Newsletters

Date: November 20th 2008

The accompaniers are assigned to a very fine man, German, who is their mentor while they are in Colombia. When I met German for the first time, he shared with me that the situation in the Presbytery of the Coast has changed over the four years of the accompaniment program, and is in many ways less dangerous. However, there are new problems that have arisen and it is good for the international community to observe them. He tells the new accompaniers that we are to be present, to listen, to observe, to interact with others, and to share what we learn with others.

That evening German took me to a memorial program for Orlando Fals Borda, a sociologist who was deeply involved in human rights, in particular lifting up the plight of Afro-Colombians. He died a few months ago at the age of 86. I had never heard of him, but through the evening, I learned much. I sat with German and another Presbyterian, Esperanza, who is involved with women's rights. At one point, the first speaker mentioned that Fals Bordo was not Catholic, and Esperanza spoke out to say that he was Presbyterian, and the speaker acknowledged it, elaborating on how important his faith was. The Presbyterian church of Barranquilla is very proud of him and all the good that he represented. Later I googled his name and found out more which I suggest you do as well.

The next morning, German and I met in a nearby park with a group of others waiting for a special bus to transport us to an all day meeting. While walking over to the park, German explained that there were three areas in particular that I should pay attention to while I am in Colombia.
• derechos humanos (human rights)
• desarrollo (development)
• medio ambiente (environment)

Today's theme would be derechos humanos. We were going to a meeting of people who work in this area. The bus took us forty minutes out of Barranquilla to a Catholic seminary that sat on a ridge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There were 25 of us and we sat outside in chairs, under a beautiful broad-leafed, thick-trunked tree that provided shade for us all. As we went around the circle sharing our names, why we were there, and what we wanted from the day, I was struck by the number of people in their 20s and 30s and all shades of skin tone represented. People were not particularly from faith communities although there were three who identified themselves as being from the Presbytery of the North Coast, but working out of three different offices.. Groups represented included human right workers, victims of forced removal from land, and students from the university.

The idea for the day was to establish a plan for security. The morning was spent sharing people's feelings. Several spoke of being accompaniers. Many shared that they had paranoia and were fearful whenever they were outside their homes. They shared how they lived with stress. In the afternoon, they were handed a list of things to do for security – individually, with their family, with their organization and between organizations. They broke up into small groups and talked about these points, adding or challenging some of them. Truly a moving day.

At the end of this first week, I have started to settle into a routine and am reflecting on what it means to be an accompanier to the Presbytery of the North Coast. Alice Winters said it so well at the Colombia Mission Network gathering in Chicago a few weeks ago. It is not that we are accompanying individuals who are in danger, but we are accompanying a community, walking with them as they work for peace and justice. I see that what I am doing these weeks is not doing anything in particular. I am not doing the work. I don't have any responsibility for the success or failure of the work. But I am being here. I am present with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am praying for them, going place with them, and sharing what they are doing with the wider church.

There is "down" time here, maybe even more than usual as I am not with another accompanier for these 45 days. And yet,
• what a gift to have time to follow the spirit and get renewed, without responsibilities and deadlines. This week I spent most mornings in the Presbytery office reading the daily newspaper and one night I read a wonderful small book called Taking a Stand: A guide to peace teams and accompaniment projects by Elizabeth F. Boardman. (Thank you, Bob Leslie, for leaving it behind.)
• what a gift to do the simple everyday activities that need to be done. This afternoon, I did laundry and hung the clothes on the line stretched across my bedroom. I am so accustomed to putting clothes in the washing machine and going off to do another activity while the machine is doing its thing.
• what a gift to sit in the Presbytery office and see pastors and lay leaders come and go, to meet many of them day after day and to have an opportunity to learn more about who they are and what they are about.

And speaking of gifts,
• what a gift the Presbytery of the North Coast and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship have given me by allowing me to be an Colombian Accompanier
• And truly, what a special gift God has given me in the person of Steve, my husband, who loves me, encourages me, rejoices with me in this new chapter of our lives that we are sharing together now and as Steve prepares to be an accompanier in Colombia himself in early 2009. God has also given me incredibly supportive family members and friends who nourish and sustain me.

Gracias a Dios.

Jean McLeod Doughty (jeanmcleod@aol.com)
Barranquilla, Colombia
November 10, 2008