Skip to main content

"They removed the top of my head"

Image
By


Hello Friends,

"When I was 13, I was hit by a car and had brain damage. I was in a coma for a week and told I would probably not live, be in a wheel chair, and never be right mentally. They took off the top of my head, stored it in my belly till the swelling went down, than put it back on. I feel it is a miracle that today I am pretty normal. I pray a lot, lead worship in church, play a flute I made of pvc pipe, and am a leader in my youth group." Thus shared Jefferson, an 18-year-old in the Mennonite Brethren church of the pastors I am staying with in Cali, Colombia.


"I prayed last night from 1am-5am for our country. Because of the youth, drugs, and armed groups, the churches have decided to have some praying 24/7 and that was my part," said pastor Irianeth Barrera. I was awed and humbled.


Here is Irianth with her 90-year-old parents, and two other relatives in the front yard full of flowers and a beautiful view of a mountain dotted with small farms. Years ago her Dad worked for very low wages for the hacienda owner who owned all the 1200 acres behind them. When the owner died, he inherited the house they now live in and as he said, "Even though he had no money it was a miracle of God to have the house." He was one of the first Christian in the area, and as a result, many of his family are now believers. Her dad helped her brother pick coffee that morning from their 3000 coffee trees. Coffee and chickens are main sources of income.

In appreciation for my coming, Irianth with other members call me up afterwards to give me part of the offering. I said keep it for the church, I just appreciate you inviting me.

My time in Cali has been made special by the way the family I am staying with and I have been able to share about our faith journey and life. This has been a real gift to have a brother and sister I can share very deeply with, especially about prayer and peacemaking. This I am sure has helped my emotional stability. They are pastors of a church plant and he heads up the Mennonite Brethren (MB) peace education program.

My Schedule:

5/21
Shared my journey with 20 very intensely interested seminary students.

5/23
Shared my journey in a MB church, intensely welcomed by many friendly people, and treated afterwards to a roasted chicken dinner with 5 of the church members.

5/24
Shared my journey in a MB high school in 4 classes in Cali.

5/25 to 6/2 in Bogota

5/25
Shared in four 11th grade classes in Americano high school and a MB "God is Love" church.

6/2 - 6/13
In Colombian state of Choco with MB, where 95% are descendants of Afro-Colombian slaves. This is where the MB church began in Colombia. One of the poorest populations of Colombia.

6/15th
Fly home to Chicago.

6/29- 7/3
At Jesus People Cornerstone Music Festival. There I will give two presentations and have a booth. I am still looking for some people to help with the booth.

5/9-5/16
Interviews update- they went especially well, people shared many exciting ways the Lord used them to help others and bring peace to Colombia. Some reminded me of the way Moses was used. It was an exhausting time (this is why I did not write you) but very energising to hear each of their stories. I hope to share more details in the future about this.

I am slowly learning to trust the Spirit and the Lord more to fill up my days as needed which enables me to live in more peace. I had no depression for a couple of weeks. Thanks be to God.

Pray for:

The Mennonite Brethren, that through our interaction we would both be encouraged in our peacemaking.

Colombian presidential election, that who is best for the country would be elected, that it would lead to peace, education and healthcare for all.

Thanks,
peace to you,
Jim

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

informe de salud

By
  Queridos amigos, Les escribo para informarles que hace unas semanas me diagnosticaron Parkinson vascular. Tenía problemas para mantener el equilibrio y caminar. Vi a un neurólogo y me hicieron una resonancia magnética de mi cerebro, y a partir de eso y de mi historial, me diagnosticaron Parkinson vascular. Me siento muy bien con mi doctora. Mi Parkinson Vascular es causado por mini accidentes cerebrovasculares que bloquean la sangre en la parte del cerebro que controla la marcha. El Parkinson vascular afecta principalmente a la parte inferior del cuerpo, y por lo tanto, afecta la marcha y el equilibrio y regularmente no suele provocar temblores. Es diferente del Parkinson clásico que es causado por la falta de dopamina. El tratamiento principal para el Parkinson vascular es tratar de detener los accidentes cerebrovasculares manteniendo bajo control factores como la presión arterial y el colesterol; esto puede evitar que la enfermedad progrese. Por lo tanto, no necesariamente empe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fear and the Corona Virus

By
Dear Friends,                                        Fear and the Corona Virus In some self-reflection I have come to see that I have been unconsciously enveloped in a fear over the coronavirus pandemic. I feel paralyzed and hopeless. I noticed I feel I just have to turn the radio on to keep up on what is happening. Each time I hear more figures on how it is getting worse everywhere in the world, it fills my mind, the focus of much of what I think about. When I came to see this was happening, I noticed I wanted to just turn on the radio, and it was and is hard to turn it off. Just about everything on the radio was related to the virus. In reflecting I realized this subconscious fear permeated me. This fear was not healthy. It was creating anxiousness and anxiety, and anything but peace and contentment. This fear was what I needed to get rid of. From a Dr. Bruce Lipton...
Post a Comment
Read more

un acontecimiento esperanzador

By
amigos,  un acontecimiento esperanzador  este es un acontecimiento esperanzador! Hace dos años, Etiopía era un caso estancado. El gobierno parecía estar perdiendo el control. La mayoría de las personas Oromo estaban inquietas bajo una regla que parecía robarles su lugar. La tradicionalmente poderosa Amhara se amotinó. Un estado de emergencia trajo silencio en la superficie, pero debajo de la nación se arremolinaba. Una Guerra civil amenazaba. Un extranjero fue asesinado. El turismo disminuyó. Finalmente, el primer ministro renunció. La iglesia oró fervientemente. Luego, inesperadamente, hace ocho meses, el relativamente desconocido Abiy Ahmad fue elegido primer ministro. Lo que siguió fue igualmente imprevisto. En un audaz y valiente discurso de aceptación; Ahmad anunció una política de paz, amor y unidad para la nación y sus relaciones con el resto del mundo. Hizo grandes promesas y para sorpresa en un mundo cínico de promesas políticas, las cumplió. "Necesita...
Post a Comment
Read more