El Cocuy: Misión en el Camino (mission trip)

Our group (left to right): Rosy, me, Monica, Angela

During Holy Week (I know that was awhile ago, and I am late in writing this blog), a group of four from Bogota went to El Cocuy (another group went to Bucaramanga). We left Wednesday morning (April 1), and our activities started Thursday morning. The bus trip from Bogota to El Cocuy was 13 hours! Normally it takes between 8-10 hours... The Misión en el Camino is like a mission trip to accompany churches that are either without pastor or have a request for help. El Cocuy was without pastor when we planned this trip, but by the time we got there, they had a pastor. 

Thursday morning we started with a liturgy workshop. This time was devoted to talking about the order of worship, why we, as Lutherans, do things in the order we do and what the significant of each part of worship is.

Thursday afternoon was the women’s group. This group talked about the ‘recipe’ to have a heart of God. We used the example of making a cake, so of course, we all made a cake together (a no-bake coffee cake). We then shared the cakes with everyone after the Maundy Thursday worship. 

The mission congregation: Valle de Bendición

Friday was devoted to preparing and leading worship for the mission congregation of El Cocuy, “Valle de Bendición” (there is a congregation in El Cocuy, El Salvador, and their mission up the mountain, Valle be Bendición). This was interesting for me, because on Thursday I was asked to preach for this service…in Spanish. The group I was with told me it was okay if it was a short sermon, so it was. At one point in the sermon I was talking about Bible verses that we know by heart, I told the congregation that one of my favorites is Psalm 121: “I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made the 

Me with my translator, Salmon Usa

heavens and the Earth.” However, because I was talking about verses that our in our heart, that we know by heart, I told the congregation this one is in my heart in English, and said the verse in English (but said where it was from in Spanish). A gentleman in the back, after I finished it in English repeated it in Spanish. The whole congregation teased him saying they didn't know he knew English, and he was now my translator (I’m guessing this was also a verse he knew by heart, so when I said Psalm 121, he knew exactly what I was talking about. Preaching was a terrifying experience for me in Spanish, but also a very incredible opportunity, and a very special (and gracious) congregation.

Saturday was the children’s party. The party included a skit (by the children) about a thief of happiness. Every time a child would walk on stage the thief of happiness would steal their toy, until the last person was only happy because she had Jesus in her heart, the thief of happiness could not steal her happiness. There were also group games, songs,snacks and at the end every child received a gift bag/party favor.

The children playing a game. 

Sunday was Easter, after the Easter service we went for a hike up to a lookout where we could see all of El Cocuy as well as bunch of mountains and snow! It was beautiful – a great place for our group to sit quietly and reflect about the week, and about the promises of Easter. It was a very full week, but a great experience. I arrived back in Bogota (after another long bus ride) exhausted, but happy to have been part of such an incredible week. 

Blessed be the Peacemakers...

Peacemakers from Colombia, from Latin America, and from all around the world came to Bogota April 8-11 with a common purpose. The Inter-ecclesial Dialogue for Peace in Colombia, (here is a past blog about the group) DIPaz, organized this event to hear from grassroots Colombians involved in initiatives for the construction of peace, to hear from church leaders from other countries who have gone through peace and reconciliation processes, and to hear from representatives from international organizations that have been involved in peace processes.  The common purpose or agenda was to create a plan for DIPaz, answering the question: “What should the role of the churches be in the construction of peace in Colombia?” The Conference was titled: The International Ecumenical Encounter for Peace in Colombia.

Here is the flyer (in Spanish) advertising the conference.

Wednesday, April 8, started with a public event at the University Javeriana with presentations from Bishop Dr. Emeritus Gunnar Stalsett from the Lutheran Church in Norway, the Reverend Doctor Maake Masango from South Africa, John Nduna from Zambia and Secretary-General of ACT Alliance, Jenny Neme Director of a Justapaz (a Colombian peace and reconciliation organization), and Angie Juliet Muelas from the Kisgo Indigenous Reserve in Cauca, Colombia. It was a time of powerful stories and experiences from within and from outside of Colombia regarding peace-building and reconciliation practices, initiatives and challenges.

On every cross is the name of a victim from the conflict. During the opening event the name would be read, and everyone would sing "Presente!" (Present!, like in a roll call) as an act of remembering those that have been lost. Beautiful and moving experience. (photo by Milton Mejia)

Thursday started with two possible events. The first option was to participate in the national march for peace and to remember the victims of the conflict. This march happens every April 9, and was attended by tens of thousands of Colombians (and international representatives) in cities all over the country. The second option was to attend a meeting with the Ministry of the Interior presenting DIPaz as an important actor/partner in the construction of peace in the country. I went to the meeting. 

The group from the conference is in front with "SIN OLVIDO" or "Without Forgetting" referring to the victims of the armed conflict. (photo by Milton Mejia)

IELCO Pastor Zulanlly Chaparro. (photo by Milton Mejia)

The remainder of the conference (Thursday afternoon, all day Friday, and Saturday morning) were about working together - from the grassroots representatives to the national representatives and to the international representatives - in discussing how churches have been involved in peace processes in other countries, what worked, what didn't work, and what else could they have done. During the conference, perspectives on the talks between the Colombian government and the guerrillas were shared, along with experiences from civil society members who have participated in the negotiations in Havana, as well as churches and individuals who have contributed to peace processes and reconciliation globally. 

Listening to a presentation about the latest news from the talks in Havana, Cuba. (photo by Milton Mejia)

The key messages which will guide the actions of DIPaz are:

·         We believe that the Fullness of Truth which comes from the Light sets free both victim and perpetrator and makes possible peace founded on justice and reconciliation.

·         We reject the militarization of our society. We call for non-violent action and we work to build a culture of peace, so that new cycles of violence can be avoided.

·         We witness to the efforts of those communities which impose new sorts of penalties, so that perpetrators are reintegrated into the community and forgiveness is possible. This is done in the framework of Restorative Justice.

·         We note that for any territory to achieve reconciliation there must be just distribution of the land which guarantees dignified work, health, decent housing, rights which belong to human beings and to God’s created order.

·         We will make available our local churches and the facilities of our organizations as spaces for training, hosting and accompaniment for the work of peace-building and reconciliation.

·         We offer our churches and organizations as bridges across divides, facilitating difficult and improbable dialogues between opposing factions.

·         We understand that true peace-building goes beyond the accords signed by the Colombian government and the guerrillas of the FARC and the ELN.

·         We understand that the fervent yearning of God is for the people to experience a Shalom which transcends the generations, a Shalom that insures that people can have decent living conditions and live in wholeness.

Representatives of grassroots communities discussing local projects they are considering to work towards peace and reconciliation. (photo by Milton Mejia)

Here are just a few examples of possible actions which participants have engaged in or could engage in, and which were discussed during the conference:

·         Participation in commissions charged with the humane removal of landmines.

·         Participation in efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

·         Involvement in the design and construction of a Campesino (peasant farmer) University.

·         Involvement in design and development of reception centers in local neighborhoods where combatants who have laid down their arms can be welcomed and reintegrated.

·         Support for child soldiers (both boys and girls) who leave the insurgency.

·         Participation in an eventual Truth Commission, and as part of that process.

·         Bringing to light circumstances in which members of our churches have been victims of violence, and

·         Bringing to light cases in which members of our churches have been perpetrators of violence.

·         In addition, bringing to light information about investment of church funds in companies which are implicated in human rights violations in Colombia.

Assemblies

Last week (March 12-15) was IELCOs National Assembly (Synod Assembly). For those of you who have been to a synod assembly, I am sure you will agree with me, the best part about an Assembly is seeing all the people in your church who you don’t see all that often – it’s like a big family reunion. That was definitely the highlight for me of this assembly. I am pretty sure I now know all the pastors in Colombia! In addition, some of the international visitors at the assembly included: a pastor and a bishop from two of Colombia’s companion synods – South Carolina, and Southeast Minnesota, representatives from both the companion Lutheran Church of Finland and Sweden, and  our Chicago based, regional coordinator (with the ELCA).

Here is a bunch of us with the newly elected bishop (left to right): Pastor Mark Cerniglia from South Carolina, Bishop Herman Yoos from South Carolina, Diofelina del Carmen Torres (wife of the new bishop), newly elected Bishop of IELCO Gustavo Torres, Bishop Steve Delzer from Southeast Minnesota, Mary Campbell, Manager for Relationships in Latin America the Caribbean - ELCA, me, Curtis, and Pastor Mark Johnson from Southeast Minnesota.

Another highlight during the assembly was the forming of a pastoral committee to support the Human Rights program. This is a committee Curtis formed with pastors who are interested in supporting human rights, preaching about human rights, and learning more about the role of the Lutheran Church in the Human Rights Program.

Curtis with the newly formed Human Rights Pastoral Committee.

The National Assembly closed with a big, festive worship. During the worship two new Pastors were ordained: Pastor Angelica and Pastor Luz Marly, and they installed and blessed the new Bishop Gustavo. This was a packed full church, and a very special and festive way to end the assembly.

Pastors of IELCO with the children during the children’s sermon.

 This past weekend (March 21-23) was the National Youth Assembly. The weekend started by caravanning large busses overnight Friday to Yopal. We woke up Saturday morning in Yopal and started the retreat. For many of the youth, this was like a huge family reunion. By the time we left, it felt like leaving a family reunion for everyone. Like a youth retreat in the states, this retreat had dynamic worships, workshops, games (a pool), lots of laughing, and of course not enough sleep. I was asked to lead a session on youth empowerment. What an honor to be a part of this group and meet so many of the Lutheran youth from all over Colombia!

Group photo, National Youth Gathering – 2015, Yopal

The youth also have a governing group, with two youth from each region. During the retreat they elected the new delegates as well as a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The youth are in charge of planning their own retreats, keeping their own budget, and the president from the youth also represents the youth on National Executive Committee for IELCO. Big responsibilities!

Here is the new youth governing group – this was part of their commissioning during the closing worship Monday morning. Left to right: David Romero (former president), Mauricio Mack (current president), Marion Coy (newly elected president) and the rest of the newly elected delegates.

Trading Debt for Peace

As the dialogues for peace between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) continue progressing, the Colombian people, and the international community, are gaining more and more optimism about a negotiated peace accord between the two groups.  So far three of the six points on the agenda have been agreed on. Rural land reform, political participation, and illicit drugs have been agreed, and they are currently negotiating how to compensate the victims of the armed conflict. The two other remaining points are, the end of the conflict (how to devise a bilateral ceasefire, abandonment of arms by the FARC, and their reintegration into society), and the implementation of the agreements.

Implementation of the agreements will include a post-conflict land fund to assist those displaced by the conflict to gain back lands for their livelihoods. It will include rural development projects to offer rural peasant farmers alternatives to growing illicit drugs, and this will include rural education, health, and internet access, among other things. Needless to say, the implementation and financing of the peace agreements will require numerous resources and will have a high cost.

This brings me to some of the work the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia (IELCO) is involved in.

As of October 2013, the external debt of Colombia was a little over $90 billion (that’s US dollars, not pesos). This comes out to be about 25% of the country’s GDP, and this doesn't include the internal public debt, which is actually much higher. As such a high portion of tax revenue goes to pay the debt for the conflict with the FARC, for fighting the war against drugs, and for the financing of mega-projects which proved to do more harm than good, or which never came into existence in the first place, a social movement has been growing in Colombia calling for a public audit of the public debt. This would mean a cancellation of all debt that can be defined as odious or illegitimate, even illegal. This is especially important considering the financial needs of the implementation of the peace accords.

IELCO has played a supporting role to this movement. Through the Lutheran School of Theology, IELCO has assisted the study of the issue of debt from a biblical perspective, and the human rights program of IELCO has helped in organizing different social sectors of Colombia to participate and offer their experience of the effects of the public debt.

Last Thursday, March 5, the movement, called The Citizens Platform for the Public Audit of Colombia’s Debt, held a successful public hearing in the National Congress of Colombia. This public hearing was to present the situation of public debt in Colombia, share how the debt affects different social sectors, and tell the congress the work and demands of the Citizens Platform. The goal was to get the political sector on-board and in support of holding a public audit of the public debt.  The road is still very long for this process, but the public hearing was a huge step and success.

Bishop Eduardo Martinez, Pastor Atahualpa Hernandez and myself waiting outside the congress building (photo taken by Leah Johnson, volunteer in IELCO's Diaconia office)

On the right is IELCO Bishop Eduardo Martinez on a panel with Representative Victor Correa, discussing the need for the political sector to get involved on this issue (photo by Jorge Diaz, of IELCO's communications dept.)

It was a powerful experience. One of the most memorable moments was when a university student asked the panel of senators, representatives, professors, and other experts,” what is the role of the student in this struggle?” One of the senators answered that the role of the student is to organize and get involved in the many organizations and social sectors present at the public hearing to put as much pressure as possible on congress and the political sector, because with no public audit, the students would be the ones inheriting the debt they had no say in and never agreed to accept. The strength of the student to ask the question was inspiring enough, and with the encouraging and affirming answer from the senator, this exchange earned a standing ovation.

Juan de Dios Mosquera of the National Movement for the rights of Afrocolombian's, giving a talk about the historic impacts Colombia's debt has had on the afrocolombian people. (photo by Jorge Diaz, of IELCO's communications dept.)

Luis Alberto Rubiano of IELCO's communications dept. introducing the theme and setting the stage for he public hearing. (photo by Jorge Diaz of IELCO's communications dept.)

With a successful public audit of the public debt, not only would the money be redirected from paying the World Bank and other institutions and governments for loans that shouldn't have been given in the first place, and into financing the implementation of the peace process, it would also be available to support education and health programs, assisting rural peasant farmers strengthen their livelihoods (addressing some of the root causes of the 60+ year armed conflict). 

Audience of the public hearing, in the second row you can see the representation of IELCO (including myself) (photo by Jorge Diaz of IELCO's communications dept.)

Christian Formation: Trainings and Retreats

I have started working with the Christian Formation Ministry for the central office of the Luthean Church here (IELCO). Our first project was to visit the four regions of Colombia where there are Lutheran Churches, and lead a training for the teachers of the churches and a women’s retreat. Needless to say, I have been traveling a lot! I spent the last three weekends getting to know other parts of Colombia, and other Lutheran Churches. I spent the first weekend in Bucaramanga (in the Eastern Region), the next weekend in Paz de Ariporo and Yopal (in the Llanos Regions), and last weekend in Tunja (in the Boyaca Region) this weekend will wrap up this round of trainings and will be in Bogota (in the Central Region, also where I live).

The women's group in the Eastern Region. 

These trainings/retreats have been a great to meet so many people from all over the country, learn more about the contexts of the different churches, as well as learn what their passions for ministry are, and how they live those out. I have been accompanying Zulma for these retreats, and have really enjoyed working with her. We will continue to work together a lot this year in Christian Formation.

Zulma and I after the worship service in Yopal (Llanos Region)

In each region we have met with the teachers of the church. One of the goals for this year is to better equip the teachers in pedagogy as well as Bible literacy. We have set up a space through The Lutheran School of Theology to support the teachers through virtual education. This training has been an introduction to what virtual education is, how to use it, and the kinds of trainings it will provide.

Zulma teaching the teachers about Popular Education, in Paz de Ariporo (Llanos region)

We have also lead women’s retreats focusing on the women of the Bible. Zulma has led discussions about the Woman at the Well, and I have led about Ester. We have been very intentional to make these dynamic, engaging and fun.

Me during the session about Esther, we are playing Jeopardy

Language Protection as Human Rights Promotion

“Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures…”

                Article 13, The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

It is estimated that more than 6,000 languages exist in the world today. It is also estimated that more than half of these languages will disappear in this century. The loss of undocumented and unwritten languages carries a great loss to human diversity as well as the cultural and ancestral knowledge that has been developed through centuries.

For over 100 years, the Wampanoag people of Massachusetts had no fluent speakers of their traditional language. However, in a truly inspiring story, when Jessie Little Doe committed herself (along with others) to revitalizing the Wampanoag language, she discovered many old documents written between the Wampanoag and the English immigrants, giving strong translation tools. A translation of the Bible was included in these old documents, and was a tremendous resource for rediscovering and revitalizing the Wampanoag language. As documented in the film "We Still Live Here" (the story of Jessie Little Doe and the revitalization of the Wampanoag language), the daughter of Jessie Little Doe is now the first fluent speaker in over 100 years.

The Kogi representatives singing songs in their
own language (Pastor Juan Carlos is in the front)

With all of the above in mind, I wanted to write about an event last Sunday night, the 18th of January, held to celebrate the completion of the translation of the New Testament into the Kogi language. After some 36 years of work, the translation has been completed and released, creating a great tool for guarding the Kogi language into the future.

Many great stories were told comparing traditional Kogi stories to those in the Bible, how they can complement each other, and what they have to learn from and teach to each other. Songs were sung both in Spanish and in Kogi, as well as a reading from the Kogi translation. The event was full of excitement and accomplishment as the story of the translation project was told.

The Kogi language did not have a written system, making efforts to learn how to write the language the first step. Now, after 36 years of work, the New Testament is finished and published in the Kogi language. During the process, some Kogi individuals were granted opportunities to pursue university degrees, especially in education. This has worked to further promote the school in the Kogi community which IELCO accompanies, and strengthen the teaching of the language to future generations.

This picture includes Lynda Gawthorne (left side), the missionary who has worked for the last 36 years to complete the translation, Kogi representatives in white, and members of IELCO involved in the accompaniment of the Kogi community

Surrounded by the dominant Spanish speaking Colombian society, it is easy to imagine the Kogi language being slowly chipped away from its people. In order to communicate with the government, with businesses, with NGOs, with churches, with many other actors in society, they need to know Spanish. As has been witnessed around the world, this situation leads to the loss of the local and traditional language of a people, further promoting loss of culture and identity. This is why the translation of the New Testament has such a significant role to play in defending against the loss of language. 

The New Testament in the Kogi language

Similarly, a goal this year for the human rights program, in its accompaniment of the Kogi community, will be to translate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into the Kogi language, and to publish and distribute it throughout Kogi communities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This is a project I am very excited about as it will greatly complement the human rights training and development projects planned for the year.

Vacation Bible School

I know, some of you (or most of you) are thinking it is the wrong time of the year for this….but last week and part of this week is Vacation Bible School (VBS) [9 days here!]. I have been helping with the VBS in Porvenir, a congregation in the south of Bogota, where I have been helping with the women’s ministry. The women’s ministry is hosting the VBS, which is how I got involved, and I am so glad I have!

The week has been exhausting (to say the least), but also overflowing with love and laughter. In a lot of ways the VBS is very similar to a VBS in the states with songs, kid-style worship, crafts, games, and of course snacks. I have been in charge of the games for the week. It’s been fun and tricky for me. Some days have gone really well, and others, well, not quite as well, but still fun. Wednesday last week I divided the older kids up into two teams, boys vs. girls, for the game. Each group made a human knot, and had a race to see which group could untangle first. I really like doing this game as a race, in my experience girls-groups tend to do better (which I think is extremely important to their self-esteem and confidence in such a patriarchal society), and that is exactly what happened on Wednesday, the girls won by a long shot! The girls came over to tell me that they had won; I congratulated them, and told them how well they had worked together, and how proud of them I was. That was exactly the right thing to do, the girls had been very shy to talk to me before, but immediately they realized I liked them (and was happy they had won)….they didn't leave my side the rest of the day. I immediately felt like I was there for a reason. We spent the rest of the day talking about anything they could dream up to ask me; from my favorite Colombian food, to which I liked more: jeans or leggings! 

If it's true, a photo is worth a thousand words, then some of my pictures from the week will say more than I can. It's been a great week! 

The group of girls I really bonded with - pretty awesome young women! 

Juan Pablo making his penguin ornament (such cute crafts!)

Some of the elementary school girls coloring (learning about communion) 

Me jumping rope with Kenia (in the purple)

The youngest class (ages 2ish-4ish)

The middle class (ages 5 - 8/9)

The oldest class (ages 9 - 16)