Jim's Peacemaking

Corriendo Fuera de la Clase Hola amigos, 1/4/2019 Ella se puso de pie para compartir y luego solo salió corriendo del salón de clases. Yo estaba confundido, no tenía idea de lo que estaba pasando. A los pocos minutos ella regresó y comenzó a llorar y a compartir sobre algunas violencias terribles que habían sucedido en su familia. Esto empezó alrededor de las 8 en la clase; uno por uno empezó a llorar y compartir sobre la violencia que tuvo lugar con sus tíos, tías, padres, abuelos o vecinos. Esto terminó ocupando todo el tiempo de las dos últimas clases de mi tiempo en Colombia. Probablemente fue la primera vez que ellos habían compartido estas cosas fuera de sus familias. Esto seguramente fue curativo para muchos de los estudiantes. La amiga adulta que estaba allí mencionó que ella estaba experimentando la curación del trauma yendo a la iglesia. Ella espera que fuera a la escuela a ayudar a algunos de estos alumnos. Fue un verdade…

Queridos amigos, Esperanza: Cambiar la Política Colombiana 18/18/19 Ayer, el congreso colombiano votó para afirmar partes muy importantes de los acuerdos de paz que requerirían que el Ejército y los paramilitares confesaran sus crueldades a cambio de sentencias más ligeras, como hacen las guerrillas de las FARC. Esto no es solo una cuestión de justicia, sino una parte central de la curación de Colombia y de Colombia como nación y como individuos. Solo el perdón y la amnistía pueden exorcizar a los demonios que plagaron los corazones y los recuerdos del perpetrador y la víctima en Colombia. La justicia y la sanidad no pueden tener que ver con el castigo, sino con la restauración y la reconciliación. Duque, el actual presidente colombiano ha estado abiertamente (estado en las noticias) dando sobornos a congresistas para que voten en contra de esta legislación. Duque es claramente un simple títere del ex presidente Uribe. Duque está en contra de esta ley porque implementaría Uribe pa…

Dear friends, A Nazarene Peacemaker and a Thief 3/4/19 “Would you turn that mirror in on your side in so it doesn’t get knocked off.” said Juan to me. He then added “I have to tell you a story about that mirror. I was at a stop light and a guy come up and just broke off the mirror. I saw police nearby so I told them.” “They went and found him and brought him to me. They said to me, well here he is you can hit him or do whatever you want with him. Beat on him as much as you want. I said I don’t want to beat on him. That just didn’t seem right. They then called and another policeman who also said go ahead beat on him this is your chance. That might straight him out.” “They then got a commander who brought a bat and said well now you can beat him go to it. I than talked to the fellow and found he was very poor and stealing things as a way to survive. So I felt he was already in a deep in a hole. I didn’t want to push him any deeper.” “The pol…

Dear friends Visiting the FARC 3/21/19 Were you in the jungle and part of the fighting? I asked. Yes I was in the war since I was about 4.” answered the ex-FARC guerrilla soldier. “After 60 years we have come to see Christ was right; violence does not work to bring peace and justice. That is why we signed the peace agreement.” Here is the ex-FARC guerilla, Pilar and me when we had our hour long conversation. The paintings in the background FARC soldiers did. They are selling them to help sustain themselves. Surprising to me he referred to Christ. I must say I agreed with much of his analysis of the USA’s negative military doings in the world. He said, “We are really committed to working this out by being involved in the government even if Duque the new president fails in following the peace accords.” My very good friend Pilar has gotten to know this household of demobilize FARC. She took me there. I was a little anxious despite her …

Queridos amigos Visitando las FARC 21/03/19 ¿Estabas en la jungla y parte de la lucha? Yo pregunté. Sí, estuve en la guerra desde los 4 años ”, respondió el ex soldado guerrillero de las FARC. “Después de 60 años hemos venido a ver que Cristo tenía razón; La violencia no funciona para traer paz y justicia. Por eso firmamos el acuerdo de paz ". (Andy inserta la foto aquí, usa la foto cercana de la ex FARC, pilar y yo. Aquí está la leyenda) Aquí está la ex guerrillera de las FARC, Pilar y yo cuando tuvimos nuestra conversación de una hora. Las pinturas en el fondo de los soldados de las FARC lo hicieron. Los están vendiendo para ayudar a mantenerse a sí mismos. Sorprendiéndome, se refería a Cristo. Debo decir que estoy de acuerdo con gran parte de su análisis de las acciones militares negativas de los Estados Unidos en el mundo. Dijo: "Estamos realmente comprometidos a resolver esto al involucrarnos en el gobierno, incluso si Duque, el nuevo presid…

Dear friends: A Temper Tantrum On a shopping trip to Aldi’s I noticed a mother with a girl who was two and a boy who was one sitting together in her cart.. The boy was having a temper tantrum. I know how embarrassing that can be. Besides she was just beginning to shop. So I thought maybe I could help settle him down. So I went over and tried to talk to him. But he would have nothing to do with me. So I just started talking to his sister. “How old are you? What’s your name? How old is your brother? . “What is his name? She replied “Noah.” Hearing his name the boy started to quiet down and pay attention. After some more question and answers the kids and I shook hands and said goodbye. Then we both did our shopping. We passed each other several times. The kids would say “Hi” and wave each time we saw each other. Then as we went through the checkout the mother remarked, “Thank you so much, what is your name?” the kids waved saying “Goodby…

Dear Friends: The Koran and the Bible 8/12/18 Recently, I went to Aldi's to grocery shop, at the entrance there was a security guard. I had never noticed a security guard in an Aldi’s before. So I curiously ask him about it. He said “I am here to catch shoplifters. I have caught 5 or 6.” Unexpectedly he added, “People don’t read the Koran or the Bible these days. These books both tell us stealing and killing (as he swiped his finger across his throat) is wrong. These things do not bring peace or contentment only sadness, anger and hate. I noticed he had an obvious accent so I asked, “Where are you from?” Surprising me he said, “I’m from Nigeria.” I replied, “I am from the Church of the Brethren and the 200 girls that were kidnapped there were from the Nigerian Church of the Brethren. I met one of the girls who was kidnapped who had escaped. I visited with her in the home of some Brethren friends in North Manchester, Indiana.” He replied, “Where I liv…

Dear friends, Apartment Peacemaking I live in an apartment and above me live a couple with a girl about six. Often over the last weeks the girl has ridden her scooter back and forth for over an hour at time. Can you imagine the racket? Knowing how little ones can be, I mostly just lived with it. Except when I was trying to get to sleep, so one evening I knocked on their door patiently several times and talked to the mother. Then one time after doing this several times, she said, “You don’t have to come up each time, here’s my phone number. Just call me if we get too loud.” Each time the noise would stop. Then recently the other day the couple were hollering and obviously fighting. So I went up and knocked intermittingly several minutes. I wondered whether I would be able to understand them when they are so angry. They have bit of an accent. I was anxious and fearful not knowing what might happen. Finally the fellow opened the door. I said “are …