he needs you
most." We had some lemonade and prayed before
leaving. I was moved by Lucy's prayer in which she made a
point
to say we are all sinners and that we all need God's help to
straighten
ourselves out.
That night we camped in the school under mosquito nets, after getting
relief from the heat by bathing from the well.
Peace,
Jim
I am
showing Sergeant G my photo album of CPT peacemaking work
around the world and in Colombia,
while his corporal listens.
In the background the soldiers are
cooking lunch, which they invited us to share.
Letter #5:
"Breaking the Silence" October
16, 2006
Hello friends,
The armed men pulled up to our house, and without any
explanation took
our 28-year-old Johnnie down to where the army was in the soccer field.
I went a number of times to try to find out what was happening to him.
And they just kept telling us everything would be OK, and that Johnnie
would soon be released. Then two days later we found Johnnie's
body
amongst a pile of bodies in a ravine outside of Grande.
"What was Johnnie like? How would you like to remember him?
What work
did he do?" asked Chico. Betty responded, "He was such
a hard worker.
Johnnie bought and sold fish on the street. He loved having his own
little business. He liked to tease and joke around the house. He really
made our family life happy. We really miss him. He was just a good
person. He didn't even smoke. Why did they kill him? I do not
understand."
"Do you have any idea who these men were that took him away?
Who did
people in Grande say these men were? "
Neighbors said they were paramilitaries. The Army commander
was Col.
Blanco. I do remember him clearly."
"Who have you talked to about this in the eleven years since
this
massacre in Grande when 90 young men were killed in those five days
back in 1994?"
"The only thing I have done is file a report with the
government
investigative agency, but I have never heard anything back from them
about it."
"How did this affect you and your family?"
"My mother got sick, barely ate, and wouldn't talk to
anyone for at
least a week. We were all so afraid they would kill one of us if we
said anything to anyone. It was so hard; we never knew if one of us
might be next."
The above is a compilation of a number of testimonies of survivors of a
massacre, to which Duane and I just listened. Chico and Santiago, the
interviewers, told us afterwards, "You came to provide us with
security, but your presence as internationals also made people feel
safer. They trust more that this information will not get in the wrong
hands. Thank you so much for being here with us."
One testimony was so heavy that Chico asked me to lead us in a prayer
together. That was a meaningful moment for us all.
This was the beginning of the healing for these people as they shared
with someone who cared. It was a way for these survivors to feel their
loved ones were not just statistics of the war. And hopefully the notes
from these testimonies will be used to bring justice, forgiveness and
reconciliation to Colombia some day soon. Please pray for that.
Peace,
Jim
Here
around the table in this patio under these trees people shared their
painful experiences.
Starting from the left is yours
truly, (Chico) Francisco Campo, Santiago Carmago and Duane Ediger.
A number of years ago Chico was
threatened by the paramilitaries.
They did this by stating in a news
conference that Chico was on their list of people to do away with.
He held a news conference the
following day saying that despite their threats he was not going to
stop doing his human rights works.
We saw him a few days later and asked
him if he wasn't afraid.
He said, "Whenever I get
fearful I
just remember that song CPTer's taught me: Nothing will frighten me,
God is enough."
Some names have been changed for security.
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Letter #4: "Light in the
Opon" October 9, 2006
Hello friends,
"Have you heard what happened last night?" Jorge, the
pastor, and Lucy,
his wife, asked us. Duane and I answered, "No we
haven't." This was
right after worship at the church in the Opon.
"Two persons were drunk. The one, Felipe, hit the other,
Manuel, three
times with a machete, one of those times on the head. Manuel was
bleeding profusely, was bandaged at the local health post, and then
taken the1½ hour boat trip to a clinic in
Barranca."
The tension in the town was very high over this, and there was fear
that more violence could erupt if family and friends sought
revenge. So we thought we should do whatever we could to keep
more violence from happening. The church leaders asked us to
visit Felipe. In the past Felipe had been a leader in a small church
there. He was very glad for our visit.
Duane explained CPT's interest in avoiding violence and offered
to help
communicate anything Felipe might have to say to anyone that could make
reprisals less likely or help the community deal with Felipe's
public
display of violence. Felipe said he was willing to talk with
anyone in order to resolve the situation in a good way.
Then Duane and I made a visit to Manuel's house.
Manuel's
ten-year-old son Pedro was there, being cared for by a teenaged young
man. We introduced ourselves and CPT, expressed sorrow on his
father's injuries, asked how he was, etc. Pedro said, "My dad is
going to have a head X-ray and the injuries are bad." We
passed
along Felipe's expression of willingness to work out some kind
of
solution. The four of us prayed for healing for Manuel and the
community. We left a CPT brochure with Pedro.
We than visited with Jorge and Lucy again. We recommended that they
visit with Felipe. Jorge said, "I thought and prayed
about it
last night, and I felt the Lord tell me I should not visit
Felipe."
Duane offered for us to go again to visit with Felipe. What if
Felipe were to say he would like a visit with you? To
this Jorge
and Lucy said, "Then we would be ready to visit with him
together with
the two of you." Another trip by boat and a yes from
Felipe, and
then back to pick up Jorge and Lucy, and back to Felipe just as heavy
rain began to fall.
Jorge, an uneducated 76-year-old farmer, then gave a 25-minute
talk followed by allowing Felipe to speak. I feared it would be a
fire-and-brimstone talk full of judgment. But I was very pleasantly
surprised at his emphasis on God's love. As he said, "It's never
too late to turn around. God is always there loving us."
In some ways I felt I had witnessed a real example of how we should
practice calling back a brother or sister who has strayed. He spoke
very truthfully and straightforwardly, but yet he never lost sight of
God's forgiveness and love. God has developed some real
pastoral gifts
in Jorge and Lucy.
All-in-all it was a positive interchange that ended in a prayer that
Duane made sure included a heartfelt prayer from Felipe for
Manuel's
healing and well being. Duane followed with a request that through
Jorge and Lucy, Felipe make some reconciling gesture to Manuel and
family. Just as we finished, rain slowed enough so that we could
make one more quick stop at Manuel's house, at which we assure
them of
our prayers. The people there said, "Manuel is better and out
of the
clinic and walking and eating normally." We were thankful to
hear this.
Duane did a very good job of being culturally sensitive. He pushed
Jorge, Lucy and Felipe at certain points and yet let them be themselves
in their culture. I sense your prayers were a part in helping us to be
salt and light in this situation. Keep them up, for we are not out of
this tunnel yet. We did hear this positive news that Manuel had
returned and that Jorge had made contact with his family.
From left to right is Jorge, Lucy, and
Juan, who are all church leaders, and me just after the worship time
outside their meeting house.
The Church sign says, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today,
and
forever."
Your agent for peace in Colombia,
Jim
PS. I wonder how much this kind of violence is perpetuated by 45 years
of trying to solve the differences in this country with guns ?
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Letter #3
October 2, 2006
Hello Friends,
What a warm welcome I received in returning to Colombia!
"Oh, I am so glad to see you; I thought maybe you were never coming
back. I have to tell you how much help your suggestions were to
me last year. I found some persons to pray with me who have been so
helpful. The Peace Pilgrim pamphlet helped me see the mistakes I have
made in not giving my husband and children the time I should have. This
store has occupied me too much. Your short prayer for me just before
you left a year ago was helpful too. My husband has stopped
seeing the other women."
Other friends did not have such positive news. Al shared, "Leo
has separated from his wife, and has lost his spot on the street to be
able to sell "banuelos'. So it has been tough for him
without any work
for the last 5 months. However, Leo and I are part of a Catholic prayer
group that has been a very good and a big help to us. And his wife and
children go to the Protestant church we all used to attend."
A week later I unexpectedly ran into Leo as I got off the bus in
downtown Barranca. He said, "Today I bought this space so
I can
sell banuelos again." Leo added, "I
do see my children
everyday. You have to have some banuelos now; what do you want to
drink?"
Down the street some tamarindo and tangerine juice vendor friends
greeted me, "Oh, so glad to see you. Have some tamarindo juice.
How is
your family? My family is fine and doing great. Have some
more. When did you get here? How long will you be here?" When I
replied
that I would be there until November 21 when I return to the USA, they
said, "It's great that you will be here awhile."
Some friends in the Opon had some comments about people who have had to
abandon their farms lately because of threats. They said, "Those
who seek peace, will find peace, and those who seek a fast buck will
reap threats and violence."
These were some of the welcomes from many Colombian friends. Say a
prayer for Leo and his family. Thanks.
Peace,
Jim
Here are two of our friends on the
Opon. They are in the middle of making biscuits in a pot.
They built a fire on top of the pot lid to cook the top of the
biscuits. They are quite innovative.
Letter
#2 September 24, 2006
Hello friends,
The guy next to me in the flight into Bogotá just said, "NO, no!
Won't
work, don't even try it. Don't go there." Then
without any
explanation, he moved to a back seat in the plane. I guess when he saw
me reading Christian Peacemaker Teams newsletter, he saw the word
Christian and figured I was an ordinary missionary. So I did not
know quite what to do. I had some fear that he did not like
missionaries and that is why he moved. I sensed somehow that the
Lord wanted me to relate to him, though I was not sure how. So I
thought I would at least return the sunglasses which he had left on the
seat. And to my surprise, he was very grateful. After a bit he came
back and sat with me again and started to do more sharing and was
friendlier than before.
He said, "I am here on business. I love shooting guns and
killing
animals and flying airplanes. I have a problem with the FARC
guerrillas. I have been in the Marines for fourteen years, and have
been a lot of places in the Mideast. I believe in God, have been
baptized twice, and I am not afraid to die." He had a number of
drinks. It seemed that my part was just to listen, and leave the
rest to God. He did take my card in the end, and initiated a farewell:
I really do wish you the best," he said a number of
times. I
responded, "The same to you." I said very little about myself,
other than that I was a Mennonite and working in peacemaking. It seemed
a time for me to learn to just listen and I had the sense when we
parted that somehow the Lord used the conversation for the benefit of
both of us.
The next day I had a wonderful visit with Cesar Garcia, the president
of the Mennonite Brethren Church of Colombia and his wife and co-pastor
Sandra. Cesar shared, "Our church in the last 10 years has been
discovering its Anabaptist roots. For the church this means more a
community where leadership and pastoral work is shared rather than
being run by a pastor. This is more like the early church.
"Our church is looking anew at the importance of peacemaking in
following Jesus. We have two offices dedicated to peace.
These offices work with people who have had to leave their homes
because of threats from armed groups. This has caused a number of our
pastors to be threatened by the armed groups."
"We have become a lot more ecumenical. We even have some
pastors
that are teaching in a Catholic University, even though there is some
resistance to this among both Mennonites and the Catholics. Before this
we were just like any other evangelical Protestant church here. I feel
it is the Lord that is doing this change. This change has brought about
a lot of growing pains, but the Lord seems to be seeing us
through."
I then showed them my album about CPT work and told them the stories to
go with the photos. They said, "We would be very interested in
having
you show your CPT slides to our pastors here in Bogotá and to
the
churches here."
It was one of those special God-given times when individuals really
connect with each other. It is exciting to be a small part of the
renovation the Lord is doing in this church. Cesar remarked, "It seems
this time together is a God-send to us. We will have to see what
happens."
Here are some of my other Colombian
friends:
the Baptist pastor with his first grandchild, his brother, their
wives, and their children.
God is also at work in Vermont. I want to end this letter with a
message from a member of Jim's Peacemaking
Team there. She is
thanking all those who work to get my emailings and letters out.
Your
work in enabling God's message of Love and Peacemaking, articulated
through Jim's actions and words, to reach out to us, is valuable. We
should call it Jim's Peacemaking Team! The communications are shared
with our Quaker Friends meeting here in Bennington and I am taking
copies of the latest with me to share as we gather regionally this
weekend at Farm and Wilderness camps".
The meditation guide
(http://www.plowcreek.org/jimspeacemaking.htm#meditation_exercise) has
inspired several of us to renew our commitment to include meditation in
our life style. It isn't easy to stop and be still in today's world. It
has also inspired several of us at meeting to add a few minutes of
prayer for peace at the close of worship. -- Auberta J Galusha
(Berta),
Bennington, VT
Thanks for your support for peace,
Jim
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Letter
#1
September 4, 2006
Hello Friends,
First on a personal note, I now plan to enter Colombia and get a
visitors visa at the airport on September 5th and return on November
21st. I do not know if I will have to go to Ecuador when and if I
have to renew it. I hope not.
I could just say I have been able to lower my slightly high blood
pressure and cholesterol by exercise, diet, and
supplements, which gives me peace of mind for beginning this two
and a half months in Colombia. It has been a while since I have had any
noticeable depression and that is good too.
A question that is often on peoples' minds is: " Do you see any
hope for change for the better?" In the 4 years I have been
going to
Colombia, each year it seems more and more people, from soldiers, human
rights workers, to people on the street, are coming to see that
supporting the violence of any armed group just turns into more
violence. It is becoming ever clearer that war just does not work to
resolve conflicts. That is one thing about war. The more you have it,
the plainer the truth about its failures becomes to more and more
people. The ways of the world do not work. There is great hope in this
for the future.
Last Call for Christian Peacemaker
Teams Delegation to
Colombia
October 3-16, 2006
Participants will meet with human rights workers and church leaders in
Bogotá, travel to the industrial city of Barrancabermeja
where
CPT's long-term team is based, and spend time in the countryside where
the lives of displaced people are threatened by illegal armed
groups. A public action in solidarity with local people will be
part of the delegation. It will be in many ways a learning tour of CPT
work. Cost is US
$1800.
For more information and to apply go to www.cpt.org .
I will be there during this time and it would be great to visit with
you there.
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Is the War
Working?
8-30-06
Hello
friends,
Is the war working? This is the question I asked the fellow behind the
Veterans booth at our County Fair. A little to my surprise he said,
"Well, that's obvious. It is not." Later I
asked the same question of
the fellow at the Republican Party booth. He was a lot more unclear in
his answer, but ended by saying: "I do think we need to do a
lot more
talking and negotiating than we have been doing." I hope
this can
trickle up to the higher ups in the party.
Both of these are evidence of the growing clarity amongst our
population that the ways of violence and war are not practical, that in
the end they do not work. That is one thing about war, the more
you have it, the plainer the truth about its failures become to more
and more people. The ways of the world do not work. I find great hope
in this for the future. I see this also in the growing positive
responses and the diminishing of negative responses at our weekly peace
vigil at our court house.
In addition to my sign at my booth at the fair that asked the question,
"Is the war working?", I also had the following
signs: "Love the troops, Hate the war", "But I
say to you, love your
enemies- Jesus", "Remember suffering troops and
families" and "Pray for
Peace Act for Peace" . It was encouraging to hear most
people
answering in one way or another: "It's clear it is not
working." I
found this to be a good question to ask because I think it encourages
people to think through their answer to this important question and to
come to their own conclusion as to what is the reality and the truth
about the war in Iraq.
It was also good practice for me to learn to listen, because I never
knew what their answers were going to be. One fellow responded: "I
think you are right it is not working. We did the same mistake in
Vietnam. I think our government is wrong in sending our soldiers in
this way. It is not their fault. What we should do is just level Iran
and Iraq."
I responded, "Do you think Jesus would do that?" He
said, "Well, didn't
God order it at times in the Old Testament?" I then
quoted the
scripture from Jesus, "You know it has been said of old: An eye for an
eye, and a tooth for tooth, but I say to you: love your
enemies".
We had 45 minutes of good conversation going back and forth like this.
Reflecting later, I sensed the Lord was working to get us both to
be gentle with each other. And in the end he signed up to receive
my emails. I think we both came to appreciate each other in the
end. Getting to know people who disagree with me like this brother is
one of the most important parts of my peacemaking.
Thanks for your interest and support that enables me to have these kind
of dialogs.
Peace to you today,
Jim
PS: Last Call for Christian Peacemaker Teams Delegation to
Colombia
October 3-16, 2006
Participants will meet with human rights workers and church leaders in
Bogotá, travel to the industrial city of Barrancabermeja
where
CPT's long-term team is based, and spend time in the countryside where
the lives of displaced people are threatened by illegal armed
groups. A public action in solidarity with local people will be
part of the delegation. It will be in many ways a learning tour of CPT
work. Cost is US
$1800.
For more information and to apply: www.cpt.org
<http://www.cpt.org/>
I will be there during this time and it would be great to visit with
you there.
top
Hello friend,
Cultivating our life spiritually is an
important part of peacemaking. This is the first of two letters which
will include meditation exercises and some recent reflections that
I've found helpful in my journey.
Doing these meditation exercises seems
to even give me insights for the whole day.
For example, when I was tired and
considering cutting short my quiet time,
these words came to me: "Just
show up." In other words, just pray. It's ok to pray even if
I don't feel like it, which for me is probably fairly often. It is
good just to go through the motions. This is a reminder that the
effectiveness of my prayers depends on God and not on me and how I am
feeling. Oftentimes it feels like hard work to force myself to pray,
but I am becoming more and more convinced that it is worth it.
Discipline and disciple go together.
The other day I was trying to lift the
fighting in Lebanon to the Light. The word I got for both Hezbollah
and Israel was, "Father, forgive them for they know not what
they
do." This is another example of the results of just praying
whether or not I feel like it.
One of my callings is to pray for
others, and a number of those are people with whom I disagree. Often
times I just have to say their names as a way of lifting them to the
Light. And all at the same time I try to ignore my feelings and
acknowledge my own contradiction, and just say, "Help, Lord. I
believe; help my unbelief."
I keep asking you all to pray for us.
Maybe that sounds like a broken record, but I just want to say I
think it is an important part of peacemaking in giving us protection
and making us effective. Please keep it up. Thanks so much.
Here is the exercise. I hope it is
helpful to you. The source for the book is below, but I encourage
you to practice prayer even more than to read about prayer.
Peace and blessings, Jim
The Individual
Mediation Exercise
1. Relax body and mind.
Start by making yourself comfortable. Feel the weight of your body on
the chair (or the floor). Then consciously release the tension in
each part of your body. Then let all your immediate worries and all
your current preoccupations go. Relax your mind so much that you give
up talking to yourself in your head. Let yourself
become wholly
receptive.
2. In this receptive state of mind,
let the real concerns of your life emerge. Ask yourself "
What
is really going on in my life?" but do
not try to
answer the question. Let the answer come. You can be specific: "What
is happening in my relationships, my work, my Meeting, my own heart
and mind?" And more specifically still: "Is there
anything here
that makes me feel uncomfortable, uneasy?" As we gradually
become
aware of these things we are beginning to experience the light.
3. Now focus on one issue
that presents itself, one thing that gives you a sense of unease.
And try to get a sense of this thing as a whole. Deep down you know
what it is all about, but you don't normally allow yourself to take
it all in and absorb the reality of it. Now is the time to do so. You
don't have to get involved in this problem again, or get entangled
with the feelings around it. Keep a little distance, so that you can
see it clearly. Let the light show you what is really going on here.
What is it about this thing, you can ask, that makes me feel
uncomfortable? Let the answer come. And when it does, let a
word
or image also come that says what it's really like, this thing that
concerns you.
4. Now ask yourself why
it is like that, or what makes it like that. Don't try to
explain it. Just wait in the light till you can see what it is. Let
the answer come. If you get a simple answer like, "Because I'm
afraid," or "Because that's the way she is,"
ask again the
question why: Why am I afraid? Why is she like that?
Let the
full truth reveal itself, or as much truth as you are able to take at
this moment. If you are really open and receptive, the answer will
come.
5. When the answer comes
welcome it. It may be painful or difficult to believe with
your normal conscious mind, but if it is the truth you will recognize
it immediately
and realize that it is something that
you need to know. Trust the Light. Say yes to it. Submit to it. It
will then begin to heal you. It will show you new possibilities for
your life. It will show you the way through. So, however bad the news
seems to be at first, accept it and let the truth pervade your whole
being.
6. As soon as you accept what
is being revealed to you, you will begin to feel different.
Even bad news will seem strangely good. Accepting truth about
yourself is like making peace. An inner conflict is being resolved.
Now there is peace. Your body may respond quite noticeably to this
change. A sense of relief may make you sigh, or want to laugh. Your
diaphragm may heave. This is the beginning of changes that the Light
may bring about. But if none of this happens on this occasion do not
worry. It may take longer. Notice how far you have got this time and
pick it up on another occasion. In any case, this is a process we do
well to go through again and again, so that we can continue to grow
and become more like the people we are meant to become.
When you feel ready, open your eyes,
stretch your limbs, and bring the meditation to an end.
These exercises are based on the
practice of early Friends (Quakers). Each of the six steps described
here should last about six or seven minutes; the words of each
paragraph should be read first, then followed by silence. They can be
used in groups also.
Source: Ambler, R. ( 2002 ). Light
to live by: an Exploration in Quaker Spirituality. London: Quaker
Books. Available at
https://secure.serve.com/fgcbooks/secure/orders.php
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"What can I do for
peace in Iraq?"
"What can I do for peace in
Iraq?"
asked someone to Cliff Kindy, a long time CPTer in Iraq, at one of his
six seminars at the Cornerstone Music Festival. Cliff replied, "What
I am sharing is what I experienced, which is one view of Iraq. Get
other views from a number of news sources , talk to people who have
been in Iraq, especially soldiers. They need to tell their story and
we need to hear their story for our healing and their healing. We
need it for the healing of our nation. We can not expect the
government to provide this. The churches need to do this."
Several
times Cliff reminded people how important getting other points of
view and connecting with people who have been in Iraq is to build a
lasting peace in the world.
Here at our Cornerstone Booth is Hilda
a woman from Norway signing up to be on our mailing list, one of the
over 300 persons who did so.
One of the leaders of the band Me
with out You put in an unsolicited but good plug for CPT at
Main Stage before some 6000 fans one evening. It greatly increased
the interest in CPT. The leader came to our booth for a while to
talk.
I was very grateful for the seven
others who helped talk to people at our booth this year. They did a
super job, seems I could not have picked a more dedicated and
sensitive group of people to represent CPT and to stand up in a
wholesome way to the challenges of people who disagree with us. Doing
this is central to peacemaking. One women who disagreed with me said,
"You are the most open person I have ever met". So
maybe I am
making some progress. Six of my helpers are hoping to do CPT training
soon.
Rod Orr one of our helpers listened to
one soldier, who supported the war tell nearly in tears how he
killed a seven year old boy who was about to shoot him, and than how
he had to strangle his Dad when he came at the soldier with a knife.
What an emotional memory to live with. War is hell for everyone
involved, even us who have to listen to such stories. Rod
remarked, "I try to just listen and give them hope by offering an
alternative to
war."
There was an Army chaplain just down
the way in our tent with whom three of us each talked for over a half
an hour with. Cliff even exchanged email with him so they can have
further conversations. The Chaplin said, He was doing this work of
recruiting chaplains because he did not feel he could handle
returning to Iraq for a while.
We kind of built a short time of
significant community amongst us in our times of sharing and prayer
as we started each day. That was an added gift .
I recently began to practice a simple
meditation exercise to help me get in touch with what is going on in
my life. It helped me work through some concerns about my blood
pressure that were weighing on me more that I was conscious of. If
you would be interested in information about this exercise let me
know.
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Mennonite Weekly Review
Judging War by Death's Tally
Death and its
increase on the battlefield have become the most contentious measures
of failure or success for the United States in recent years - pointed
to by some as further evidence of war gone wrong, or dismissed by
others who see no sacrifice as too great for the American cause. Ever
since Sept. 11, 2001, varying perceptions of the U.S.-led war on
terror have teetered on this quotient of lives lost - as if somewhere
in the calculus of human destruction can be found sufficient cause
for national shame, or sublime hope for the battles still to be
fought. The occupation of Iraq has become especially death-riddled,
so there certainly has been no shortage of this volatile fuel.
Nearly as troubling as these
fatalities are Americans' responses to them, ranging from stoic
disregard to disturbing displays of fist-pumping elation. Two recent
cases in point:
* On June 15, it
was announced that 2,500 American military personnel had died in Iraq
- a total the Pentagon quickly discounted as misleading. It was as if
the tally of the dead were merely an artifice of lifeless statistics.
On the contrary, this terrible way-point is deeply meaningful. The
march of death, for Americans and Iraqis alike, stands as testament
not only to the immorality of this war but of war itself. In a war
where flag-draped coffins being returned to the United States cannot
be photographed, the effort to downplay their growing numbers
increases with each tragic milestone attained.
* By contrast, on June 7, came the
killing of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in an American bombing run
near Baquba, Iraq. This incident was met with such resounding
affirmation from U.S. leaders that questions automatically arose
about its actual significance. To some, Zarqawi's death seemed a
reassurance that the Iraqi insurgency is destructible after all, and
that its leaders cannot hide from superior force. To others,
especially some Iraqi civilians, Zarqawi's killing, while welcomed,
was seen as another opportunity for the United States to try to
justify its presence in their country. Meanwhile, in the streets of
embattled cities such as Baghdad and Fallujah, people expressed fear
that the daily crush of violence in Iraq would only escalate.
Intriguing,
however, was the response of someone who Zarqawi's actions had
impacted directly - Michael Berg, the father of slain U.S.
businessman Nicholas Berg, who many believe was beheaded in 2004 by
Zarqawi himself. Much to the surprise of at least one television
interviewer, Berg spoke of neither justice nor joy at the news of
Zarqawi's death. Instead, he spoke of
sorrow and mercy.
"I'm sorry
whenever any human being dies," Berg told CNN on June 8.
"Zarqawi is a human being. He has a family who are reacting just
as my family reacted when Nick was killed, and I feel bad for that. I
feel doubly bad, though, because . . . his death will re-ignite yet
another wave of revenge, and revenge . . . can't end the cycle. As
long as
people use violence to combat violence,
we will always have violence."
A pacifist since
his son's murder, Berg said during a 2005 visit to Bethel College
that he wants to forgive all whom he believes contributed to his
son's death, including President Bush.
<> Many Americans
have begun to ask how much more slaughter and suffering this nation
can continue to inflict on its enemies, and how many American lives
must be sacrificed to pursue present policies. Instead of rejoicing
at the deaths of those who have done evil, or regarding military
casualties as
meaningless numbers, Americans must come to terms with the grim
reality that the war in Iraq is a mistake that will continue to fuel
itself on its own inherent cycle of death.
Robert Rhodes is an editor at the
Mennonite Weekly Review, based in Newton, Kansas.
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Tennessee
Camping at the Papa Festival 6/26/06
"How did you like my CPT
Presentation?" I asked a fellow who had attended my slide
presentation that morning. "We have been talking about it all
afternoon." he replied. My sense is that it was one of my best
presentations as far as audience participation. We had more than 30
minutes of good questions, some of which the audience answered
because I did not know the answers.
The presentation was followed with
several hours of personal conversations about CPT work. Many persons
at this People against Poverty and Apathy Festival knew little
or nothing about Christian Peacemaker Teams. I made several new
friends and connected with lots of old friends. This all made the
challenges of camping in this 61 year old body worth it.
Thanks for the help of your prayers.
Remember to pray for our time at the Cornerstone Christian Music
Festival July 4th-8th. We will have a booth there and
Cliff Kindy will share in six talks about his time with CPT in Iraq.
May the Lord give us humble hearts and words that touch people to see
God's work in CPT.
Blessings of Peace to you, Jim
Here we are roughing
it for 2 days in
the heat and rain at times with close to 600 others.
I climbed the
big hill in the background to do my presentation and display my
literature in the barn.
We were glad for refreshing swims in the
adjoining lake.
Catching
Up with Companions on the Peace Journey 5/20/06
"I am part of the Vineyard church, and we are strong on mercy but
low on justice ministry. The church has asked me to develop their
justice ministry. As a part of that ministry, I am in the process of
developing a sister church relationship for our church with a church in
Costa Rica and one in Guatemala. We are excited about our first 1st
delegation which we have planned for this summer. I think our
church is going to be really enriched through this experience. Do you
have any suggestions for us?" Ann Howerton shared these thoughts with
me as part of a two-hour visit which I recently had with her husband
Craig and her in their home in Indiana. Craig and Ann had visited
Plow Creek some years ago and have been receiving my email letters ever
since.
This conversation took place on my way to a gathering of folks
who have been involved with Companion Community Development
Alternatives (CoCoDa), the organization that has facilitated our
relationship with Valle Nuevo, El Salvador, since 1992. It was
heartening to interact with folks who, like Plow Creek, have had many
years of involvement with communities in El Salvador.
I sensed a growing maturity in all of us since our last CoCoDa
gathering in 1999. We talked about how to share with others about what
is really going on in El Salvador. Some of the highlights were the
importance of really listening to others and sharing from the heart
about the experiences that have really moved us. For me it was
clear evidence the Lord has been working in each of us.
One person has been heavily involved in Haiti. Another is college
professor on social concerns. One, who is in a prison ministry, shared
the struggle in working with the US court system.. It is very difficult
for them to get hired, which is the way to change and reform their
lives. In many ways they have 3 strikes against them as soon as they
leave the prison." But I admire her for her perseverance on behalf of
these often forgotten people.
I ended the weekend with a CPT slide presentation at Faith
Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana. One of the unique aspects of this
church is the way they have integrated 10 or so mentally handicapped
persons into their church. One led the singing. Even though he could
not talk very well, he stood in front and kept time, and with the
motions of his hand led the congregation. It was inspiring and
beautiful.
"I liked your presentation. You just tell stories from the heart,
without a lot of rhetoric," remarked Tom Benavento a CPTer. It was good
to get several other affirming comments also.
Please be praying for our CPT Booth interaction at our local
Strawberry Festival June 10, at the Conference "People against Poverty
and Apathy" June 23-25, and at Jesus People Cornerstone Festival July
4-8 where Cliff Kindy will share about his experiences with CPT in Iraq.
Thanks, and the Lord bless you,
Jim
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Valle
Nuevo, El Salvador Visit 3/28/06
"A thousand saludos (greetings) for Plow Creek. I pray for Plow Creek
every day," said Margarita in the attachment. I was glad I could say,
"I pray for you daily, too." She than added, "We are so glad you come
to visit us; thank you for remembering us; we appreciate it very much.
How is so and so¦?" I heard similar words to these over
and over
through out our week in Valle Nuevo. And they back up their words with
the best meals they can afford. What a welcome from some of world's
materialistically poorest people, but some of the richest in the Spirit
of Jesus.
Margarita will be a recipient of the housing project we initiated this
year. There are cracks in her house's adobe walls from the last
earthquake, and the termites are turning the wood post into dust. If
you are interested in hearing more about this housing project, let me
know.
I've visited there at least six times now, and I wasn't sure there was
going to be much new. But I found I was pleasantly surprised. One was a
renewal of many friendships that have been developing since 1992, when
I slept in a hammock at Juana and Simon's in a dirt floor house made of
boards salvaged from their refuge camp in Honduras. Today they have a
cement block home surrounded by many trees, and a garden which is
fertilized from an experimental compost project. Right now with help
and guidance from World Vision, they are experimenting with raising
chickens and flowers to sell. Even though they have a house, Juana
helps with leadership of a Housing Cooperative as a way to serve others.
I gave a slide presentation to 150 of their high school students. They
raised some very pointed questions when I shared how the guerrillas and
paramilitaries have gotten involved in the drug trade in Colombia.
Since Valle Nuevo was a center of guerrilla support during their civil
war, they are now looking at the question of whether their guerrilla
military fighting was worth it. Many told me they never want it again.
They were so interested in the CPT peace work that the Principal just
let the session go beyond the allotted time. Thirty students signed up
for emails.
I also had an opportunity to talk with some of the recent high school
graduates who are attending University. Jenny, one of the first
graduates of the newly formed high school, stated, "One of the toughest
things at the University is the fact that my goals clash with the goals
of many of the other students. It seems that their main concerns are
selecting the latest in fashions, and focusing their education on a job
which will help them purchase a nice car, and house. Mine is to learn
psychology so I can come back to Valle Nuevo to serve the community."
Jenny was one of the first graduates of the newly formed high school.
Something new that excited me was an Alcoholics Anonymous group of
80-100 attendees. I see this as a really important part of God's work
to improve their community. They also have a very successful hydroponic
greenhouse and are marketing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. They are
in the process of building another greenhouse to expand the business.
This kind of economic activity is very important to their future.
Much has changed in Valle Nuevo since 1992. When we visited during
March of that year, the Peace accords were signed and guerrillas came
in from the hills and turned in their guns. At that time, houses were
cobbled together from salvaged boards and tin because everything had
been destroyed in the war. There were few trees. In contrast, today
many residents have cement block houses and are working hard to create
food from their rocky hills. It's a hard life, but they are not giving
up.
They appreciated so much our visiting them again. If you have any
interest in going along next year, let me know.
I will be giving seven presentations in the St. Louis area between
April 9 and 12. I would appreciate any prayer support you can give.
Peace,
Jim
top
Jim Fitz's Peacemaking in
Colombia
-- Introduction for Readers
To some this is new, to others it will be a refresher about the civil
war in Colombia in which Christian Peacemaker Teams works at reducing
violence. It would probably be helpful to keep this for reference while
reading my letters when I am in Colombia.
Since 2001, CPT, by their nonviolent presence, has been providing
protection for 80 farm families on the Opon River in Colombia
from threats and killing by guerrillas and paramilitaries. CPT is an
ecumenical organization working to reduce violence in conflict areas of
the world.
I am a member of Plow Creek Mennonite Church, Tiskilwa, Illinois.
I work full time at peacemaking and as part of that I volunteer 2-3
months each year with CPT in Colombia. While in Colombia, I will send
you a weekly letter about our work there.
As security has grown, local Catholic and Protestant churches and
development groups have begun to work with the people in the Opon area.
The presence of these groups has allowed CPT to reduce its presence
from about 4 to 2 days a week. This has enabled CPT to begin to provide
security also to others like people in the Micohumado area.
The civil war started 40 years ago out of a situation where about 3% of
the population controlled about 70% of the good land. Out of
desperation, poor farmers formed guerrilla groups to take over land so
they could sustain their families. The large landowners than began to
hire people to protect their land holdings from the guerrillas, and
these hired fighters have become the paramilitaries.
According to numerous human rights groups, including Amnesty
International, paramilitaries commit about 80% of the human rights
abuses in Colombia. They are right wing illegal groups often associated
with big business and large landowners. The Colombian armed forces and
the guerrillas each commit about another 10% of the human rights
abuses. The guerrillas are fighting the above two groups.
The situation has evolved to the point where the paramilitaries,
guerrillas, and Colombian Armed Forces are now fighting each other for
control of the farmers, the oil, and the drug traffic in the area. Each
group continually accuses the farmers of siding with their opponents.
When CPT encounters any armed group, they urge them to give up their
arms. CPTers explain that trying to make peace with a gun
hasn't worked
for the last 40 years to resolve this conflict. All you get is more
suffering and death every day. CPT suggests they seek nonviolent ways
of working on their conflicts. As a result of our dialog, one commander
and some of his soldiers left the paramilitaries and began to carry
Bibles instead of
guns.
If an armed group is at someone's home, CPT remains until they leave
because with CPT's presence the armed groups are less likely to
threaten or kill the farmers. The farmers often say that without
CPT's
presence they would long ago have had to abandon their farms. CPT
shares any abuses they see with the news media in Colombia and through
email reports to supporters such as you.
Christian Peacemaker Teams has seen the failure of Plan
Colombia's
American-funded aerial spraying to kill coca, and its devastating
effects on food crops and on local populations. Pray and urge your
representatives to support humanitarian and development aid, which is
constructive, rather than military aid and aerial spraying, which are
very destructive.
Most recently, the paramilitaries have officially demobilized
(disbanded) though it has not been done very well, because they
continue to threaten and kill in the area. Some community members were
assassinated or threatened, causing numerous families to again leave
their farms. It seems things go one step back for every two
forward. Please continue to pray.
Please join me in peacemaking by praying with me for:
The protection of the farmers and the CPTers, especially for when we
encounter armed
groups.
That the CPT Team be given wisdom as to how best to be peacemakers in
the midst of much
violence.
That the CPT Team be given the grace to live together in unity and
love. This is one of the biggest challenges to the team, especially
when we are pressured to make tough decisions together that not only
affect us but Colombians too. It always seems that several of us on the
CPT Team have not known each other before and we are starting from
scratch to build relationships, which can easily make problems feel
overwhelming to work through.
That I will know what I need to say, and have the courage to say it at
the right time and in the right way.
Keep praying; prayer is the backbone of our peacemaking,
Peace, Jim
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