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Jim Fitz
Jim Fitz's Christian Peacemaking Letters - 2007 
[en Espanol]

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 Espanol]

Jim's 2007 Peace Plans and 2006 Report        2007 Budget

Jim's 2007 Letters
 Burnout, Prayer, and Hope   
Planting in California and Oregon 11/20/07
Blood Brothers  10-20-07
My Next Peace Trip   9-26-07
Talking at the Bureau County Fair 9-3-07
Visiting Bureau County Jail   9-03-07
David in Combat Boots at Cornerstone  7-31-07
Tobacco Spitters at Cornerstone  7-16-07
Shirtless Brother at Cornerstone  7-15-07
A Seventy Year-Old Woman Listens to God  7-1-07
A Third Way for Colombia 5-28-07
Sharing at the Mennonite Relief Sale and Hannibal 5-1-07
Sharing in St Louis   3-15-07
Traveling Peacemaking  February 28, 2007
"You Got in My Head" January 29, 2007   [en Espanol]


Jim's 2006 Peace Plans
 Jim's 2006 Letters
Jim's 2005 Peace Plans
Jim's 2005 Letters
2004 Letters
Jim's 2004 Peace Plan
2003 Letters
Jim's Letters from CPT team in Colombia 2003

Burnout, Prayer, and Hope    12/15/07  
Hello friend,

 Teaching prisoners how to pray and meditate as a way of reducing violence in their lives is a ministry of Bo Lozoff, Director of humankindness.org.   Bo in Its a Meaningful Life- It Just Takes Practice says, “When we integrate committed service to our lifestyle, the temptation may arise to lighten up on our (quiet time) personal spiritual practices. But I believe that's what leads to burnout for so many people. Trying to dedicate yourself entirely through outward activity, no matter how much you seem to be helping others, will sooner or later chew you up and spit you out if you don't take time for inner silence as well. It's like trying to breathe out all the time without breathing in. How long can that last? Be sure to breathe in, too, so that you're helping others from a deeper place (p. 295).”

 Thomas Keating, in his book on Christian meditation, Open Heart Open Mind, says, “The principal effects of meditation are experienced in daily life, not in the periods of meditation itself."  I always imagined meditation purpose was for some kind of euphoric experience.  A friend shared that they can always tell when I miss my quiet time by the way I relate to them. This confirms the truth in what Keating says.

 I have been working at trying to keep a quiet time discipline since the 70’s. There have been lots of times when I started over again. Like learning a sport, it takes lots of practice. I have read lots of books on quiet time over these years; little by little I work the wisdom of the sages into my quiet time practices.

 When I started my peacemaking, one of my secret fears was that I would become burnout, cynical, and hopeless. But to my surprise I have more energy for peacemaking and hope for peace than when I started. It has become easier to miss a meal than my quiet time. My sense is that keeping a disciplined quiet time of meditation, reading and prayer has made a lot of the difference.

 May this encourage you to take time to be quiet regularly.

 Peace, Jim
Planting in California and Oregon   Letter #15  11/20/07
Dear Friend,
“Thank you so much for coming to share with the students; I am sure we will talking about this for a number of days,” remarked one of the staff members at the Wellspring Friends School in Oregon.

 “Wow, look at the donations they made,” I said to my friend Cyrus after my presentation at the Modesto Junior College.  Cyrus responded, “Students don’t have much money, so when they make donation, you know you touched them.”

“These books about peacemaking will be great for our library; I’ve been thinking that we need something along this line,” remarked the librarian after I contributed peace books after giving a presentation in four classes at Mission High in San Francisco.

I had many good conversations and feel my sharing was received very well in the 25 venues at which I presented in Oregon and California. It was quite exhausting at times, though it seemed well worth it.

Pray that the seeds planted in that trip would sprout, grow, and flourish.

Thanks for your prayers and the financial support that enabled me to make this trip.

Blessings of peace to you this holiday season, 

Jim
People at the October 2007 Pentecostal Peace Conference
Here is a photo of many of us who attended the Pentecostal Charismatic Peace Conference in San Francisco. At the bottom center, wearing a tan coat, is Dario Lopez, the keynote speaker.  He is a Pentecostal from Peru.  Preaching from Amos, he shared how the Protestant church in Peru has fallen into the trap of blessing the government rather than challenging it to walk in the light like Amos did. I could see many parallels to the USA situation. Dario is a pastor of a church in a Lima slum.
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"Blood Brothers"  10-20-07

Dear Friends,

In my continuing peacemaking education, I recently read the book Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour.  He is a Christian - a Palestinian priest who grew up during the formation of the state of Israel.  His family is part of a Church that dates back to the very beginnings of Christianity.  It has been very helpful for me in coming to understand, in a very personal way, how the conflict has affected, and is still affecting, the Jews and Palestinians living in the area. Here's one story:

A man had asked  Elias, who was his pastor, to come to his house because his mother was dying. After her death, Elias said to him, "We must surely invite your four brothers to come to see the body before she is buried." The brother responded, "We hate each other so much, if you invite them, you will have five funerals on your hands." This was an example of the animosity between people, even within families, in this village.

Later, in the middle of the worship on Easter morning, when everyone was at church, Elias walked to the doors of the church and chained them shut.  He told the people, "We all know there is a lot of reconciliation that needs done here.  And I know I can't do it, but Jesus can." There were ten minutes of silence while three nuns prayed.  Then the brother mentioned above got up and confessed his hatred for his brothers.  His brothers then came forward to hug him and each other.  This was followed by the whole church spending an hour hugging and confessing to each other.

It has really challenged my understanding of peacemaking and of Jesus' call to love our enemies to read about Elias applying this call in his life.  I call Elias the Martin Luther King Jr. of the conflict there, as he works at reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis, in nonviolent ways, at the grass roots level today.

Elias' personal faith is something I want to emulate in my life. I strongly recommend this book to get an understanding of the conflict there from a Christian, experiential point of view.

Pray for:

1. My upcoming slide presentations in California and Oregan, 10/19-11/6, that  the Lord speak to all of us as I share about peacemaking.

2. That I may listen with openness to others who have very different viewpoints from my own.

3. Elias Chacour and his work.

Give thanks for 25 invitations to share about peacemaking.

Peace to you today,

Jim
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My Next Peace Trip   9-26-07  #13

Dear Friend,              
 
My next trip to Colombia will take me in a bit of a new direction, for I have been invited by the Colombian Mennonite Brethren to work for three months with them. I will be sharing about CPT work as a way of promoting peacemaking amongst their 44 congregations and nearly 4000 members. Because the Colombian Mennonite Brethren are in the process of recovering their peace heritage, it is a particularly ripe time for this to happen and I am very excited for this opportunity.
 
This direction may not look as "exciting" as being on the front lines with CPT on the Opon River. However, I feel my potential for helping the Colombian peace process is multiplied in this opportunity because I will be encouraging more Colombian Christians to get involved in peacemaking in their own country. The Church has an important part to play, especially in bringing the call to love our enemies and integrity into the Colombian peace process.
 
Last Thursday I shared with a local conference of Lutheran pastors and lay leaders. One pastor shared with me:  “I did an extensive study with our youth on the 'Just War Theory' which is very strong in the Lutheran Church. The conclusion I came to is that 99.9% of the time war cannot be supported with this theory. It seems most times we start a war and use the theory to justify it.”
 
I am making plans to attend the third annual Pentecostal Charismatic Peacemaking Conference in San Francisco in October and while there, to do slide presentations in California and Oregon.
 
Because I will be in Colombia January thru March, I am doing my fund raising earlier than usual. Therefore I will need to raise $9000 to carry me through April 2008.
 
I have been putting off writing this letter partly because of all my peacemaking involvements, but also because it is hard to ask for money.  It is hard to admit that I am not self-sufficient and that I am dependent upon you. I still feel clearly called to this peace building. Will you join me in this work?
 
If so, make out a check to Plow Creek Mennonite Church with peacemaking in the memo line and mail to 9295 1925 E Street, Tiskilwa, IL, 61368. Or just click on the link below and use Pay Pal. All contributions are tax deductible.
 
Give for Peace

Thanks for your consideration.
 
Peace to you,
 
Jim
 
To maintain one soldier for war, our taxes pay $150,000 a year.
I will be a soldier for peace for $22,900 a year.
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Talking at the Bureau County Fair Letter # 12 9/03/07

 "You’re urging our congress to cut funding for our troops in Iraq really disturbs me, I am a vet from WW II and that is not supportive of the troops. I totally disagree with you." Said the vet after I told him about CPT work.  I responded, "I feel it is supportive to bring them home alive, not in a…." (I never got to finish my sentence as it obviously did not make much sense to him.)  He interrupted me, "This conversation was a waste of our time."  I answered, "I don’t think so, even though we disagree deeply.  For us to talk with each other is what Jesus would want us to do."  We ended by shaking hands as he parted.

 "How do you like working for the Carnival?" I asked a 20-some year old woman.  "Well it sure beats living on the street."  I wonder what in her history made her say that.

 After I shared quite extensively about CPT work, a brother responded, "That is good work you do.  I was in Vietnam, and I am still healing from that.  I can’t stand to hear anymore."  And he walked away.

 A sister, after listening rather intently about CPT work, said, "Wow this is really something what CPT is doing.  But I must let you know I am an atheist."  I answered, "I was an agonistic at one time, so I understand a little where you come from.  I will share with you what a pastor told me- "Don’t try to fool God. It is healthy that you are honest."  I added, "We have a vigil every Wednesday at the Court House.  You might want to join us some time."  She responded, "That is good idea, I will see if I can get off from my work to come."

 One day I counted 61 persons I had talked to, I imagine I talked with over 200 people in those five days. Realizing that makes it feel worth getting so tired out.
 Rich Foss at peacemaking booth at Bureau County Fair
 Here is Rich Foss from our church, who gave me a two hour break at the Fair.  One sister was so shocked at hearing about CPT work she said to him, "If were there I would wet my pants.

Pray for these local presentation
9/20 Lutheran Pastors and lay leaders conference
9/23 North Peoria Mennonite church
9/30 Lutheran church on the Hill
-My leading the communal part of our church in looking at how we deal with conflicts and disagreements.
-for the sprouting and flourishing of the seeds that were sown in the talks at the Fair.

Blessings of peace to you,
Jim
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Visiting Bureau County Jail   9-03-07   #11

Dear friends,

"Did you go to church before you were put in jail?" I asked over the phone, through the glass window between us.  Roy* responded, "No, but I did accept God at the worship service the Gideons have here every Saturday.  I am reading the book of Proverbs in the King James Bible they gave me, though it is hard to understand."

I asked, "Would you like to pray?"  He said, "Sure."  I then led us in a short prayer time.  I shared with him about the different pieces of peacemaking literature I had brought for him.  I knew he had some interest in that because we had met the first time at our weekly peace vigil some three years ago.

Upon arriving for my next visit, the jailer told me, "Roy's visiting time is nearly up. Go right in, so you can have a minute or two with him."  Again through the glass and phone I said, "Well, we don't have much time.  What would you like to talk about?"  To my surprise, he said, "Let's pray." At which point he began to pray.

I then left a copy of The Message, a Bible translation in contemporary language, with the jailer for Roy.  I also tried to leave two magazines about the good works that Mennonite Central Committee is doing around the world, to help through his boring times.  To my surprise, the jailer said, "Sorry, no magazines.  They are against the rules".

I found out that the Sheriff makes these jail rules, so I went in to see him. I asked, "I would like to give these magazines to Roy.  Is there any possibility of getting these to him?"  Sheriff Thompson responded, "Sure. I will see that they get to him."

I then asked him, "Do you know what I do?"  He answered, "No I don't.  What do you do?" I explained about my peacemaking with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Colombia, and that I do slide presentations as a way to make people aware of some of the peacemaking that is happening in the world.  He responded, "You know, that would be a good thing for the inmates to see.  I will talk to the chaplain and maybe you can show it to the inmates."

So last Tuesday I gave a presentation to about a dozen inmates.  Most of them seemed to be surprised and keenly interested in the CPT peacemaking. One fellow asked how he could get involved in CPT.  I encouraged him to begin by cultivating a regular quiet time, with reading the Bible and attending a church. His girl friend was pregnant and due in December.

Another fellow said, "I have a wife and four children in diapers at home.  I did not do what I was charged with.  I was doing too much partying. Say a prayer for me if you can."

Thinking of these fellows' situations the next day, I found myself quite depressed. They have some very challenging patterns of bad choices they need to break out of.  It seems our society's solution of just locking people up falls so short of truly helping them.

I don't feel I have the know-how or the time to give them the help they need, though I am grateful for the opportunity to visit them. As my wife said, "Your just being a friend in that time was worthwhile to them.  Keep that in mind."

Thanks be to God for this opportunity to visit with Roy and the other inmates.

Pray :
For Roy and the other inmates as they try to get their lives back on track.
For someone to help at translating my letters to Spanish.

Blessings,

Jim

*Roy's name has been changed.

Carlos salt tasting at baptism with Jim Fitz
   

Here is a picture taken at a recent baptism of  Carlos, a Guatemalan brother, into our church. I am having him taste salt as a reminder of why we are here: "to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth." (Matthew 5:13a, "The Message")

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David in Combat Boots at Cornerstone         7-31-07  #9
Dear Friends,

"I just got off the plane yesterday from Iraq, and I return in about two weeks," he said. I replied,"Wow!" He and Logan than began a long conversation about Iraq with a lot of military jargon I could not understand.

David went on to say, "It seems sometimes you just can't get through to some people, and you just have to take them out. One of the guys under my command just won't listen. He is so angry at losing his buddies that he just wants to take out every Iraqi he sees. I have talked and talked to him and I just can't get him to stop that."

Logan responded,"You know, some times rhetoric just does not work; you just have to act. When we took Sammarh in Iraq, my buddy entered the Iraqi police station without resistance because they were on our side. But he was so angry at losing his buddies that he slapped the Iraqi police captain in the face and hit him in the gut. Do you know what I did? I just put myself in front of my buddy and said, 'ËœDo that to me.' He looked at me and just kind of melted; I could see in his eye that I had gotten to him. I just had to put my body on the line. Words were useless. I don't say that is what you should do, you have to decide that. But in such intense situations, words are almost useless to communicate the Gospel."

What immediately came to my mind was Jesus' refusal to answer his accusers in his trial. He had to go the way of the cross for us people to understand what he was trying to say. I understand Jesus' not responding in a new way now. This has helped me see that at times in my interactions, I need to act and not talk.

It was a holy thirty minutes or so with David, such that it moved us all to pray together for a number of minutes while we held hands. Then during two rounds of hugs, we told David we would be praying for his safety, and we reluctantly parted.

Give thanks for this and the many opportunities to share at such deep levels at the Cornerstone Festival. Say a prayer this all would be a part of bringing justice, mercy, truth, and peace to us and the whole world. Please also pray for our interactions at our County Fair CPT Booth coming up on August 22-26.

Peace,

Jim


 Jim Fitz at Cornerstone Festival

Here I am explaining some of our literature to an interested woman at the Cornerstone Christian Music Festival. I did this so much that at the end I found myself getting hoarse. The interest in our alternative to war was very encouraging. Several people shared that they have been encouraged from reading my letters over the last years. Thank you for your prayer and financial support that has enabled me to do this peacemaking. 135 people signed up to receive our messages.
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Tobacco Spitters at Cornerstone 7-16-07  #8

Hello friends,

Four fellows slowly walked up to the Christian Peacemakers Team booth and spit tobacco on the ground as I asked, "Would you like to hear how we are working at reducing violence in conflict areas of the world?" They gruffly said, "Yeah."

I gave them the same talk I gave many times during Cornerstone Festival: "Here is CPTer Art Gish in Palestine in front of a tank that was about to run over the farmers' market behind him; he was able to save the farmers' market that day." I ended with, "Would you like some literature?" No, they didn't want any literature, as I thought.

One of them, who seemed to be the spokesman, proceeded to tell us, "I have been in Afghanistan. The Afghan people are really good people. I spent 15 hours a day with them, and I really got to know them. They were so glad we got rid of the Taliban, especially for the liberation of the women. We really helped that country."

I responded, "I agree those were good things that happened there. But what about the increase in drug production and the increase in bombing and terrorist activities in the last while? My contention is that using a gun just is not a way to a lasting peace. In the end it just does not work."

Their spokesman replied, "What do you think is the way?"

I answered, "The way of Jesus and the way of suffering love. Do you know what the Danes did when the Nazis invaded Denmark and said all the Jews must wear the Star of David? The king said, ‘I will wear a Star of David and I ask all Danes to do the same.' They did this, beginning a non-violent movement that saved virtually all of Denmark's Jews. This kind of thing happened in other places during WWII, but we don't hear much about it."

I continued, "I believe such ideas come from God. I believe God wants to give us nonviolent ways to confront violence. In Colombia the paramilitaries (paras) killed a woman whom they thought had killed one of their own, and later found they had made a mistake. There was so much violence happening that everyone was afraid even to retrieve the body. So a Pentecostal pastor, led by the Spirit, retrieved the body and buried it where the paras lived. Because the paras had to pass by the grave daily, it was a constant reminder to them of the awful mistake they had made. As a result, many of the paras stopped being paras and ever since then, the violence has been diminishing. Part of the answer lies in getting on our knees so we can hear the nonviolent actions God has for us."

I then asked again, "Sure you wouldn't like some literature?" He answered, "Well, ok," as they took a newsletter and walked away.

All during this conversation a fellow by the name of David in combat boots stood up close, listening intently. I'll tell you David's story in the next letter.

Shalom,

Jim

I give special thanks for finally being able, after two months of trying, to contact Cesar Garcia, head of the Mennonite Brethren in Colombia, about my working with them sharing about CPT peacemaking. He called me this morning (7/19). He had been out of the country and his computer was down. This finally clarifies what I will be doing in Colombia, which was up in the air until now. More about these exciting changes later. And thanks to all of you who prayed for me about this.
Shane Claiborne at Cornerstone Festival
Here is of Shane Claiborne, whose tent was one of the most crowded of the Festival because of his fresh way of sharing the Gospel. He told how Timothy McVeigh wrote home during the first Gulf War saying he was turning into an animal.  Shane said that Timothy McVeigh committed the Oklahoma City bombing to show Americans "collateral damage" on our own soil. Shane told about Bud Welch, one of the parents of a victim of the Oklahoma City bombing, trying to have Timothy's sentence commuted. Shane ended this story with the truth, "The closer we are to God, the less we want to cast a stone."

Jim Fitz
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Shirtless Brother at Cornerstone  7-15-07  #7

Hello friends,

"Would you like to hear about how we are reducing violence in the war zones of the world?" I said to the shirtless brother as he hurriedly passed our booth amongst the crowd seemingly trying to avoid us. He responded, "You wouldn't want to talk to me; I just got back from deployment in Iraq." He then stared at the photo of Art Gish standing in front of the tank to save the farmers' market in Hebron and then pointing to the photo said, "I've been there."
 
"You know, I would really like to hear your story," I responded. Then he began to tell Tracey (who is in the army reserves) and me his story. "I was part of the first troops from Kuwait to take Baghdad when the war started. The people welcomed us; they were really glad for our arrival. I was a mortar launcher."

Tracey shared, "I wanted to deploy to Iraq to help the people, but my unit will never be deployed to Iraq and besides I am in administration." He responded, "Oh, you should try to go to Iraq. It would be a good experience for you."

I asked, "Are you married?" "Yes, I am", he answered. I continued, "Are you still married after all those years in war?" "Yes," he answered again. "Well, that is a miracle!" I responded. Then he followed with, "You're sure right there."
 
With almost a tear in his eye, he continued, "If I hadn't come to trust and know God in a deeper way, I don't think I could have made it. It was a good experience though." He and Tracey went on to share about the invasion in a lot of military jargon I could not understand. Tracey connected with him in I way I could not.

He than went on to tell us, "I have four children. One was just born a few months ago. I am studying in a Bible school. I just want to become more knowledgeable about the Bible. My wife and I are feeling called to be missionaries, though we don't know where that will take us."

I asked, "Would you like to hear what we are doing in Peacemaking?" "Sure, let's hear it", he responded openly. I answered pointing to our photos, "Here on the Opon River in Colombia, we are giving protection to about 80 farm families from the threats of the guerrillas and paramilitaries. I have given 2-3 months each year for the last five years there."

He ended up taking our literature and signing up for our emails. I don't think either of us changed each other's mind about war. I don't feel I understand it, but I sensed it was a holy exchange in that even though we disagreed deeply about war, we parted appreciating each other as persons. Jesus was there.

Give thanks for:
For those who prayed for the help I needed for Cornerstone. It seems I could not have asked for better help. Each of them added a fresh and different approach to engaging the people who stopped at our booth.

Say a prayer for:
-For each of the seeds the Lord sowed at the Festival that they would sprout, grow, and flourish.
-For Tracey who is filing for Conscientious Objector status without the support of her family, who can't seem to understand why she is doing it. She asks for prayer for guidance as to when to submit her request.
-For the US Colombian foreign aid bill which passed the House but still has to pass the Senate. Encourage your Senators to support it and not change it.

CPT booth at Cornerstone 2007
CPT booth at the Cornerstone Christian music Festival.

At the left is Tracey Harmon, who is in the Reserves; next yours truly;  then Tim Nafziger, a CPTer; and at the right Logan Laturi,  who served in Iraq. While in the Army, Logan came under the conviction that he could no longer carry a gun. When his unit was redeployed to Iraq in August 2006, he begged to return with them, but without a gun. The Army refused his request. After an honorable Army discharge, he then went to Israel/West Bank with CPT. Tracey and Logan plan to marry in the fall.

Peace,

Jim
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A Seventy Year-Old Woman Listens to God    7-1-07  #6

Hello friends:

"Since I was about 17, every night I pray certain verses from Psalm 18. I share this to encourage you to be attentive so you might hear the Lord in your quiet time too. I will share two of the times I heard the Lord speak to me." So shared a 70-some year old women about her personal experience with mediation and prayer as the Manchester Church of the Brethren worship began.

A few days later in a conversation with a neighbor friend Bob, he said to me, "You know God is always trying to speak to us, but the problem is we don't stop long enough so we can hear Him."

This all has made me try to be more attentive to what the Lord might be saying to me in my quiet time. Here's what came to me recently.

In reading Luke 9:12-17, the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples said, "Why don't we send them off to find lodging and food in the nearby villages?"

Jesus said, "You feed them."

They responded, "But there are only five loaves and a couple of fish here."

As I reflected on this, I felt similar to the disciples, wondering "What do we have to share about peacemaking that will feed all the people we will talk to in the next days at the Cornerstone Music Festival?"

But I heard the Lord saying to all of us working at the booth, "You feed them." So we will step out in faith and try.

My next letter will let you know what happened.

Thanks be to God for:

The passing of the US-Colombian foreign aid bill, which cut military aid by 156 million dollars. This has great potential to reduce the suffering of many Colombians and to begin to bring an end to this 45 year-old civil war. Thank you for your prayers and acts to bring this about.

To pray about:

The burglary at the Colombian offices of Justapaz and Fellowship of Reconciliation of human rights documents which puts in jeopardy the lives of many Colombian church people who spoke out for justice, truth, and peace.

Peace,

Jim
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A Third Way for Colombia  5-28-07  #5
Hello Friends,

Here is good news article, Colombia's Third Way,  that gives some important insight into what is happening in Colombia government circles that you probably haven't seen in the news. I think you will find it worth reading.

This would be a good time to write your legislator about reducing military aid and increasing humanitarian aid (i.e.. aid for schools and health care) to Colombia. This would alleviate a lot of the suffering in Colombia and help the budding peace process. Use this link for an easy way to write your legislators. http://www.fcnl.org/index.htm  

Thanks for:
Getting helpers to talk with people at the Cornerstone Festival Booth.
The good friends who continue to help me through some hard conflicts in relationships and that I can now say it was good.

Pray for:
For my interactions at a booth I will have at the Iowa City Mennonite Relief Sale June 2nd and 3rd. and at Cornerstone June 26-30.
For my slide talks at one or two church coming up in Iowa.
To be humble and honest as I continue to work through challenges in relationships.

Peace,

Jim
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Sharing at the Mennonite Relief Sale and Hannibal, MO, 5-1-07   #4

Dear Friends,
 
The woman came up somewhat anxiously to my booth at the Peoria Mennonite Relief Sale and asked, "Do you really see any changes that give you hope that the situation in Colombia is getting better?"

I asked her to sit down with me so I could tell her some of the things I see happening.

"When I first went there five years ago, numerous organizations were a bit unclear about their stance on the use of a gun to try to fix the tremendous injustice that exists there. Today, most if not all, are clearly against all use of violence. One thing about war, the more war we have, the more people are able to see that it just does not work. It shows itself for what it is. The evil is brought to the light.

"Another source of hope is that since 2001, the Pentecostal, Mennonite, Brethren and other churches are helping displaced people, which is threatening to the armed groups that caused them to abandon their homes.

"Five years ago we spent five to six days a week in the Opon accompanying the farmers; now we only have to spend 2-3 days per week, and we are now able to work in other areas of Colombia.

"I just saw in the news that former guerrilla  Senator Porte in Colombia has had eight of his fellow representative investigated and arrested by the Colombian FBI. Along with that, he said that the guerrillas are a dictatorship and involved in the drug trade. I see this as very positive that people are putting their lives on the line with that kind of honesty.

"Reflecting over this, it seems many of us from time to time struggle to see something hopeful in the world situation. As I see it, part of the problem is that unless someone is getting hurt it doesn't get in the news. Very little of the positive things happening in Columbia get reported in the media.

"You know when I started this work, I feared I might become burnt out and discouraged. But to my surprise I find I have a lot more hope than I used to."

Here are some of snippets from some St. Louis high schoolers notes to me after I spoke at their school.  "You inspired me."  "I did not expect to learn so much." "It's an experience I won't forget." "It was better than I thought it would be." "It inspired me to think about what I want to do with my life." "I would like to be a part of CPT." "I really liked the personal stories."

Pastor Eric Mattson of the Hannibal, Missouri Arch United Methodist Church & Jim Fitz
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Here I am with Pastor Eric Mattson of the Hannibal, Missouri Arch United Methodist Church. Every Sunday
he prays for the US troops; that night after I spoke at Arch, he prayed for CPT peacemaking.

Thanks for:
 Pray for:
 Peace,

Jim

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"Sharing in St Louis"   3-15-07   #3

Hello Friends,

"Did I talk to too much about faith and prayer? It's hard for me to talk about my peacemaking and not mention these things. That's just where their questions seem to go," I said to a human rights professor, after speaking to her university class.

She responded, "Oh no, that was fine. I asked that question about whether you proselytize because I knew that you didn't. But I felt it important for the students to realize that faith can be an important part of peace and justice work and it does not necessarily mean you proselytize."

Art Sandler, the other professor at Webster University, said, "That was really good. The students were really engaged. We should make your visit an annual affair." I heard this sentiment of inviting me again next year often, after the 14 times of sharing in St Louis and Hannibal, Missouri.

After the presentation to the Pax Christi group at St Louis University, one of the students, upon seeing my "Do You Know Enough to Enlist?" pamphlet and "Questions to Ask Recruiters" card, said, "We are going to have a counter recruiting booth on campus. Those would be really useful to us. Could we have some of them?" I responded, "Sure! You can copy the pamphlet and have all the cards you can use."

As part of these presentations, I often shared the following: "When people think of Colombia often they think of the drugs. Our US government has been trying to fight this problem by pouring 1.6 million dollars/day in military aid into Colombia. It has been like adding wood to the fire of the 45 years of civil war. It has not reduced the drugs on USA streets or the amount of coca grown Colombia. When such big, easy money on drugs is so readily, available someone will always find a way to get the drugs here.

"The solution, as I see it, is putting adequate money into drug rehabilitation programs. We have rehab programs that really work, but because of a lack of enough programs many people have to wait months, even years, to get into them, and by then they are really hooked. The conservative Rand Corporation found it would be 26 times cheaper to put money into drug rehab than to send $1.6 million/day in arms to Colombia, and it would work. I suspect one of the main reasons we keep doing this is because of the lobbying of the military-industrial complex that wants to keep supplying that $1.6 million/ day for Colombia."

After sharing this in one of the talks I got the following question from a student in the Peace Theology class at St Louis University: "You say rehabilitation is the answer to the drug problem, but what do we do about the need to take drugs in the first place?"

"Well, that is a very good question. You have an important point there," I answered. "I feel it shows we really need to work on our spiritual development. You know, consumerism and all that goes with it is an empty god, it just doesn't satisfy. The language I would use is we need to get in touch with God."

I spoke to several churches and high School classes. I was very encouraged by people's rising interest in peace and justice.
Thanks for your accompanying prayers on these talks. It seemed evident God was answering.

Please consider asking your Senators and Congressman to vote for increasing humanitarian aid for Colombia and for reducing military aid, which would stop a lot of the suffering of the Colombians.

Prayer request:
-Finishing up my year end report
-Finding helpers for the CPT Booth at Cornerstone in June

Peace to you,

Jim
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"Traveling Peacemaking"            2-28-07  #2

Hello friends,

"I used to be very active in the peace movement, but my current work has been so consuming I haven't participated much in the last ten years," shared Rich Wood, a former United Methodist pastor, during a conversation with me on the train to Chicago.  For the past ten years Rich has been dedicating himself to exposing the way drug companies are wrongfully pushing farmers to use unnecessary drugs on animals here and abroad. 

I also got to share CPT photos and stories with him. "It is very encouraging to hear about CPT peacemaking. Even though I get 40 emails a day, I would still like to be on your mailing list."  I responded, "You can always delete my email if you are getting too many emails; I will never know it!" And I added, "But don't forget your work is an important part of peacemaking and I want to encourage you to keep at it.  Blessings to you in it."
 
Rich and I agreed though our work often feels overwhelming, one thing that is on our side is that eventually the truth comes to the light.  It is a reminder that light is overcoming darkness and always will.

On the train returning home from Chicago, I had a great time of sharing with Bret, a forester from Washington. He is fed up with working for companies where making money is the most important thing. Because of this he is looking to transition into something else for the next 15 years. He is quite an adventurer, which recently led him to spend four months traveling in South America. We had a lively conversation the entire 2 1/2 hour trip about community, Mennonites, Amish and peace work. Much of this time included sharing CPT photos and stories. He said he definitely wanted to be on the mailing list.
 
Since the New Year I have been busy working on what I feel have been weaknesses in some of my personal relationships. This has called me to work hard at changing some of my ways.  It is not easy, but I think there has been progress. Along with this, I did three talks in Chicago and one in Texas, all of which went well. I also have been working on my annual report.

Please pray for:
    15 presentations during the period 3/1- 3/8 in the St Louis, Missouri area
    CPT booth at the Mennonite Relief Sale in Bloomington, Illinois on 3/16 & 3/17
    Annual report

Thanks so much for your prayer support.

Peace is coming,

Jim
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"You Got in My Head"    January 29, 2007
 
Hello friends,

"Your friend Mr. Fitz got in my head. He got even me thinking. We never pay attention in that class, but everyone was listening," a star football player at Verdugo High School said to my friend Cordell Bowman. Before the class started the teacher told me, "Now this class might get out of hand, and if it does we will just usher you out of the room."

Another teacher, after hearing my sharing, said, "You have to share this with more people. So for the next 90 minute period, please go to my friend's class for 45 minutes and then come back to my class. You got me thinking too." Another teacher shared, "You talked about values, something these students seldom hear about, and that was good."

For four classes in a row, I shared in this LA high school. I never have had such attention from students during high school classes.   They filled the time with lots of important questions.  I was worn out, energized, and very encouraged when it finally ended.

In Fresno, I shared with the Fresno Pacific University (FPU) Peacemaking faculty and with the MCC staff in Reedly. They both said, "We appreciated hearing your sharing; when you get back this way be sure to let us know ahead of time, so we can set up some speaking venues for you."

Ron Classen of FPU has for years had a Victim Offender Reconciliation (VOR) program going there. In New Zealand, a VOR has been adopted and it has cut court cases in New Zealand by 75%. A recently elected Fresno councilman has said, "Getting the Victim Offender Reconciliation program adopted by the city of Fresno is one of my top priorities." I told them, "This is real peacemaking, too."

I also shared in three churches in California and at William Jessup University. In each of them I was very encouraged by the interest in peacemaking. People are getting tired of war, are coming to realize more and more that it just does not work and are anxious to hear about an alternative.

The main purpose of this trip was to celebrate with our daughter Emily her great achievement of graduating from Physician's Assistant School in Oakland on December 2, 2006. We are quite proud of her. And thanks to the help of many friends, I was able to share my CPT slides and experiences at ten places.

Here we are at Emily's graduation. Left to right is me, my wife Lyn, daughters Jamie and Emily, and son Andy.

Emily Fitz graduates as Physician's Assistant 

Pray with me that the seeds that were sown in California would sprout, grow, and flourish.

Jim
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