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
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
"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.
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.
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.
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, '˜Do 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
|
 |
|
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.
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 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."
>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:
- Good conversations at the Mennonite Relief Sale.
- Six good talks I gave at two local high schools.
- The good friends who have helped me through some hard conflicts
in relationships and that I can now say it was good. And for the grace
to keep praying even when I did not feel like it which was a big help.
Pray
for:
- Getting places to share in churches and schools around here.
- Getting help to talk with people at the Cornerstone Festival
Booth.
- To be humble and honest as I continue to work through
challenges in relationships.
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.
Pray with me that the seeds that were sown in California would sprout,
grow, and flourish.
Jim
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