tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9226826112147451142024-02-07T19:10:03.689-08:00Accompaniment in ColombiaPhyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-21254367137235384882010-01-25T21:23:00.000-08:002010-01-25T21:48:32.650-08:00"a rose is a rose is a rose"<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">NOT SO. February is the month to learn about flowers starting with the romantic rose. </span><br />
<a href="http://haddockinthekitchen.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://haddockinthekitchen.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/rose.jpg" width="238" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">60% of the roses sold in the US are grown in Colombia -most the remainder are grown in Ecuador where climate and labor conditions are very similar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">During high seasons, including Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, Colombian flower workers are expected to work 12-16 hour days. Employers pressure workers to produce impossible quotas and threaten workers if they do not achieve them. Many women workers have temporary contracts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Flower workers are paid the minimum wage of about $215 a month, or $8 a day. Women are the majority labor force. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Workers are exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals. <o:p>Insecticides, nematicides (nematode poisons) herbicides, fungicides. Many of these substances are applied daily in warm, poorly ventilated greenhouses where high levels of toxic vapors can accumulate and where contact with these pesticide residues is close to impossible to avoid by workers</o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Many women have reported health problems ranging from headaches, blurred vision, intolerance to light and nausea to more serious problems, such as experiencing still births, sterility and birth to children with abnormalities and defects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In Colombia flower workers have struggled for years for better working conditions. The first union established (2007) disbanded in 2008 due to constant paramilitary threats to members and leaders. (in Antioquia) Dole Plantation (in Bogotá) accepted a union then within a year (2009) sold their Plantation (buyer not known). </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b>My hearty Valentine's Day recommendations</b>:</span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Bake <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/ValentinesSugarCookie.html"><span id="goog_1264478185855"></span>heart-shaped cookies<span id="goog_1264478185856"></span></a> with your lover, children, or friends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Send a donation <a href="http://www.USLEAP.org/">to support</a> those working to improve labor conditions on flower plantations.</span></li>
<li><span lang="ES" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Remember <i>Día Internacional de las trabajadoras y trabajadores de flores</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> –that’s International Flower Workers Day, February 14. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">If, like me, you require dazzling flowers in exotic settings in February but find yourself in a frozen region, visit the nearest botanical garden, and wander/sit/meditate in their greenhouse several hours. </span></li>
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</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-2551918948374138632009-12-17T12:41:00.000-08:002009-12-17T12:51:21.777-08:00WorriesA.J. gives volunteer leadership to displaced peoples now living in Atlanticó (Department). He’s a farmer, displaced twice. He’s been unemployed the last 2 years.<br />
Today he received news that a long awaited family subsidy* arrived but was returned to Bogotá. He was advised not to contact the Bogotá office before Jan. 15 due to holidays. <br />
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ANDESCOL, The national association of displaced people of Colombia functions through the goodwill, passion, and volunteerism of thousands, from Human Rights lawyers to the many community leaders throughout the country who are the displaced. <br />
Community leaders such as A.J. stay in touch through cell phones which can receive calls at no cost. One can make a quick call for equivalent of 10 cents from the multitude of street vendors.<br />
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I heard these worries in our conversation today:<br />
• There’s no food in the house<br />
• Christmas is coming; his 3 children don’t have shoes<br />
• In a generation’s time the knowledge of family and community based agriculture may be lost. A generation of displaced farmers –Afro Colombians, indigenous people, and others, are in urban zones, separated from the work they know. Their children are growing up in urban settings, and will not know how to till the soil.<br />
• Few people know their rights as citizens, or International Humanitarian laws, or Colombia’s laws regarding reparations for civilians displaced by war,and their right to lands that were –and are still being, confiscated.<br />
• Where to get funds to carry out education workshops (capacitaciónes) to teach people their rights. The government funds many workshops for the displaced to learn new work skills, i.e., welding, furniture or soy yogurt making, etc., through contracts with training entities. Sadly, the people A.J.knows have not been able to find or generate income related to their various trainings.<br />
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</div>*United Nations Development Office is highly critical that humanitarian aid for civilian displacement victims in Colombia requires an onerous registration process which obligates registrants to support and cooperate with government policies. (<i>Recuperación military bajo la piel de lo social. Alianza de organizaciones socials y afines. Mayo 2008. Para publicación en “Hechos del callejon” del PNUD</i>.)<br />
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“The [OT] prophets take us to the slums.” Rabbi Joshua Abraham HeschelPhyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-84618646770760715882009-12-16T07:25:00.000-08:002009-12-16T07:32:41.959-08:00Advent – Hearing<a href="http://calledtocolombia.org/?p=364">Advent – Hearing</a><br />
Here's the link to an Advent meditation by Richard Williams who very recently joined the Colombian Presbytery for as a "permanent" accompanier -for 3 years. His refers to a worship service we attended in Sincelejo, Colombia.Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-42987129130725826692009-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:002010-01-14T12:33:36.555-08:00More Than A Headache<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Mounting analysis and opinion reports the US use of Colombian Military bases has become a <a href="http://www.semana.com/noticias-nacion/efecto-bumeran/132570.aspx">headache</a> for President Uribe even before the bases are fully operational. This Military plan isolates Colombia within the continent --Peru and Mexico who have not spoken against the bases simply stay quiet, the US government refers to the plan publicly as a “bureaucratic error” and the FARC (guerilla group) has found a new voice “unimagined in its most <a href="http://www.semana.com/noticias-nacion/efecto-bumeran/132570.aspx">golden dreams</a>.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Initially claims were the stepped up US military presence was essential to control “narcoterrorists” since <a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090615/ballve">Plan Colombia</a> is “decaying.” (fails to stem the flow of cocaine to US markets) However Colombia’s neighbor,Venezuelan President Chavez, has maintained that the US has bigger plans, including to overthrow him, and to use military force against the social movement he leads in Latin America. FARC leaders are incorporating into this social movement <span style="color: #3f3f3f;"><i>Bolivariana</i></span> which many progressive leaders regard as extremist, anachronistic and out of step with the times, But as details of the <a href="http://justf.org/content/supplemental-agreement-cooperation-and-technical-assistance-defense-and-security-between-gov">US Military agreement</a> become know, Chavez’s views gain ground, credence and international attention. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">From the high hill, rugged and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_dry_broadleaf_forests">dry in Piojo</a> where displaced families now live we looked down at the wide expanse of flat agricultural lands and the broad river flowing into the Pacific. This agricultural land is sited for a new international airport. The existing Barranquilla airport is slated to transform to exclusive use by Colombian and US Militaries. The new civilian airport would provide easier access for potential new owners of yet-to-be built condos and hotels along the Pacific. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">What kind of development brings peace? What is justice? And Human Rights for the Displaced?</span><br />
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</div></div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-48547941972341266562009-12-12T12:28:00.000-08:002011-01-13T19:32:16.064-08:00Not so complicated<div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Es muy complicado” is a semi-humorous code to denote “there’s more than meets the eye in this situation” or the presence of particular risks in particular places.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
"I’d like to go for a walk. Response: “It’s very complicated”</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However some things are not so complicated. Here are two:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Regions with the highest displacements are the areas that have strategic natural resource wealth. Coal, for example.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In La Guajira (Department) </span><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Carbones_del_Cerrej%C3%B3n"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cerrejón</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, a consortium of 3 international partners operates the world’s largest export open pit mine. In César Department </span><a href="http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/4467-colombians-sue-drummond-coal-againand-again.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Drummond</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, headquartered in Arkansas, is on course to be even bigger. Both operations are expanding at breakneck pace in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Simply put, paramilitary forces* have ways to move people and communities who are in the way of large scale resource exploitation. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Both Departments have significant Indian and Afro-Colombian populations who for generations have lived in traditional ways, relatively isolated from national influence, practicing small scale agriculture, They are the displaced of Colombia. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A growing number of threatened groups are organizing to resist the pressures and tactics to force them from their land. Several communities are acting to reclaim their land after fleeing violence. They are designated as “Peace Communities” and “Communities of Resistance.” They prohibit armed individuals or groups –Police, Military, Paramilitaries or Guerillas to enter their communities. At great cost they are <b>beacons of Peace</b>. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. US and Colombia governments </span><a href="http://www.cipcol.org/?paged=2"><span style="font-family: inherit;">signed a pact</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> for US military use of 7 Colombian military bases. There is not a shred of evidence that military force solves the deep socioeconomic problems that beset Colombia or the US. Simply put, the US greatly underestimated the continent-wide outrage against more US military operations in Latin America. The history of US military </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Veins_of_Latin_America"><span style="font-family: inherit;">intervention</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is long and horrific. Latin America governments, with the serious exception of Colombia, no longer trust military forces to resolve longstanding injustices. Much less to bring peace.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Teusaquilla Mennonite Church hosted a 2 day Study and Vigil of Indignation for the Installation of US Military Bases in Colombia. (<i>Análisis y vigilia de indignación por la instalación de bases militares estadounidenses en Colombia</i>.)</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Many are speaking out against the military plan</b> imposed on both Colombia, Latin America and the US without official involvement of either Colombian or US Co</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ngress or Courts. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*Paramilitary: Those in charge to do dirty work (i.e., illegal actions).</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetEP370aghBqqHKyZOd8INJ3P3BTsUDYnn0r43xZvo0fMIW20aisrF3SbWp4uubuihq9ENMC1jjYkqqV0aaS7bpZbozWrTJm0HqVW2ANp10SvmKpnBGUQ-lYsM5mT4dIGsusbIgYJCZs/s1600-h/P1010036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetEP370aghBqqHKyZOd8INJ3P3BTsUDYnn0r43xZvo0fMIW20aisrF3SbWp4uubuihq9ENMC1jjYkqqV0aaS7bpZbozWrTJm0HqVW2ANp10SvmKpnBGUQ-lYsM5mT4dIGsusbIgYJCZs/s400/P1010036.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">view from church comprised of displaced people, including pastor.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">How do you think peace can be achieved with more than 4 million people displaced through violence? Even as displacement, as a terror tactic, continues?</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div></div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-52823303891139624222009-12-10T19:07:00.000-08:002009-12-11T08:49:01.579-08:00"We never lacked pure water:" displacement and loss“I lived in the mountains of <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/nixonblog/IMG_3110.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thenewnixon.org/category/operation-continuing-promise/&usg=__WJp3PwXJmSEjANRABxadFy2Th-4=&h=682&w=1024&sz=468&hl=en&start=42&sig2=YCYH7OMaiGwRvrZ7s7eHtw&um=1&tbnid=F7vVhd2WaXZ33M:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmagdalena%2Bcolombia%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40%26um%3D1&ei=zEkiS8zeKsiUtgfWt4DACA">Magdalena</a> where crystal clear, cold, uncontaminated water flowed in abundant streams. We never lacked pure water. When I heard about this place above Piojo two years ago I imagined it would be like the place I lived in Magdalena.”<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Piojo is not anything like Magdalena. Now I bathe, wash clothes and dishes in water I carry from a stagnant pond the cattle use. A burro carries jugs of drinking water from the town below the mountain.”<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> The land, the mountains around Piojo are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_dry_broadleaf_forests">tropical dry forest</a>, a biome that receives no rain many months of the year. Dry forests support flora and fauna completely different than wetter regions in the tropical regions of the world. Adding to the challenge, climate scientists as well as Colombian campesinos are keenly aware of changing weather patterns. Planting times and crop development is disrupted.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">In 2009 the small group of 8 households who moved to Piojo experienced severe drought. Extremely limited rains came during the time rain was expected. The corn and rice they were accustomed to plant in other regions failed. Most of the households are sustained economically by young adult children who work in cities. They eat yucca which tolerates dry soils, and occasionally kill a chicken. It's costly to buy them feed. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Colombia has a beautiful law that promises land to those who have been displaced from their lands by violence. But not the same land they fled after massacres and disappearances by the paramilitary forces. Angelina’s land and her neighbors' rapidly became an african palm oil plantation with a corporate owner.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> ANDESCOL (Association of Displaced Colombians) accompanied by international and national humans rights group, and churches presses the government to comply with the law. Their success is <a href="http://www.cipcol.org/?p=1238)">extremely limited</a> though <a href="http://www.cipcol.org/?p=541">government land scandals</a> have been revealed.<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> “We are country people and do not feel well in cities. We have a right to live. We need land to feed our families and a safe place to live.”<br />
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</span>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-52759381085088395962009-12-08T12:33:00.000-08:002009-12-10T18:22:50.694-08:00APOLOGIES! Cultural transmission goes awryCatholics (and many others) likely are either incredulous or simply wondering how – when - where <i>Noche de las Velitas</i>, which is the celebration of the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conception"> Immaculate Conception of Mary</a>, became an expression of Mennonite peace theology. (Dec. 7 post) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XL4Jxvcr1u2A4TOqbYra0gWvLpu5I_3921ZdyUmzOKZ8MUx6gIw5pLiacGERxeMUMNO2vw5mLmiLZ5cAgyu7ZXbOr2X1JZ39ohNYAPpwNaeILRpgqPuT9Q_WEVf4AG7Qq7mlJxeQKiM/s1600-h/P1010044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XL4Jxvcr1u2A4TOqbYra0gWvLpu5I_3921ZdyUmzOKZ8MUx6gIw5pLiacGERxeMUMNO2vw5mLmiLZ5cAgyu7ZXbOr2X1JZ39ohNYAPpwNaeILRpgqPuT9Q_WEVf4AG7Qq7mlJxeQKiM/s400/P1010044.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">las velitas at doorstep<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks <a href="http://www.calledtocolombia.org/">Richard</a> for teaching me the Catholic meaning for this important Dec. 8 tradition.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX5axV9GEc66XMp0a-De2_o4FPcE_iew-x-3wmR9G5N7viDW4wY6NvbXFLG45uMH4M1hJRD44Kvxb4gv90BNH7QBLeedOttyAqwdI2wu8pUklAWjwtvb-zcvkF62jugmdMvMS_42WaOM/s1600-h/P1010005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNX5axV9GEc66XMp0a-De2_o4FPcE_iew-x-3wmR9G5N7viDW4wY6NvbXFLG45uMH4M1hJRD44Kvxb4gv90BNH7QBLeedOttyAqwdI2wu8pUklAWjwtvb-zcvkF62jugmdMvMS_42WaOM/s640/P1010005.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dec. 8 at Principal Cathedral in Barranquilla</div><br />
</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-9214588159547607392009-12-07T12:44:00.000-08:002009-12-07T13:00:01.141-08:00Bring healing, Bring peace<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Today we are preparing for <i>noche de las velitas, </i>a beautiful fiesta of light, to prepare the way to Bethlehem where the Prince of Peace is being born<i>. </i></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFv9dvzkFP0t8zphS5i21OEQACSF-k4HbX6ILqz54wJgVJe6LzX5IfrfLjW7tjy2HtLdd1EKlDYCOnZsf3YwnyrCHFTV1KYhqvbVFxJTnLvGvdRLRqymq3KF5R3nfPsplyzg9_k10KkU/s1600-h/P1010023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFv9dvzkFP0t8zphS5i21OEQACSF-k4HbX6ILqz54wJgVJe6LzX5IfrfLjW7tjy2HtLdd1EKlDYCOnZsf3YwnyrCHFTV1KYhqvbVFxJTnLvGvdRLRqymq3KF5R3nfPsplyzg9_k10KkU/s400/P1010023.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>A low-flying helicopter showered Barranquilla with thousands of 3.5"x5" papers with the message "I accept to live without firearms..because I believe in the institutions of my government."<br />
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Impunity for crimes committed by armed actors, legal -police and military, and illegal -paramilitary groups and guerilla forces, is a tremendous obstacle to peace in Colombia.<br />
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</div>Two days ago I was in an international observer role as human rights lawyers presented cases to police, military, and government officers. The media daily presents a daily stream of abuses.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsqAhlD9we7b_bsEK5vpXdxChPcb2TLAxOdw0XL5fZ8Tu8GbGQRF2wltrw0Ml2sCtUFKxEjr1Tr0yaLWzuYfwN_kGSSuuRcXLRQjJOB90trNupJ-v_E-e80bQapfBgqPsrNuqUy2rU74/s1600-h/P1010019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsqAhlD9we7b_bsEK5vpXdxChPcb2TLAxOdw0XL5fZ8Tu8GbGQRF2wltrw0Ml2sCtUFKxEjr1Tr0yaLWzuYfwN_kGSSuuRcXLRQjJOB90trNupJ-v_E-e80bQapfBgqPsrNuqUy2rU74/s400/P1010019.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Peace Park at noon, December 7<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lq6je802VbGhAqFNLzsDrSEBf-Ee-1CH0rx8LgRaK4zliXa299DFiSsEZmOpO4qGdlZpop4vBQIuP_aG6fkR3GBe6vsg1wQE7tEWg-cKR7DpK5lsOBqSOwg43yGmY1IHcq4YRB16ehI/s1600-h/P1010031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lq6je802VbGhAqFNLzsDrSEBf-Ee-1CH0rx8LgRaK4zliXa299DFiSsEZmOpO4qGdlZpop4vBQIuP_aG6fkR3GBe6vsg1wQE7tEWg-cKR7DpK5lsOBqSOwg43yGmY1IHcq4YRB16ehI/s400/P1010031.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">8" crucifixion image tied to street tree near Peace Park in Barranquilla<br />
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</span>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-5103427222587896222009-12-06T22:49:00.000-08:002009-12-07T10:55:29.002-08:00though you are small*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIfb_nOtHMjATMhHQfbYw-3qKrNECwW3aKsQI8avzuA4iwdMfyKmi_lOrN1XhmDBHBJ5iuxWZLGtAs2NB8rv85dGRn7oD4psAOYgzEJAtaLZiT5JpRoPSUEbpW04SY-hFZ5vkpGIby3c/s1600-h/P1010005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIfb_nOtHMjATMhHQfbYw-3qKrNECwW3aKsQI8avzuA4iwdMfyKmi_lOrN1XhmDBHBJ5iuxWZLGtAs2NB8rv85dGRn7oD4psAOYgzEJAtaLZiT5JpRoPSUEbpW04SY-hFZ5vkpGIby3c/s400/P1010005.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">church sign Bolivar neighborhood, Sincelejo, Colombia </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcuMI44MBwrk4Fk6za8a-r_dQ2Dl3izV-yCLeBOyILxNz_tPP8rHlG5syabWS_ydlaCckPhat7-fbodeYEfoQKNHWJ1BOsTyy4n0RZL2LPdeZnOsubZcevpOC1fQ8t4DM7o-tGCJB7Bc/s1600-h/P1010006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcuMI44MBwrk4Fk6za8a-r_dQ2Dl3izV-yCLeBOyILxNz_tPP8rHlG5syabWS_ydlaCckPhat7-fbodeYEfoQKNHWJ1BOsTyy4n0RZL2LPdeZnOsubZcevpOC1fQ8t4DM7o-tGCJB7Bc/s400/P1010006.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzh7RyObq9U9T00lBqKB2TWUI5cTR4oamVRRAldDg0Jid_YhK4TFGAXYIyazfuT8UWlNluOYli5qXfwGshJCMZsEMX5SDk9Ln0UiMgWNF2ANCAS_wkcTGnmczUEW1OlGPGIlUeAJSntw/s1600-h/P1010012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzh7RyObq9U9T00lBqKB2TWUI5cTR4oamVRRAldDg0Jid_YhK4TFGAXYIyazfuT8UWlNluOYli5qXfwGshJCMZsEMX5SDk9Ln0UiMgWNF2ANCAS_wkcTGnmczUEW1OlGPGIlUeAJSntw/s400/P1010012.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bolivar, at periphery of Sincelejo, was formed 20+ years ago by land invasion by people fleeing violence. Shelters become stable dwellings, piece by piece, over time. Shopping cart (rt) brings conveninent shopping to the poor by the poor.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4C1q8m55lt_3onE-XlcHTKAcdJuQpJqH41Af8viRqhXoBPU8LDEQCNBdlYwVnSfzHwGSmV_69Uv1YhnmD_gIgqGoqdoEmW7vGgsHGUK5wZvjI4EWEJwKLfKevtNHzEgFP5wr51BayD8/s1600-h/P1010010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4C1q8m55lt_3onE-XlcHTKAcdJuQpJqH41Af8viRqhXoBPU8LDEQCNBdlYwVnSfzHwGSmV_69Uv1YhnmD_gIgqGoqdoEmW7vGgsHGUK5wZvjI4EWEJwKLfKevtNHzEgFP5wr51BayD8/s400/P1010010.JPG" /></span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">presenting 2010 church budget</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc6VwYL-uPavuAVOXJX_AUlYEJh0wrQEb5Cps2AdVhV5kx9GiIe0f0TSh346ztv7LXSuThB5dorBbdb3nuyBo0R5ULNCpjLnzaBEJ8TzcZiV1UaSfall0aLatV5h9WDqWxkP8B_cHpGM/s1600-h/P1010014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc6VwYL-uPavuAVOXJX_AUlYEJh0wrQEb5Cps2AdVhV5kx9GiIe0f0TSh346ztv7LXSuThB5dorBbdb3nuyBo0R5ULNCpjLnzaBEJ8TzcZiV1UaSfall0aLatV5h9WDqWxkP8B_cHpGM/s400/P1010014.JPG" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">among the youngest members, 18 months</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><sup><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be</span><span style="color: #0019e4; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><u> </u></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">ruler in Israel,</span><span style="color: #0019e4; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><u> </u></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">whose coming forth is</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><sup><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></sup></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">from of old, from ancient days. Micah 2:5</span></span></span><br />
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</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-64912970821685322152009-12-03T09:26:00.000-08:002009-12-03T09:32:04.013-08:00During Advent -patience, faith and prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HDMcn9h5YfuUHzEYnnrFcMpRlws010uM2unP1MyPH2ZCUdLI6hyRQm9V2ouX5JcQcnGonHwRgO0XzaeBkd7Z4i9oZ2UWAUrAnN7QRu4hwIZ1y8oSXpKReV6wAPYj3__4_1vsfjy-2dI/s1600-h/1112091017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HDMcn9h5YfuUHzEYnnrFcMpRlws010uM2unP1MyPH2ZCUdLI6hyRQm9V2ouX5JcQcnGonHwRgO0XzaeBkd7Z4i9oZ2UWAUrAnN7QRu4hwIZ1y8oSXpKReV6wAPYj3__4_1vsfjy-2dI/s400/1112091017.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">the rice, lentils, beans, milk available every 20 days for a displaced household<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Some facts and figures from <a href="http://www.internal-displacement.org/">Colombia: New displacement continues.</a><o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Who is Responsible?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Illegal armed groups, principally paramilitary groups have become the single greatest cause of internal displacement. <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Human rights violations by government forces, including systematic extra-judicial executions. <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Aerial fumigations of illegal crops also destroys other crops and provokes displacement due to food insecurity. (US Plan Colombia)<o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Threats are used to intimidate the civilian population and maintain the domination <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">of illegal groups over certain areas, and also as a tool to drive small farmers from <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">land to develop legal and illegal crops. <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Displacement figures <o:p></o:p></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">380,000 people were newly displaced in 2008, bringing the total number of IDPs <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">to over 4.6 million. In 2008 the number of people newly displaced was 24 per cent higher than in 2007. The rate of displacement per 100,000 inhabitants increased from 713 in 2007 to 888 in 2008 <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Patterns of displacement</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Individual displacement continues to be the dominant pattern of displacement (89%) Only 11% of new IDPs included were displaced in mass incidents in 2008. There were 82 <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">mass displacements in 19 Colombian departments, <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">92% of the displaced population have been originally displaced from rural areas, and <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">only 8% from small and mid- size towns. Of those displaced from rural <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">areas, 93% fled to an urban area and only 7% to a rural area This pattern is contributing to rapid urbanization throughout the country. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Profile of the displaced population <o:p></o:p></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Displacement’s impact on indigenous people and Afro-Colombians is particularly intense. About 13,500 indigenous people were displaced in 2008, Currently, between 17 and 23 per cent of the displaced population is Afro-Colombian For both groups, the rates of displacement have increased steadily over time. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Women comprise 48% of IDPs; 63% of the displaced population are under 25 years of age. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Roughly half had land before they were displaced, and 94% of those families were <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">forced to abandon that land. Likewise, about half had livestock and 92% of them lost it. <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnC3XNHBtEeHDTXtYd3D5Mv7TU__koeoDO6fP11TAl8l29IQR1HK8bTjqrCug62IqDLpBteNRSbeMV019dML_uzXb9jmxQoWCNIVY74pnfyVrkyqEvmKejiLsyXAdrP4uOjmEA5P_0Yw/s1600-h/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnC3XNHBtEeHDTXtYd3D5Mv7TU__koeoDO6fP11TAl8l29IQR1HK8bTjqrCug62IqDLpBteNRSbeMV019dML_uzXb9jmxQoWCNIVY74pnfyVrkyqEvmKejiLsyXAdrP4uOjmEA5P_0Yw/s400/IMG_1921.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Up to 22,000,000 acres of land (9% of national territory) has been left behind by the <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">displaced population. Land and livestock left behind have generally been appropriated by the agents of displacement.<br />
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</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-21995084132752963442009-12-01T09:05:00.000-08:002009-12-07T17:20:02.303-08:00Land Mines – Colombia facts<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6WI4cngYWpJiYgWCXDfOHBBinLsyd1GPx-5g3Zo14hZyTwzOKj5Nki23Gr4FuB4XNJYw1XtsB4neKm958KcexhBrx9JyXUdnwddDMc-wZiRXZKLIWjl6qmmXhlVCVvxBCJHcbdxAuhs/s1600/Landmines_CROWN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6WI4cngYWpJiYgWCXDfOHBBinLsyd1GPx-5g3Zo14hZyTwzOKj5Nki23Gr4FuB4XNJYw1XtsB4neKm958KcexhBrx9JyXUdnwddDMc-wZiRXZKLIWjl6qmmXhlVCVvxBCJHcbdxAuhs/s400/Landmines_CROWN.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">63% of municipalities have land contaminated by <a href="HTTP://WWW.ELHERALDO.COM.CO/ELHERALDO/BancoConocimiento/A/aesteanolasminas/aesteanolasminas.asp?CodSeccion=26">landmines</a>.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">544 Colombians are new victims of land mines in 2009</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">35% are civilians; 65% are members of Colombian military</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">89% of the victims are children and young adults</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guerilla (antigovernment) forces have used landmines as a defenseive weapon in their struggle to control territories. Increasingly mines are also used as an offensive weapon -to trigger an explosion against specific targets. Land mines are used by all sides of the conflict -military, paramilitary, and guerilla.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today in Cartagena, Colombia 1000 delegates from the 156 countries who have ratified the International treaty to ban land mines are meeting. The <a href="http://www.icbl.org/index.php/icbl/Universal/MBT/States-Not-Party">US, Russia, and China</a> are among 39 countries who have not signed the treaty. </span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Several days ago President Obama announced the US will <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/world/americas/26mines.html">not change its position</a> on land mines; the US will not join all countries of NATO who have already signed the treaty. Do you agree with US land mines policy?</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">restore hope for peace<br />
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</div></div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-17262856316673399112009-11-30T20:24:00.000-08:002009-12-07T17:25:34.177-08:00May our hands be your hands and our purposes your own -a prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday at the beach, which for Barranquilla is Carribean coast. Row or swim <a href="http://www.maps.google.com/">due north</a> to arrive at the south tip of Cuba. A coconut oil massage after a swim, dinner with friends, a hammock represent tranquility and refreshment. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Arrival back at campus brings another reality into focus:<o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Milton sent an email carrying the statement from a leader in the Baptist church of Colombia, announcing his departure from Colombia with his family. For more than a year he was aware that he was a military target; the State would not guarantee his safety despite many efforts with government agencies and the U.N. When his children were detained for questioning the family decided it was time to leave. He worked with World Vision and the Evangelical Council of Colombia Commission for Restoration and Peace (CEDECOL) He is a sociologist who works in conflict resolution, and with the displaced population. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Semana, a Colombian type of Newsweek, brings a detailed report this week of the regrouping of paramilitary groups which disbanded 2+ years ago with much government support and acclaim of progress. One guerilla group (ELN) thought to be nearly extinct, has resurged.<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Medellín, a world-acclaimed city for its impressive transformation more than 10 years ago from domain of a drug cartel to an enjoyable place to live and visit, in 2009 is on track to have a murder rate double 2008 figures. <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16px;">Semana details three major “eyes” of militarized conflict, each of the three involving 2 or more Departments/Provinces of Colombia.</span></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Accompaniment: <a href="http://www.calledtocolombia.org/">Mamie</a>, the last of 3 of us to get a massage, thought this woman who'd been working hard taking care of us needed to sit down and receive some care herself. The woman quickly agreed, shared drops from her bottle of oil and <a href="http://www.calledtocolombia.org/">Mamie, an ordained minister</a>, took action. Today the beach was very empty of people -making it delightful for our visit, but hard for an entrepeneur needing income.</span><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span><br />
</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-14405114513382282142009-11-28T11:44:00.000-08:002009-11-30T19:35:31.907-08:00mysteries<div style="text-align: left;">too much cut & paste creates google havoc beyond my capacity to repair. 11-22 entry reports an amazing trip...so have patience to scroll past the odd, long blank spots. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leaving that retreat site (11-22 entry) on a deeply rutted path, with even deeper slippery mud, one jeep of the caravan of five rolled onto its side. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. At a rest - recover stop once we'd all passed through the mud, the musicians among us helped restore spirits.<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSux6q2rY7t2oMDz51pPY3XJ7iroVMirGrWN_PQbL0rNFVEX1AQZr05iM9GDKkPFrckwfdn6qcC0rLF300Kh2l2IaQftKYmnlU9kKegg-1ndaJFP_Fu5w0YjTj_ut5EN03_EBIk-rEqXc/s1600/P1010025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSux6q2rY7t2oMDz51pPY3XJ7iroVMirGrWN_PQbL0rNFVEX1AQZr05iM9GDKkPFrckwfdn6qcC0rLF300Kh2l2IaQftKYmnlU9kKegg-1ndaJFP_Fu5w0YjTj_ut5EN03_EBIk-rEqXc/s400/P1010025.JPG" width="400" /></a>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-54822412551531089092009-11-28T11:18:00.000-08:002009-12-01T14:58:33.235-08:00Commitment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUiBkplEvujsJDrtve52qQKe4S6_GE2ghy_3k4k3xhKbqLATP2di0EjZjNBinty2Z9DI0TrKWxPknIk6696IMq0PfokXF4-uYk4yvYQEPOQCiYC4azUgu4nNwzN8pQIIV8tbHEc-7aEM/s1600/P1010021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUiBkplEvujsJDrtve52qQKe4S6_GE2ghy_3k4k3xhKbqLATP2di0EjZjNBinty2Z9DI0TrKWxPknIk6696IMq0PfokXF4-uYk4yvYQEPOQCiYC4azUgu4nNwzN8pQIIV8tbHEc-7aEM/s400/P1010021.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Leonardo, high school math teacher M-F, is designated youth leader of Presbyterian Church in Barranquilla. This young adult team prepared a list of questions they'll ask as they go door-to-door Saturday afternoon in a local neighborhood to learn about violence and young children. <br />
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Young adults take lots of initiative in local congregations. They are determined to find ways to change the violent activity they see "at all levels in the society," he says.Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-86644971700799863102009-11-27T10:28:00.000-08:002009-11-28T11:02:10.422-08:00Commencement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like graduations everywhere, speeches were made, music played, finally diplomas were awarded, lots of cameras flashed.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> dad with daughters</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today marks the second commencement of the newly established Universidad Reformada owned by the Presbyterian Church of Colombia. 12 completed the theology degree, 1 received a psychology degree. Music is the newest established major, and 5 more majors/programs are in some stage of readiness to become accredited programs in Colombia. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;">The beautiful colonial style campus was formerly a girls’ high school. </div></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">classroom door<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">door posting<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">good choice<br />
</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-1380351955762325812009-11-25T10:02:00.000-08:002009-11-26T13:52:06.198-08:00Vigil at Peace ParkTonight several hundred people gathered for a vigil at <i>Parque de la Paz</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> (Peace Park) in Barranquilla observing International Day To End Violence Against Women. Groups from the President’s office’s, the Govenor’s, the mayor’s offices, NGOs such as World Vision, and Churches were among the organizers and supporters. How remarkable so many abhor violence against women!</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Domestic violence statistics in Colombia are disturbingly high –as everyplace where violence is the star policy tool that dominates at national and local levels. Not only war, but also poverty, and too few jobs are policies of violence. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Parque de la Paz</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> symbolically represents the hard work of peace. It’s possibly the largest slab of solid concrete I’ve ever seen –exception being highways and runways. A thin border of trees outline the park, but not a flower, plant, bench, children's slide, or water in the Peace Park. Barranquilla day temperatures range between 88 and 97 degrees farenheit! The concrete slab is mostly vacant by day. After sundown food vendors set up their grills and fruit stands in one corner where commuters pass. Precarious lanterns on several carts provide light. This evening scene reminds me of fragile and small acts that are part of constructing peace; of transforming the massive, hard and impervious into space for friendly interaction around common needs and interests.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The music and poems on the stage at tonight's Vigil brought laments, determination, and hope. An angel with arms outstretched to wave large gauze wings walked the concrete slab on dangerously high stilts. <o:p></o:p><br />
</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-61588033127047443412009-11-24T16:48:00.000-08:002009-11-26T08:15:45.805-08:00hear our prayer for nations at war<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">“Here’s where the ___ River, fed by a hot spring, enters the ___ River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want to stop?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were enroute to Debeibe in Antioquia, with Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Six of us scrambled down the steep embankment to check out a favorite take-a-break-swim spot for DH, the only one traveling in swimming gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText">Four soldiers were under the bridge bathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their heavy gear, guns, boots, and uniforms strewn on the rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exchanging greetings with the soldiers and comments on the refreshing water during a hot afternoon, DH jumped in to swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fellow travelers began wading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three soldiers quickly strapped on their gear, climbed the embankment and took positions on the bridge and observed our river visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fourth soldier dressed, put on his gear and remained on the rocks. A brief swim, a longer time to show our respective talents for launching pebbles to skip over the water’s surface, and our trip to Debeibe continued. The soldiers were not in sight.<o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText">We were traveling in an area where all of the armed groups of Colombia are engaged in frightful activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today the <i><a href="http://justiciaypazcolombia.com/Permanencia-de-la-Comision-de">Comision Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz</a></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> issued a lengthy account of military and paramilitary actions and victims in their “social cleansing” in and around Debeibe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText">I’m seeing powerful lessons in ways to “love your enemies.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the deep respect and kindness toward everyone, including soldiers and paramilitaries, creating space for a new society. <o:p></o:p><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #06131f; font-family: ArialMT;">See, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Be then as wise as snakes, and as gentle as doves. Matthew 10:16</span><o:p></o:p><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-91598123906409277592009-11-22T16:59:00.000-08:002010-01-11T10:43:31.906-08:00Joyous praise instead of a faint spirit<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Urubá:</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> R</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ainiest area in South America, </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> W</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">here Panama and Colombia connect on map though no road has ever been built.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> R</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">egion of displacements by paramilitary groups</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> S</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ite of Urubá Presbytery retreat Nov. 13-16, hosted by local churches deeply impacted by all of above. </span></span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RgmPFL5Rx54G8Gbuv9y9uBQ5uvNrVtuW1QA6MnrzT2jaeEx4GNIyaFdxTAo9W940pxUBRQYU_GvXLexQMZpCXJSgjozfSD2XfcL4aJeUrl-e7_QLO9osPT8mOF9OEuozGgblLeydIzw/s1600/P1010019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RgmPFL5Rx54G8Gbuv9y9uBQ5uvNrVtuW1QA6MnrzT2jaeEx4GNIyaFdxTAo9W940pxUBRQYU_GvXLexQMZpCXJSgjozfSD2XfcL4aJeUrl-e7_QLO9osPT8mOF9OEuozGgblLeydIzw/s400/P1010019.JPG" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8RgmPFL5Rx54G8Gbuv9y9uBQ5uvNrVtuW1QA6MnrzT2jaeEx4GNIyaFdxTAo9W940pxUBRQYU_GvXLexQMZpCXJSgjozfSD2XfcL4aJeUrl-e7_QLO9osPT8mOF9OEuozGgblLeydIzw/s1600/P1010019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">serving tables and kitchen area for 145 adults and 30 children</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3UvXep2PNI24L9gzkGUPI29daSKv74aVuD-NtquqD12BCADrBaFSx7gT3vmEJN3FmarBV0jSYWrVuyHopDHN_S502kHnnNRJ6gYWqjiiL8HfnnBX1xRTverHcN5AQvwlfOA-NYIaANw/s1600/P1010009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3UvXep2PNI24L9gzkGUPI29daSKv74aVuD-NtquqD12BCADrBaFSx7gT3vmEJN3FmarBV0jSYWrVuyHopDHN_S502kHnnNRJ6gYWqjiiL8HfnnBX1xRTverHcN5AQvwlfOA-NYIaANw/s320/P1010009.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">part of rhythm section<br />
</div><ul><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV8fcPJrFPlxNFvs7hbA3W8gl1LUQKSuO3-fvbjgK9OTzMb7ZFNoBAWpxq6IETf6jGacSX3ZYSzC051qprhiPR-W2P9fl4ahN_bWTfLWSIUXe73yXIq-zkXmx1Fy2fRZgjU6SPZGjnTU/s1600/P1010008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV8fcPJrFPlxNFvs7hbA3W8gl1LUQKSuO3-fvbjgK9OTzMb7ZFNoBAWpxq6IETf6jGacSX3ZYSzC051qprhiPR-W2P9fl4ahN_bWTfLWSIUXe73yXIq-zkXmx1Fy2fRZgjU6SPZGjnTU/s400/P1010008.JPG" /></a></span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">lots of borojo to drink</span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u5t389m9aiCs4VQ6AlXhVDQyBctlXbdGGkSx0FUucGUgDrTmp8UAS7hgoRCprNmfFwAVKoibilRe7p5ghpZ8SWc6hx0a40t-Qy57hY0K46ZTpQpjpgy3Y7f-cmZOCOXuDibRs0Y-ifo/s1600/P1010004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u5t389m9aiCs4VQ6AlXhVDQyBctlXbdGGkSx0FUucGUgDrTmp8UAS7hgoRCprNmfFwAVKoibilRe7p5ghpZ8SWc6hx0a40t-Qy57hY0K46ZTpQpjpgy3Y7f-cmZOCOXuDibRs0Y-ifo/s400/P1010004.JPG" /></a></span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">grating coconut to cook with rice</span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br />
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqUDGIjBYcxGpyOVTZa46FGcNU_7zHyPh2DsuMe-15lGZV-y_XoEnZ5eb8tEp35ykyZCb3EvH6-syOmd0iSc1tZDG9zLyhEdg6FkBou1870MMQIZNTEYcByf1bXgVdFufSEKV6Oi-tfk/s1600/P1010006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqUDGIjBYcxGpyOVTZa46FGcNU_7zHyPh2DsuMe-15lGZV-y_XoEnZ5eb8tEp35ykyZCb3EvH6-syOmd0iSc1tZDG9zLyhEdg6FkBou1870MMQIZNTEYcByf1bXgVdFufSEKV6Oi-tfk/s400/P1010006.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">women pastors meet</span></li>
<li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br />
</span></li>
</ul></div></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1Xsxk7xp5r5kLx-0hhWHXIw2H-iuVfc9CX_L1vGwapAj1vY8n6KdW7kpcD9_eeEYhC56KBD-LHQsKxdVA7Obi0_FN3cuDKYczuiEAdqIRyjoEDphwC013lRm260GNJYxV6g7KOjmric/s1600/P1010010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1Xsxk7xp5r5kLx-0hhWHXIw2H-iuVfc9CX_L1vGwapAj1vY8n6KdW7kpcD9_eeEYhC56KBD-LHQsKxdVA7Obi0_FN3cuDKYczuiEAdqIRyjoEDphwC013lRm260GNJYxV6g7KOjmric/s400/P1010010.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYW8SvWqiZ1lC8MvBTxX6zqN_iHC0H2cmk980V157L9jgrufWWGoNxZO0ZEtUb0xxVZbg3DHkiqTq7_NMZFhSdYl2_6MNbHvAresF8r0VQdJxn_dgtATVYv2rQbmC8ph2-aaacFVjmIw/s1600-h/1114090947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYW8SvWqiZ1lC8MvBTxX6zqN_iHC0H2cmk980V157L9jgrufWWGoNxZO0ZEtUb0xxVZbg3DHkiqTq7_NMZFhSdYl2_6MNbHvAresF8r0VQdJxn_dgtATVYv2rQbmC8ph2-aaacFVjmIw/s320/1114090947.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We passed </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Hundred-Years-Solitude-P-S/dp/0060883286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259424612&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maconda</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">! Note sign.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the last 5 months men from this </span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">California</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> 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. </span></span><br />
</div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How extravagantly they welcomed and hosted us!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Those who were sad will be called</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oaks of Justice, planted by God</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">to rebuild what has been destroyed</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">to rebuild what has been in ruins </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for many generations. Isaiah 61:3</span><br />
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</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-64257275736427275372009-11-11T12:19:00.000-08:002009-11-22T13:09:45.701-08:00Camelot Upside Down<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Not the knights of King Arthur at a round table. However the displaced people in today’s Camelot, located 30 minutes outside the major Colombian city of Barranquilla, do sit together and imagine a different world. They strategize. Then they take action. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Their children lack access to public education. So families of 50 elementary age children are paying a Colombian bank rent for one tiny house which they use for their education efforts. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are no textbooks for the 50 children who crowd into the space from 7 a.m. to noon each day. The tiny space becomes a kindergarten in the afternoon; on the weekend it’s an adult education classroom. The adults are continuously in contact with the Education Ministry to make <i>Renacer</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> a public school with textbooks and teachers. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ViwwU2b0uLE/SwmnSg3m0DI/AAAAAAAAAEk/DaUbB6JFaCE/s1600/1112091119a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ViwwU2b0uLE/SwmnSg3m0DI/AAAAAAAAAEk/DaUbB6JFaCE/s320/1112091119a.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ViwwU2b0uLE/SwmnfG_0-YI/AAAAAAAAAEs/ALcSs5EuJLI/s1600/1112091118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ViwwU2b0uLE/SwmnfG_0-YI/AAAAAAAAAEs/ALcSs5EuJLI/s320/1112091118.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">There’s no fancy castle in today’s Camelot. People live in very close quarters, tiny one-room dwellings in some stage of construction on sun-baked, eroded soil. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">“You can meet people from all parts of Colombia with a visit to Camelot” according to Luisa, a community leader, who with her husband and children fled home and land in the mountains of a distant Province. People who did not know each other until their common fate brought them together share common dreams: <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Adequate food <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Education<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Employment<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A health clinic<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Community kitchen<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Space for children to play.<o:p></o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Community leaders are planning a workshop to help neighbors understand a law passed by the Colombian Congress in April 2008 granting land and reparations to displaced people.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwE35RugE7V2YAzZ2uLMhu8S4rs1Q0kiHA5lCMpdbYr2nqoirV6WC_SlyRZbXyPx0ovpkUza9OSM9xMNkUHKUF06xrqCXwvC-cB83p8ucmEmOG8LZIssBUWS6b2bGy8lj3ukEseTfzFQ/s1600/1112091020a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwE35RugE7V2YAzZ2uLMhu8S4rs1Q0kiHA5lCMpdbYr2nqoirV6WC_SlyRZbXyPx0ovpkUza9OSM9xMNkUHKUF06xrqCXwvC-cB83p8ucmEmOG8LZIssBUWS6b2bGy8lj3ukEseTfzFQ/s320/1112091020a.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Raising pet iguana<br />
</div></div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-36637422790365887142009-11-10T17:31:00.000-08:002009-11-22T18:12:38.265-08:00visions of .... far North?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYXZpUwBiqDZwwaNMwoiT1UHhvOx_OZRwpuTKD0buvvrH8QRbjdkZni8EJBtrfaR1KcrzspmUYYd_1ax9uT_hKori7mztHiJK6kMZVb8CDYfH9mBttm5VtsPo65J_z1cVWA79hbqnxqA/s1600-h/1110091442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYXZpUwBiqDZwwaNMwoiT1UHhvOx_OZRwpuTKD0buvvrH8QRbjdkZni8EJBtrfaR1KcrzspmUYYd_1ax9uT_hKori7mztHiJK6kMZVb8CDYfH9mBttm5VtsPo65J_z1cVWA79hbqnxqA/s1600-h/1110091442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYXZpUwBiqDZwwaNMwoiT1UHhvOx_OZRwpuTKD0buvvrH8QRbjdkZni8EJBtrfaR1KcrzspmUYYd_1ax9uT_hKori7mztHiJK6kMZVb8CDYfH9mBttm5VtsPo65J_z1cVWA79hbqnxqA/s400/1110091442.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-71778444953906357702009-11-10T17:23:00.000-08:002009-11-10T17:25:47.913-08:00Militarized Planet, local reality<div class="MsoNormal">Thinking the violence in Colombia is an internal matter? <a href="http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14744897">Here’s</a> an excellent, accurate, quick read article about a hugely significant part of the current political violence in Colombia. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Note how the symbolic “drug war” in which US regularly extradites guys to the US for trial on drug charges works directly against the cry of Colombians to hold these same individuals responsible for the torture, disappearances, assassinations, massacres, rape, and forced displacements from land which paramilitary groups continue to carry out. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A corps of dedicated people in every part of Colombia assiduously and methodically documents human rights violations associated with political violence. I'm writing today while seated next to such a person, a lawyer who oversees documentation efforts in the Atlantic Region. <br />
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<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Every 6 months a record of each documented violation, organized by Province, municipality, by date, type of violation, and armed group responsible, is published. This cumulative data bank is a memorial to victims, and some day will be part of national reconciliation and reparations for victims. The documentation is done within the framework of international law and is financed by the European Union. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The number of documented cases for January through June 2009 total is 917. <br />
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</div>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-80858544455204659512009-11-09T07:53:00.001-08:002009-11-09T16:15:57.976-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">my apartment at La Universidad Reformada<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ViwwU2b0uLE/SvhsKE6ydSI/AAAAAAAAACs/Cj0QqUj8pAI/s1600-h/1104091455%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ViwwU2b0uLE/SvhsKE6ydSI/AAAAAAAAACs/Cj0QqUj8pAI/s320/1104091455%232.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Today I'm grateful for<br />
• Brilliant blue skies, sun, and fragrant air after a day of copious rains;<br />
• An apartment on the beautiful campus of La Universidad Reformada. The ambiance speaks tranquility and industriousness;<br />
• The generous acts, love, humor, values, and sociopolitical analysis of the men and women leaders of the IPC (Colombian Presbyterian Church);<br />
• The privilege to collaborate with J. who documents <a href="http://www.nocheyniebla.org/">human rights</a> violations<br />
• J.A., twice <a href="http://www.internal-displacement.org/">displaced</a> from land, unemployed, who serves as President of the Atlantic Region of the Association of Displace People in Colombia;<br />
• Participants from around Barranquilla who are part of a global advocacy network for just wages and decent work in a globalized economy. The IPC is a member of the <a href="http://www.trabajodecente.org.co/">network</a> which held a local forum Thursday; <br />
• <i>La comida costeña</i>.<br />
<br />
In the face of all our realities:<br />
we are the people who heal each other,<br />
who grow strong together,<br />
who name the truth,<br />
who know what it means<br />
to live in community,<br />
moving towards a common dream<br />
for a new heaven and a new earth<br />
in the power of the love of God.<br />
(#200, Sing the Story)Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-87559400150485034932009-10-26T12:39:00.000-07:002009-10-26T12:44:20.887-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn92ldXODgkN_BBOL42V2EkT8Voe3nGdP4QD0k-dsdVj4AiYBwC1AoSKqfR0HaB0NxRAfHG8tI7hZx70ZUW5VajDCnkkFLdIJGNqvjVVXVn40vHHdiaqzJozmjw0lYfGLzvp06fNX-ZSk/s1600-h/1005091656a.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn92ldXODgkN_BBOL42V2EkT8Voe3nGdP4QD0k-dsdVj4AiYBwC1AoSKqfR0HaB0NxRAfHG8tI7hZx70ZUW5VajDCnkkFLdIJGNqvjVVXVn40vHHdiaqzJozmjw0lYfGLzvp06fNX-ZSk/s320/1005091656a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396996741442730562" /></a>Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-922682611214745114.post-67241326494654872782009-10-26T12:01:00.000-07:002009-10-26T12:15:34.435-07:00Acompáñanos<span style="" lang="ES-TRAD"><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="ES-TRAD"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“<i>Acompáñame a la pulpa</i><span style="font-style: normal;">,” a neighbor child in San José, Costa Rica often said to my daughter when<span style=""> </span>she needed to walk to the store to buy bread or an egg</span><i>. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Throughout Latin America the verb “</span><i>acompañar</i><span style="font-style: normal;">” (to accompany) has a much broader use and meaning than we have given it in English and over many years I have been impressed by the power of the simple acts of requesting and giving companionship. “</span><i>Acompañamiento</i><span style="font-style: normal;">” (accompanying) – a word used constantly in daily life as well as professional and church settings – is a concept rooted in a strong cultural belief in need for companionship through any situation – whether a simple task that’s enlivened by a friend’s company or through the much bigger joys and sorrows of life. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After my decision to volunteer as an “accompanier” with the Colombian Presbyterian Church I began to notice hymn texts we sing at College Mennonite that describe the Spanish verb <i>acompañar</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trave’lers on the road. We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear.<span style=""> </span>I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.<span style=""> </span>Hymnal 307<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p>….Sons and daughters of the Lord, serving one another, a new covenant of peace binds us all together. Hymnal 407<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When a Presbyterian church member, a law student who documented human rights abuses, was jailed four years ago there were difficulties to learn the charges or effect his release.<span style=""> </span>The Colombian Church called the Moderator of Presbyterian Church USA<i>.<span style=""> </span>¡Acompáñanos!</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Milton Mejía, and his US counterpart, Rick Ufford-Chase, developed a<a href="http://presbypeacefellowship.org"> project</a> in which U.S. volunteers accompany Presbyterian churches in and around the major port city of Barranquilla in the <a href="http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/co.htm" title="Northern">Northern</a> region of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At times an international witness may provide a modicum of influence or safety in a life threatening situation.<span style=""> </span>However accompaniment’s true purpose is to remind us all that we are members one of another, and the Colombian church faces hard circumstances. Paramilitary violence and killings in the region produce large-scale displacement of people and entire communities, and alarming risks for leaders who speak out.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">During this ecumenical journey I'll describe how people of faith are constructing peace in a country where the government is banking on military solutions. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <img src="file:///Users/phyllisstutzman/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />Phyllis Dintaman Stutzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08843957639017412425noreply@blogger.com1