Birthday Celebration

 Carnival  Parade

Anne and David´s Carnival attire

 Accompaniment Celebrations

Sometimes it might appear that the seriousness of issues which we accompany in Colombia would make report-space only for painful and sorrowful times of prayer and discussion.  Naturally, Jesus’ acceptance of the invitation to the wedding at Galilee, including assistance with the depleted libations would remind us that we should accompany times of celebration.

Our team missed some times when there was obviously celebration of the 125^th  Anniversary of the founding of Colegio Americano in Baranquilla.  We weren’t present for the Farewell Celebration of Alicia Winters at her retirement after over 30 years as a beloved mission co-worker with the IPC.  She is to be celebrated at the PCUSA General Assembly 2012.

This Accompaniment team did have several unique opportunities for Celebration we want to include as a way of showing that we had many opportunities to have time for joy and thankfulness.  On the second night of our month, the February, 2012Accompaniment Team were invited to a Birthday Celebration of Terecita the wife of German Zarate, the very funny and enjoyable new friend we made during the month.  When we arrived at the Zarate home, we could hear music as we climbed the stairs to their apartment.  We were introduced to the two Zarate children, German’s mother, and to a large number of IPC friends and work associates.  The snacks and meal we were served were excellent. 

We had heard reference to Baranquilla Carnival as unique version of pre-Lenten festivities the weekend before Ash Wednesday.  In Baranquilla, this celebration includes a number of public parades and lots of personal parties and night-time revelry.  It is customary to get out from storage or purchase new items of clothing to wear for Carnival.  Office Buildings as well as stores are colorfully decorated.   We arranged to attend the Battle of Flowers Parade on Saturday afternoon and to obtain elevated seats in a reserved area under a canopy.  Arriving early to get good seating, we found plenty of interesting things to view as we watched other attendees arriving with family and friends.  The parade itself was quite a spectacle—it was planned as 3 hours of imaginative mechanica figures, popular singers, dance troupes, and several which were connected to historical Colombian heroes.  A delightful 16 year old student who attends Collegio Americano] explained the events in advance in very good English.  The amplified music was very loud and we felt both audio and visual overload after 2 ½ hours and took opportunity to leave to find a taxi to a comfort restaurant we like.  Monday evening we are invited to a private Carnival party.

Although it was not the specific reason for requesting February for our accompaniment, being in Colombia for Carnival as well as being able to attend the bi-annual Synod Assembly of IPC was a terrific serendipity.  The fact that two of us were from Illinois and one from Pennsylvania meant that we missed some severely cold weather during February was it’s own contribution to the celebration of this accompaniment team the third week of February.

Submitted February 20, 2012  Dave Eaton, Anne Eaton