My body is not a battlefield!

 The Popular Women's Organization (OFP) has worked in the Middle Magdalena region since 1972.  Its members are women on a constant journey, always proclaiming and working for their rights.  When they feel their lives are at risk, they surround themselves with friends to talk about what is happening.  This is the way the leadership of the OFP responded upon learning that unidentified men had been following their friend and coworker, Shayo.  Throughout the days filled with fear and anxiety, they have not given up. 

Almost eleven years after coming to Colombia, I finally visited the famous Eje Cafetero.  It is a coffee region in the central range of the Andean mountains.  Unlike Barrancabermeja's 35 degree Celsius weather, the beautiful mountain breeze keeps the Eje Cafetero region at a perfect 20 to 25 degrees.  It has beautiful green mountains dotted with its coffee plantations.  The National Coffee Park shows the history of coffee and how it is grown, and a few amusement rides add to the fun.  People have told me for years that I should go.  In December of last year, Juvenal Pacheco, a CPT Colombia team reservist from Armenia, told me that it would be great to have a full-time member of the team talk about CPT and promote the Holy Week delegation to the four Mennonite churches of the area, Armenia, Pereira, Ibague and Girardot.