Newsletters

Date: April 26th 2008

The following is a message adapted from prayer requests sent by accompanier Kori Phillips to some of her friends on April 17, followed by a more recent update. Please keep the people of Colombia, especially all those who continue to receive threats and live with great uncertainty and violence, in your prayers in these Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia, Sunday and Monday, April 27-28.

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Friends,

Pastor Diego, Executive Secretary of the Uraba Presbytery and of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, got a call tonight. We were sitting on the balcony outside my room enjoying the cool breeze and chatting. He returned from his call after some time and I asked if everything was ok. He told me that, No, everything is not fine tonight. A town that is part of the Uraba Presbytery in the department of Antioqua, Urama, is under cross fire. The army and the guerrillas are fighting there tonight and we won't know until the sun rises what all has happened. And all we can do right now, tonight, in this moment, is pray.

Thursday we had a meeting about a woman named Ingrid in Sincelejo who works with identifying remains in mass graves and with victims in that community. Some men came up to her 12 year old daughter and told her that they would kill her because of the work her mother was doing. The church continues to accompany her in whatever path she chooses to take. I ask for prayers for Ingrid and her family.

Please also pray for Tito, Pancheco and the displaced farmers who are trying to find land that will yield bountiful crops and bring them peace.

This weekend, we will lead a project named Niños Pintan por la Paz (Children Paint for Peace). The children from Third Presbyterian Church and the community are going to paint murals demonstrating the peace they hope for in their community. Please include prayers for guidance, patience, beauty and communication on this day.

The work of the IPC (Presbyterian Church of Colombia) is trying to accompany people in their lives. They ask themselves, How can we as a church be together with these people? How can we walk with them in their struggles? I hope that we, as a church, can begin to understand these questions, and try to follow where their answers might lead us.

Con sueños por la paz,
Kori

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Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your overwhelming support and response to my previous email. I would like to update you with some answered prayers.

No community members were harmed on Thursday night in Urama.

Ingrid, who works for the National Movement for Victims was moved along with her family from Sincelejo to a more secure place. They were accompanied by members of other organizations to show that they are not alone. Human Rights First has created a space on their website for you to request protection for Ingrid and investigation of these threats: http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/Ingrid/

The project Niños Pintan por la Paz went fabulously on Saturday. We had a great time painting with many children, and the community was really excited about the project. They watched and got involved, one man brought water for everyone. It was a lovely experience to be a part. The local project leaders have proposed to their church that they would like to continue this project with more children in other communities.

I hope you all are doing well, remember this Sunday and Monday are the Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia! http://www.witnessforpeace.org/campaigns/days.html

With Love,

Kori