CPTnet
December 23, 2003
CHICAGO/TORONTO: Trials and testing

Dear CPT constituents,

In James's letter to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations"
(chapter 1, verses 2-4) we are encouraged to "Consider it pure joy when you
face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish the work so that you may
be mature and complete."

CPT seems to be facing "trials of many kinds" that are putting us to the
test.

- On December 12, full-timer Sheila Provencher and delegation member Pat
Basler (along with Muriel Fitzgerald of Northern Wisconsin) stood trial in
Madison for crossing the line at the ELF facility on August 9. All three
were charged with trespass. Sheila's additional charge of "interfering
with an officer" was thrown out by the judge when the prosecution failed to
prove 1) that her "child of God" ID was actually false and 2) that her
refusal to give her legal name interfered with the officer's duties. Each
defendant made an eloquent and moving statement which drew both tears and
applause from supporters present in the courtroom. All were found guilty
and fined $150.00.

- also on December 12, Stewart Vriesinga was denied a visa to
Colombia. The Colombian authorities gave no explanation.

- Several of the people who signed up for the January training have had to
drop out for medical and family reasons.

- On Saturday the 13th, Colombia team members and community residents found
a body, decomposed beyond recognition, floating in the Opon
River. Colombian authorities and human rights workers were called to the
scene and eventually the unidentified corpse was transported to Barranca
where an investigation is underway. This is the second confirmed incident
of dead bodies in the river in a week, with some indication that there may
have been one or two more during the same period.

  Another community member has been missing for several days.

- On December 13, friends and family, including several CPTers, gathered
for Sue
Rhodes' memorial service in England. Sue will be deeply missed in our work
and life together.

May this period of testing indeed develop our collective perseverance and
may God grant each of us and extra measure of wisdom, unity, and openness
to the Spirit's working in these times.

Peace,
Kryss Chupp

To stop receiving messages from CPTNET on MennoLink, send a message with
only the word, "suspend," in the body to server [at] MennoLink [dot] org.