Accompanier Reports

By the grace of God, we were able to join the Pilgrimage of World Council of Churches (WCC) delegates to honor the work of two human rights workers (Mario Castaño and Hernán Bedoya) who were…

Cathy and Peter Surgenor February 15, 2018 We were in a bus whizzing back to Apartadó. A two-lane road with narrow shoulders and numerous huts nestled up to the road side. Horse drawn carts, bicycles,…

Cathy and Peter Surgenor February 6, 2018 Apartadó, Urabá, Colombia There are two stories about an iglesia in the Humanitarian Zone. Maybe elements of both stories are true. When the plantation masters were departing, they…

There is a small social service project connected to the 3rd Presbyterian Church of Barranquilla called Sowers of Peace. What began with half a dozen 5-7 year olds 6 years ago, is now a program…

By Ann Rosewall and Ruth Hamilton Invariably, when I ask a question here in Colombia, the answer will culminate in the phrase, Es complicado. It’s complicated. Really? I’ve spent quite a bit of time in…

By Ann Rosewall I am truly blessed to be with my accompaniment partner, Rev. Ruth Hamilton, of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. With over 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry, Ruth brings to the…

By Ann Rosewall and Ruth Hamilton When Latin American people speak there is an immediacy and directness to their words that feels different than in the US. As if we have been trained to talk…

By Janet Lowery and Tricia Lloyd-Sidle We thought people would ask us to explain the vote for Trump, but no. They hugged us, expressed solidarity, and shared concerns about what this might mean for Colombia's…

By Janet Lowery and Tricia Lloyd-Sidle A large percentage of Colombia’s 6.9 million displaced persons now live in urban areas – far from the land and agricultural lifestyle they know and love. They are disproportionately…

In 2016, threats and killings by paramilitary successor groups (paramilitary groups were officially disbanded in 2005) have increased. Human rights "defenders" whose activities threaten the status quo are prime targets. During the weekend that accompaniers…