So, one of the things I do in Mampuján that was not part of my job description is serve as official photographer for all birthday parties. Besides taking all of the photos, I sometimes also make the cake, or at least try to teach people how to make their own cake. I am now an
As I prepare to leave in just under a month (yikes!), I am trying to enjoy, or at least recognize, the frantic chaos, the moments of grace, and the just plain weird that encapsulate this community. Here are some examples: Frantic Chaos: Mampuján is generally in a state of chaos, but this week has been
Español Aqui Advocacy is the focus of the month! What is it, how does it work and who does it are all questions that we Seeders are wrestling through after our big trip to Honduras, Mexico and Guatemala, and of course, our present work in Colombia. Here’s a reflection of working with the church: I
I am part of a tradition of pilgrim women. I did not know my grandmothers or their mothers, but I can imagine their determination and strength as they fled the horrors of war and revolution torn Russia, seeking safety to raise their children according to their convictions in a strange land. They were strong women
Two years of bearing witness and being present in Colombia- not simply to the facts of displacement and unbelievable violence, but all of the little destructions that follow, have impacted me in a deep way. Travelling to Honduras and Guatemala felt like more of the same. Having silly crushes on people at the youth camp,
Español Aqui Five days and 25 tortillas later, I’m feeling great, albeit a tad bloated, after our Seed trip to Honduras. As part of the advocacy component of Seed, half the group is in Honduras and the other half is in Mexico, where we are researching and examining what political advocacy looks like in a
Sunday was a tension filled roller coaster ride of ups and downs. The question of to march or not to march was on everyone’s mind and the theme of countless discussions long into the night. Working groups, speeches, and political posturing dominated the day as meetings went on and on and on. The governor of
When we left this morning at 5:30am from Arroyo de Arena, someone in the 600 strong crowd remarked, “At this pace, we are going to arrive in Cartagena at the same time that it takes to lick two block of panela.” This means a long time, basically the coastal equivalent of slow as molasses in
Whoever said non-violent direct action organizing and execution was glamorous should be non-violently chastised. It is not and frankly, I’m not super excited about the act of marching on Saturday, until who knows when. (Here’s some info about what we are doing and why) Memories of last December and the march of Mampuján come swirling
When asked to describe myself, I often can’t. What are the defining characteristics that make up a person? How can you just pick one? Or, most importantly, who does the person who is asking that question want me to be? It’s not that I am a complicated person with low or super high self-esteem, although
Anna L. Vogt 