Joyous praise instead of a faint spirit

Urubá:

·      Rainiest area in South America,

·      Where Panama and Colombia connect on map though no road has ever been built.

·      Region of displacements by paramilitary groups

·      Site of Urubá Presbytery retreat Nov. 13-16, hosted by local churches deeply impacted by all of above.

serving tables and kitchen area for 145 adults and 30 children

part of rhythm section

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• lots of borojo to drink
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• grating coconut to cook with rice
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• women pastors meet
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By jeep caravan, motorcycles, and boots people from Urubá (a peninsula part of wealthy Antioquia Department of Colombia arrived at a remote piece of land called Los Angles California. (Land long held by the Presbyterian Church).  

We passed Maconda!  Note sign.

In the last 5 months men from this California and surrounding area contributed the materials and constructed a lodge, kitchen, a well, brought in a generator, the whole works for this exciting, unprecedented gathering of believers in an area fraught with displacements, now “calm” under the tight control of paramilitary forces. Paramilitaries were present at many of the activities. 

Many of the attendees from towns of Urubá were experiencing their first visit to this rural, isolated area,. --Yet not isolated in terms of economic exploitation.  The valuable trees were cut 60 years ago by a transnational company. Locals say that newly formed corporations formed by paramilitary groups own the land which has rapidly converted to cattle growing.  The cattle operation is the primary source of employment in Los Angles California and surrounding area for the families that remain. 
How extravagantly they welcomed and hosted us!

Those who were sad will be called

Oaks of Justice, planted by God

to rebuild what has been destroyed

to rebuild what has been in ruins

for many generations. Isaiah 61:3