Last Post for Eaton Colombia Mission

Colombia Accompaniment,  Presbyterian Peace Fellowship  February, 2012

Anne and David Eaton



Connie, Anne and David



                This has been an amazing experience for us as a couple.  We were not fully prepared for the breadth of exposure to aspects of Iglesia Presbiteriana Colombia [IPC] life and ministry that were packed into our month.  We were unprepared for the significant changes which have taken place since 2004 when the initial commitment between IPC and PCUSA had been made.  At that time there were significant risks to Presbyterian pastors and Presbyteries for providing ministry to displasados and victims which is now lessened.  This change has made for greater freedom of movement during accompaniment visits and a much more significant learning experience for us.

                We feel that Jairo, German and Richard created a wonderful plan for our month, and at the same time permitted considerable input from us.  Some of the particular opportunities we chose were to be active observers at General Assembly Feb 14-17 in Apartado, and to participate in some selected parts of Carnaval in Barranquilla.  We felt quite fortunate to have these options.  They did take considerable time and may have  limited some of the other things we might have done.  A couple of other significant events were not planable, nevertheless had significance for our learning.  These included Lidia`s funeral, and a birthday party, both very near the beginning of our month.  Interviews with two  people – Gladys who was a victim of physical violence, and Antonio who was victim of land displacement definitely were informative.  We were told that there is scarcely a family in Colombia that has not been affected by the violence in the society.   Not in our original plan, but of relevance to new developments, was exploration of significant proposed changes in Reformed University and the chance to see the old site being torn down.

                For us, probably the most memorable and significant elements were relationships which developed with some specific people because of major time spent in informal conversation and while traveling.  We had a number of conference sessions 1] with Jairo Barriga, executive secretary of N. Coast Presbytery, and our principal host with whom we traveled to Sincelejo and Piajo.  From Jairo we learned about the strong  base of Christian leadership and the vision pastors and lay leaders have about the future of IPC;  2] with German Zarate, the Director of Diakonia for IPA, with whom we traveled to Apartado in a 12 hour trip to General Assembly. (We are pleased to learn that his visa to serve as one of the PCUSA International Peacemakers this year was granted.);  3] with Diego Higuita, Secretary General of IPA, with whom we traveled to Cartagena and spent time in the Old Spanish City and in a worship experience at the Presbyterian church there. We learned about his deep commitment to congregational ministry and the desire to return to challenges in pastoral ministry at the end of his present term with IPC; 4]  with  Gloria Ulloa  who is both a Pastor and Religious Director at Collegio Americano; we learned about her experience as a woman  leader of IPC; and 5] Mamie Broadhurst and Richard Williams, PCUSA Mission co-workers. Mamie and Richard were especially valuable in learning about the current experience of accompanying, about the IPC and aspects of Colombian cultural experience that assisted us in better understanding the Colombian church.

                We were encouraged to look for evidences of God´s Spirit at work and here are a few: the look on a young child´s face following inclusion in a part of Communion where children are given a cracker and grape with an introduction to the sacrament; the active role taken by “jovenes” who are young adults of 18-30 who assume major roles in congregational leadership of music, prayer, scripture reading and serving as part of the Session and Diakonate; in the testimony of a woman who had been physically attacked with a knife by two militia and felt that she had survived the physical recovery only by God´s help and the support of a Presbyterian congregation and by the dedicated support of her 19 year old daughter who was only two at the time of her attack,  and by Moises Castro, a displasado himself  who has assumed a role of “profeta” in emphasizing the responsibilities of Christian servants to address issues of violence and displacement.  God is at work in the significant new congregations in Urubá, a largely rural Department where there has been special attention to evangelization as well as service in support of the human rights goals of IPC.

                The experience of accompaniment was quite a challenge for us.  The month provided a great opportunity to learn more about the gift of flexibility, which has been a goal since retirement, but we still have a lot to learn.  We found that there is genuine appreciation for our being there and that “standing with” IPC and individuals in their ministry has made a positive difference.  We understand that accompaniment means different things in different parts of world mission, but that always, encouragement and appreciation are legitimate elements of the role.

                Our living situation was better  to those available to previous accompanier groups.  We felt very fortunate for the comfort of a 9^th floor apartment which became available to North Coast Presbytery. Our bedroom was very comfortable  [including the bed which was much better than we had at several hotels].  Special effort was made to get us a shower curtain.  There was a very nice kitchen with refrigerator-freezer, small stove with two burners, and a washing machine.   We are really grateful for the amenities, especially in comparison with what we were told other accompaniers have had in the past.

                In our period of evaluation with Jairo, we spoke positively about the full and varied program that was developed for us.  I indicated disappointment that our training didn`t  ‘prepare us for changes in the accompaniment program, specifically mentioned  at the conference Report in 2010 that extended the accompaniment program before our training in 2011.  In particular, we noted that accompaniers were not spending most of the time sitting around Presbytery office to help avoid generation of threats to church officials.  There was very little to suggest changes that had taken place in the election of President Santos and differences after eight years of Uribe`s presidency.

                We both have appreciated the strong sense of prayer and tangible financial support from our friends, our Peacemaking Group, our congregations in Normal, IL and Texas and others who followed our blog through the month and wrote notes of encouragement.  We look forward to sharing our insights and our hope for a resolution of Colombian problems of achieving justice and human rights in both city and rural areas, and of continued growth in Christian discipleship and ministry.  We were honored to have shared February, 2012 with IPA.