One of the things I find most encouraging in my time in Colombia is to see hope in a country that has such a violent reputation. I see the hope daily in the smiling faces of the students at the Colegio Menno Americano ( American Mennonite School), I see hope in the daily conversations with my host family, I see hope in the expressions of thanks that we recieve from the teachers at the school when they come into the library in search of a book that they are easily able to find now that after 3 months of organizing the library, there is some sense of order to it and I could fill this whole blog with examples.
Another thing I find alot here is joy. A person once told me that ¨Happiness comes and goes but joy is a choice that lasts a lifetime¨ I see joy in the way the people worship in the churches, I find joy in the smiles of the people that I work with in Anapoima. It is encouraging to see that even though they live in absolute poverty they still greet us with a smile and offer us something to drink. I see joy in the eyes of my pre-first to second graders when I go into the classrooms to teach English. Again my list could go on.
I find beauty in the green that fills the jungle filled mountains that surround me. A sunset over the Andes mountains brings a peaceful feeling to me as the sky fills with the beauty of pinks, orange, and yellows. the reflection of the sun on the clouds, the conversations with my teammates and Colombian friends that takes place on a daily basis and more. It would take pages to write all the examples of Hope, joy and beauty that I see in Colombia so I will just leave you with these examples for mow.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
MT 28:1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first `day' of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
MT 28:1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first `day' of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
latest CNN report
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Envoys huddling in Washington believe they can "reach an acceptable solution" to the developing rift between Colombia and its neighbors, a leader of the diplomatic group said.
Organization of American States diplomats meet Wednesday in Washington.
1 of 3 Delegates made progress during nine hours of meetings that ended around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, said Cornelius A. Smith, president of the permanent council of the Organization of American States.
Diplomats from Ecuador and Colombia discussed forming a commission to investigate a Colombian attack inside Ecuador on Saturday that killed 22 members of a Colombian rebel group, including the organization's second in command.
They made no decision and plan to resume talks at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Organization of American States in Washington. Watch nations exchange threats »
"We are confident that we will reach an acceptable solution," said Smith, of the Bahamas.
The Colombian police and military crossed the Ecuadoran border Saturday and killed Raul Reyes, the No. 2 leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Ecuador cut diplomatic relations with Colombia after the attack and sent troops toward the border. Venezuela also has moved troops closer to its border
Presidents Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela share leftist political philosophies with FARC, but Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe is a rightist who receives backing from the United States to fight drug traffickers. Learn more about the countries »
Colombia says it recovered evidence after the strike suggesting that a senior Ecuadoran official made recent overtures toward FARC, which has fought to overthrow the Colombian government for more than 40 years.
In addition, Colombia says it obtained evidence after the strike that Chavez funneled money to FARC, which holds an estimated 750 hostages in the South American jungle.
Colombian officials have apologized for taking their attack against FARC into Ecuador, but Correa has said the apology isn't enough.
President Bush weighed in from the White House on Tuesday, saying that he told Uribe "that America fully supports Colombia's democracy, and that we firmly oppose any acts of aggression that could destabilize the region."
"I told him that America will continue to stand with Colombia as it confronts violence and terror and fights drug traffickers," Bush said.
J. Robert Manzanares, the U.S. envoy to the OAS, called for a full investigation into Saturday's events.
"It is imperative that we obtain all the facts, so that the full context of this issue is understood by all," he said, adding that the matter should be dealt with by the countries most affected.
Organization of American States diplomats meet Wednesday in Washington.
1 of 3 Delegates made progress during nine hours of meetings that ended around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, said Cornelius A. Smith, president of the permanent council of the Organization of American States.
Diplomats from Ecuador and Colombia discussed forming a commission to investigate a Colombian attack inside Ecuador on Saturday that killed 22 members of a Colombian rebel group, including the organization's second in command.
They made no decision and plan to resume talks at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Organization of American States in Washington. Watch nations exchange threats »
"We are confident that we will reach an acceptable solution," said Smith, of the Bahamas.
The Colombian police and military crossed the Ecuadoran border Saturday and killed Raul Reyes, the No. 2 leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Ecuador cut diplomatic relations with Colombia after the attack and sent troops toward the border. Venezuela also has moved troops closer to its border
Presidents Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela share leftist political philosophies with FARC, but Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe is a rightist who receives backing from the United States to fight drug traffickers. Learn more about the countries »
Colombia says it recovered evidence after the strike suggesting that a senior Ecuadoran official made recent overtures toward FARC, which has fought to overthrow the Colombian government for more than 40 years.
In addition, Colombia says it obtained evidence after the strike that Chavez funneled money to FARC, which holds an estimated 750 hostages in the South American jungle.
Colombian officials have apologized for taking their attack against FARC into Ecuador, but Correa has said the apology isn't enough.
President Bush weighed in from the White House on Tuesday, saying that he told Uribe "that America fully supports Colombia's democracy, and that we firmly oppose any acts of aggression that could destabilize the region."
"I told him that America will continue to stand with Colombia as it confronts violence and terror and fights drug traffickers," Bush said.
J. Robert Manzanares, the U.S. envoy to the OAS, called for a full investigation into Saturday's events.
"It is imperative that we obtain all the facts, so that the full context of this issue is understood by all," he said, adding that the matter should be dealt with by the countries most affected.
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