Thursday, June 27, 2019

Goodbye and Hello


The stories and memories from our lent photo a day series were to help us both remember and share many of the stories of what we have experienced over these last five years in the accompaniment of the IELCO in Colombia. Lent is long over and we are now into Pentecost.

We had every intention of writing more on this blog, however, life became a little busier than we anticipated as we packed up in Colombia and transitioned back to the US. We have been in the US now a little over a month and are adjusting well to life in this country. Saying goodbye was difficult and we already miss a lot of Colombia, especially our friends and colleagues.

We thank all of you for accompanying us during our time in Colombia. Thank you for your prayers, for your communication, and for your support, financial and other. All of those stories and all the rest over these last five years were made possible because of your generosity in supporting us. 

We look forward to moving to Colorado in August. Please stay in touch.

The IELCO central office gave is the poster of caricatures of all of us who work out of the central office as our going away present.
If you want to read the last newsletter we sent out, here is a link.

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: From War to Peace

"From War to Peace" is the name of a project of IELCO outside of the city of Medellin. The project accompanies communities that are recieving ex-combatants that have demobilized since the peace agreements, to accompany the process of reincorporation, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace-building, and community safety. Here we are in a workshop identifying the assets that exist in the community and how the community can put them to us in developing plans of self-protection and risk reduction. The hope that this process carries is a very fitting reminder on this Easter Sunday that death is not the final word.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: with Zulma

For those of you who regularly read the blog, there are a few names that come up often, Zulma is one of them. Zulma and I started working together almost as quickly as we got to Colombia. She has been who I have accompanied most closely during our time in Colombia. There are too many memories with her to just pick one for the blog....but I tried. We decorated our office with an "education" word cloud and are proudly showing it off the day it was hung. 


Friday, April 19, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Cancelled Trips

As Colombia is a country in the midst of conflict, it is hard to not notice how the conflict impacts so many aspects of life here. I decided to put a "blank" photo here to represent the photos I wasn't able to take and the trips, workshops, and other activities that I had to cancel due to safety concerns related to the conflict. On this somber Good Friday, I am refelcting on these experiences.


Thursday, April 18, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Sara Lara

Sara Lara started as coordinator of the human rights program of IELCO in May of 2016. Since then she has been an important compaƱera for me. She has helped with the cultural translation of life and everyday interactions in Colombia, as well as developing the human rights and peace-building work in IELCO.


Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Cali

During the Christmas break in 2016, we took a few days to go to Cali (in Colombia, not the state in the US). One of the things to do in Cali is to climb up a little mountain and see the church at the top. We did that and this is us with the church behind us. We enjoyed our time in Cali. 


Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Maily's ice cream sh0p

A very enjoyable part of visiting the community in Medellin, after every workshop or other activity, the community is invited to Maily's ice cream shop. Not only is it delicious ice cream, they come in very generous servings. As Pastor John told Maily as we were all sharing over some ice cream: "You know what you sell here, you sell happiness".


Monday, April 15, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Buddies

This is me with Mauricio, Mauricio was one of the first people I met when we arrived in Colombia. He and I quickly became close. He calls me his big sister and he is my little brother. This photo was at a special event at our church - that is why we are both dressed up. Lots of fun memories wrapped-up in this photo. 


Sunday, April 14, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Mauricio's Artwork

Mauricio is a young man who works with us in IELCO's office in Bogota. He does a lot of the graphic design for the publications of IELCO, and is a very talented artist. He made these drawings for us, on the left is for Katie and on the right is for me.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Cate's Graduation

One of the things that I will always remember about Colombia has been the times that we have been invited into the special moments of different people's lives. This photo was the graduation of Cate, where I was invited to support her with her family. This photo was taken during lunch after. A very special memory indeed. 


Friday, April 12, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Abilio and John

Here I am with Abilio (in the middle) and Pastor John (right) at the end of the conference last year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Medellin outcome documents. They were both main organizers of the conference and have accompanied me in so many ways these years in Colombia. Two people I am grateful to know.


Thursday, April 11, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Our Office

The last several months the central office of IELCO (where we both work) has been under construction with some remodeling and updating projects. This was the celebration of the inauguration of the new meeting room (the first room that was finished). These are some of the wonderful people we work with!   


Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Sustainable Community Development

As I got more acquainted with the context of IELCO, I realized that a way that I could accompany local congregations was through community development. I found a certificate program at Colorado State University, and the ELCA supported me taking the courses. Last year I finished the courses, and have been able to put into practice with IELCO congregations much of what I learned during the certificate program.


Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: A good reminder

We all have days where we wonder if what we are doing is worth it, right (please don't tell me I am the only one). This picture is one of my reminders that sometimes what I am doing matters. This is Leidy and the photo is from the national retreat for Christian Formation, we hadn't formally met before this retreat. She came up to me and said I had led a workshop with her son, and he would be so excited if we could take a picture together to send to him. It was a needed affirmation in that moment and has stuck with me. 


Monday, April 8, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Gaitan

In 1948, Presidential candidate Jorge Elecier Gaitan was shot outside of his office in downtown Bogota. This is, to many, the start of the current and ongoing armed conflict in Colombia. This photo is of the memorial at the exact place where he was shot. As Andres was giving us a tour of downtown Bogota, he made sure that we came to this place.


Sunday, April 7, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Colombian Cooking

Many people have asked me if I have learned to cook Colombian food since we have been here. Yes, there are a few traditional Colombian things I have learned. One visit to Bucaramanga, Pastor Sergio taught me to make bunelos. I am holding the one I made - what you can't quite see in the photo is the bowl full of the perfectly round ones he made, mine didn't turn out as beautiful! We all had a good laugh at the blob of a bunelo I made. 


Saturday, April 6, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Gabriel Garcia Marquez Cultural Center

When we both have some free time, Andres and I love to go to the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Cultural Center (with Colombia's largest book store) and spend some time perusing the books, then getting a lunch. On this day Katie and Andres' son Gabo (named after Gabriel Garcia Marquez) were able to join us.


Friday, April 5, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Biking

Curtis and I have bikes and love biking around the city. On Sundays and holidays many of the roads are closed to cars so people can enjoy biking without cars. The picture is me biking with the twins, Cate and Jennifer, one Sunday after church. 


Thursday, April 4, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Flying Kites

It is always a priviledge to watch Sara and Mariana, the daughters of Pastors Atahualpa and Angelica. They lived close to us and every once in a while we were able to help out. Here we are on our terrace on a windy day, trying to get some kites to fly.



Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Traveling

This picture is recent. The weekend of March 23-24 was the church's national council meeting, held in Paz de Ariporo. On the way back to Bogota Monday morning a large group of us were on the same plane. When we landed in Bogota we took a group picture. It was a good council meeting, you can tell everyone is happy (and tired). 


Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Solar Eclipse

In August of 2017, we witnessed a solar eclipse of a visibility that had not happened since 1918. Here I am with Mikka McCracken of the ELCA as she was in Colombia on sabbatical. We put together some homemade pin hole viewers with some cereal boxes.


Monday, April 1, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Mangos

Fresh mangos! The picture below is from a trip to someone's home, mangos were in harvest and while we were there we had mango juice and mangos at every meal. When we went home we were sent with a bag of fresh mangos. 


Sunday, March 31, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Andean Music in Cali

While visiting the city of Cali in western Colombia in 2016, we came across a concert of traditional Andean music, along with traditional dances and clothing. Hearing the diverse music styles of the region and the passion that people have for maintaining the tradition was a great experience. 


Saturday, March 30, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Amazons

One last picture from our trip to the Amazons. Here I am, standing at a lookout over the Amazon River. It was a beautiful view of the river and the jungle. Truly a trip I will never forget. 


Friday, March 29, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Relaxing in the Amazon Jungle

We took a boat trip on the amazon river and crossed over into Peru for a day. Here we are with Pastor Zulanlly, who acompanied us on our Amazon trip, resting in some hammocks and enjoying a nice breeze in the midst of the intense heat of the jungle.


Thursday, March 28, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Amazons

In 2015 we had the opportunity to go to the Amazons for a long weekend. We went on a guided tour through a small part of the jungle and came across this fellow....yes, he is wild, he was huge, and he was a little too close. Our guide was even a little scared. After taking this picture, we quickly left. But, wow, what an amazing experience! 


Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Manu Chao concert

One of my favorite musicians, Manu Chao, came to Colombia in 2015. I hadn't yet had the opportunity to go to one of his concerts, so took advantage of this opportunity. Our dear friends Andres and Elizabeth came with us. Here we are trying to squeeze in a group selfie in the midst of the giant crowd.

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Lent Photo a day: Cacao

Colombia is known for growing really good (high quality) cacao. One day Curtis and I had the opportunity to tour the process of how cacao is grown and produced. It was really informative and interesting. We finished the tour with cacao lemonade - it doesn't sound good, but it was delicious! Below is a bag of cacao. 


Monday, March 25, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Tejo

A very traditional Colombian game is called Tejo. When Katie was studying at the Spanish institute they held different cultural events. One of these was a trip to play Tejo, which I was also invited to participate. It is basically throwing a stone, about like a hockey puck, across the room and trying to get it to hit a piece of paper folded up with gunpowder inside. So the successful throw leads to an explosion. The game is a lot of fun! You can see the papers folded up like a paper footbal in the mud slab.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Lent photo a day: Recycling

This is the second part of yesterday's blog. This is another picture of the recycling project from the Lutheran school in Sogamoso. The chairs and the flower pot in between are all made by the students and all from recycled materials. This picture was from a time when Zulma (right) and I went to Sogamoso to lead a workshop for the teachers there - we both thought all the projects the students had made were great!  


Saturday, March 23, 2019

Lent photo a day: Recycling

This is a minion. This was made in the Lutheran school in Sogamoso during a recycling project they had. They taught the students about recycling and made all sorts of cute, creative, and useful things. The minion below is a flower planter made from recycled tires (tomorrow I will share one other recycled project). 


Friday, March 22, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Birthday Cards

One of the projects I started here was making birthday cards for everyone, the office tends to celebrate birthdays once a quarter. Before our first Home Assignment (in 2016) I made all the birthday cards before we left - I was pretty proud of my work :) 


Thursday, March 21, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: First visit to Monserrate

During our visit Christmas vacation in BogotĆ”  we decided to go check out the famous tourist destination Monserrate, a cathedral on the top of the mountains surrounding BogotĆ”. The view was great on a nice sunny day, and we were proud for figuring out how to get there ourselves.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Cooking

Quickly after we arrived with became friends with Ata and Angelica (Ata is now the bishop and Angelica now our pastor) and their two daughters. One night, they invited us to dinner and their two daughters were cooking using THEIR cookbook. Here is Sara (the younger daughter) showing her Dad what she was cooking (don't miss the cookbook). It was one of several very fun evenings we have had together. 


Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Talk with Soon to be Graduates

As the students graduating from the Sogamoso Lutheran School were just a day or so away from finishing and graduating, the human rights program was invited to give a talk. The timing could have been better. Understandably the students minds were elsewhere.


Monday, March 18, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Hanging-out

For those of you who have visited us in Colombia, you have seen our terrace - this is where we are. Whenever we can (which is not as often as we would like) we go to the terrace, have a glass of wine, or just sit, talk, and enjoy some fresh air. We feel so fortunate to have the terrace! 


Sunday, March 17, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Fruit Salad and Human Rights

In a workshop with students from the schoolin Paz de Ariporo, Sara (coordinator human rights program) taught the kids about human rights through the making of fruit salads. The kids got into it, and we all enjoyed the end results.

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Chicaque

This is a beautiful day trip Curtis and I took just outside of Bogota. This park is known as the Cloud Forest (you can see why in from the photo), but actually called Chicaque. It was magical, there were moments when the clouds would clear and we could see the scenery, and then just as quickly the clouds would come again. 


Friday, March 15, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Birthday Celebrations

Pastor Zulanlly (in the middle of the group) invited us to her birthday party in 2015. It was a fun time to experience the cultural differences in celebrating birthdays. We are in this picture with her family, friends and others from IELCO.




For those of you just joining, we are continuing our photo a day for Lent: A few years ago we started the tradition to post a picture a day during Lent. This Lent we will continue with the tradition focusing on "remembering". We have been in Colombia almost 5 years (where did the time go) and there are so many stories that haven't made it on the blog; short stories from the ordinary moments of life that we don't want to forget.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Gabo

When we came to Colombia, Curtis accompanied Andres. One day, Andres didn't have anyone to watch his son, Gabriel (Gabo for short) and asked if I would be willing to. I, of course, said yes. This was while I was still learning Spanish, Gabo and I played all afternoon. I later learned that when he went home with his Dad he told his Dad that I spoke funny, his Dad tried to explain that I was learning Spanish, but Gabo didn't understand. A few months later we spent some more time together, and after that, he told his Dad that I spoke Spanish better. There was something about passing the test of a 4-year-old that I was so proud of! 




For those of you just joining, we are continuing our photo a day for Lent: A few years ago we started the tradition to post a picture a day during Lent. This Lent we will continue with the tradition focusing on "remembering". We have been in Colombia almost 5 years (where did the time go) and there are so many stories that haven't made it on the blog; short stories from the ordinary moments of life that we don't want to forget.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Spanish Teacher Soccer Tournament

IELCO had set us up with spanish languge tutors to help us dive into the language. Sergio (left) and Paola (right) accompanied us each for our first few months in Colombia to help us learn. They were also teachers at the San Lucas Lutheran School in Bogota. When the school had a soccer tournament for the teachers, Sergio and Paola invited us to come watch.


Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Dessert

Shortly after we arrived to Colombia we were talking with one of the members of IELCO who has spent time in the United States, and understands some of the things we like. One of these is our love of dessert (good dessert). He told us that if we were ever feeling 'nostalgic' for dessert that tasted like it was from the US, where we could find a bakery that made such desserts. We never have learned the name and continue to call it nostalgic - and it is good! This was the first dessert we bought. 


Monday, March 11, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Pisilago

Right before our first Chrsitmas vacation in Colombia, the IELCO office took a trip to Psisilago, a famous amusement park in Colombia. Katie and I took a paddle boat ride around the park.


Sunday, March 10, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Fuquene

When we arrived to Colombia, I didn't speak much Spanish at all, so I went to an intensive language school. One of the things the school offered was outings to see more of Bogota and surrounding areas and practice Spanish in the 'real world'. One of the outings we did (Curtis came with me) was go to Fuquene a lake near Bogota and go for a short boat ride. It was absolutely beautiful! 


Saturday, March 9, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Apartment Warming

When we first arrived to Colombia in 2014, we stayed at IELCO's guest house as we searched for an apartment of our own. After we found our apartment and had moved in, our companions in the IELCO office helped us celebrate with a house warming party.


Friday, March 8, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Arrival

This photo was taken the first night we arrived in Colombia, we were warmly welcomed at the airport and when we got to the Church Guest House (where we lived our first month) there was this basket of Colombian fruit and a sweet card to welcome us. 


Thursday, March 7, 2019

Lent Photo a Day: Who am I?

At a workshop on Women's Rights, we played a 'guess who I am game', based on how others were responding to the identity taped to our backs. Being invited into spaces like this was always an honor as it showed a level of comfort and trust that my counterparts in IELCO and ecumenical partners felt.




Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Starting Lent

A few years ago we started the tradition to post a picture a day during Lent. This Lent we will continue with the tradition focusing on "remembering". We have been in Colombia almost 5 years (where did the time go) and there are so many stories that haven't made it on the blog; short stories from the ordinary moments of life that we don't want to forget. 

This is what I wrote in our last newsletter (which was emailed on February 25): Several years ago we started the tradition of sharing a photo-a-day on our blog during Lent. Lent is starting next week (March 6) and we have committed to continuing our tradition. This year we are focusing on remembering. We have been in Colombia almost 5 years now, and so much has happened. We have shared the bigger events on our blog (retreats, workshops, etc) however, so many of the day to day activities never make it to the blog. It is Biblical to remember and to share our stories. In Joshua we read: “The people crossed the Jordan River….They carried with them the twelve rocks that they had taken from the Jordan River, and Joshua set them up at Gilgal. Then Joshua told the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?’ Tell them, ‘These rocks help us remember the way the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry land.’” (Joshua 4:19-22) These are our “theme verses” this year for Lent. We won’t share rocks (although, some of you may know I do have a habit of collecting rocks to remember places and times) but we will share photos. Every day in Lent we will share a photo of a memory either Curtis or I have from our time throughout the last 5 years. I hope you join us as we remember the people, places, and moments that have made Colombia so special to us.


This picture was taken at the Tayrona national park, and is our 'theme' picture for Lent. What are memories you have of Colombia? Memories of Global Mission? 

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Colombia: Pushing for Peace and Women’s Rights


The week of February 18 - 22nd Colombia was up for review by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women which monitors the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, an international human rights treaty of which Colombia is a signatory. As signatory to the treaty Colombia is called to review every four years about how it has improved on the implementation of the treaty. IELCO together with its ecumenical partners in DIPAZ and other civil society actors wrote a shadow report as an alternative source of information to the Colombian governments report during the discussions in Geneva. Sara Lara, the coordinator of the Human Rights program of IELCO was invited to be present in Geneva while the Committee discussed the situation of women in Colombia. The Lutheran World Federation highlighted this great experience in a recent article.

Colombia: Pushing for Peace and Women’s Rights


BOGOTA, Colombia/GENEVA 26/2/2019
https://www.lutheranworld.org/news/colombia-pushing-peace-and-womens-rights

Viviana Machuca (left), representing the Colombia inter-church platform DIPAZ, and Sara Lara (right), director if the human rights program of IELCO, in Geneva for the CEDAW shadow report on Colombia, meet with Rev. Dr. Martin Junge (center), LWF General Secretary. PHoto LWF/S. Gallay.


Lutheran church joins other civil society representatives presenting shadow report to UN’s CEDAW committee


(LWI) - Colombia’s hard won peace accords are at risk in the current political climate. That’s the view of a civil society delegation from the South American nation that presented a shadow report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in mid-February.

The shadow report, compiled by a coalition of NGOs including a network of churches known as DIPAZ, is entitled ‘Women and Peace in Colombia: in search of full rights’. It details allegations of human rights violations that continue to affect the most vulnerable women in the country, despite new hopes for justice and peace raised by the signing of a national peace agreement in August 2016.

Sara Lara is coordinator of the human rights program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia (IELCO). She was part of the delegation attending the CEDAW session in Geneva and she explains the challenges faced by those working for human rights in her country today: “We hoped the FPA [Final Peace Agreement] would usher in a new era of peaceful relations”, she says, yet she notes that conflict continues in many areas of the country.

The peace accord, signed by Colombia’s government and the main guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was narrowly rejected in a national referendum, requiring a revision of the text that was ratified by both houses of Congress in November 2016.

When the original agreement was signed, Lara says, it was “a great success, because women got a role and were visible”, with victims of human rights abuses obtaining the possibility of reparations.

“When the first peace agreement was rejected”, she continues, opponents of the accord “tried to water down all language of protection for LGBT and women’s rights and some of this protection was removed.”
In Colombia today, Lara says, “it’s been like a step backwards” as conservative political and religious forces seek to undermine the peace accord and reject calls for greater protection of vulnerable women, including those who were formerly members of armed groups. The shadow report notes that ongoing violence in Colombia continues to have a disproportionate impact on women and girls in rural areas, especially indigenous and Afro-Colombians, as well as women migrants from neighbouring Venezuela.

Lara explains there has also been a set back in terms of women’s rights cutting across all social and demographic groups, as conservative groups challenge a rights-based approach to women’s agency. Within the framework of DIPAZ, the IELCO is working hard to reconcile conflicting views, so that the rights and dignity of women and sexual minorities are not perceived as a threat to faith or family life.

During her visit to the United Nations, Lara says she saw how the Colombian government claims it is making good progress towards peace and human rights and that “all institutions of the state are working for the rights of women”. But she adds that violence and discrimination continue to affect women, particularly those in rural and remote areas of the country.

Lara believes the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) can play an important role in supporting work to promote human rights in her country. In particular, she insists, it can continue to advocate for the many victims of Colombia’s long-running conflict: “In the first peace accord they were at the core of the agreements but now they are left on the side”, she says, adding that the LWF can keep the focus on them through its “spiritual and theological voice”.

During their visit to Geneva, members of the DIPAZ delegation met with LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Martin Junge, who underlined the vital role that the churches play as they continue to be a key part of the effort to promote women’s rights in Colombia today.


Here is a link to the executive summary of the shadow report.



Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Christian Formation Training

At the beginning of every year, we visit each of the regions to lead a workshop with the Sunday School teachers. The idea is to start the year well and start the year strong. This year was no exception. Last October, Carolina was elected as the coordinator of Christian Formation (the program that leads Sunday School). So this year, Carolina, Zulma (the former coordinator of Christian Formation and the current coordinator of Formation and Leadership) and I traveled together to lead these retreats.  

The theme this year was looking at the Sacraments, how many Sacraments to Lutherans recognize (and why not the others that the Catholic recognize) and what do we believe about Baptism and Communion (the two Sacraments). Each of the three of us took a part of the workshop to lead, as well as the regional coordinator in each region. Zulma led the introduction, I led the part going deeper in Baptism, and Carolina led the part going deeper in Communion. 

Zulma leading at the very beginning of the day to see what people knew about Sacraments. 

 
Carolina leading a game (similar to shoots and ladders but life size!)

The group in the Llanos Regions

The group in the Boyaca Region
The group from the Central region showing an mobile they made about communion

The group in the Central region again - at lunch (I have been practicing my "selfie" skills)

 
The group in the Eastern Region
 It has been a busy month to travel to each of the regions, but definitely worth it.