Return to Cali

Have you ever read about people who use their free time to help others and stopped to ask yourself, "What am I doing to make the world a better place?" Come to Cali, Colombia and find the answer to that question.

October 6-20, 2007, volunteers from across the US will return to Cali to resume construction at Hogar Samaria. If you're a financial supporter of the project, it will be an amazing opportunity to see your donated dollars at work and to meet some of the people who will benefit from our efforts. And even if you've not been able to support the project financially, your life will be enriched as you work side by side with Colombians to help build something that will indeed make a difference for generations to come.

You don't have to be skilled in construction. You don't have to know how to speak Spanish. You'll be overwhelmed to discover how much you have to offer the project and how easily you will learn to communicate without using spoken words. Your two weeks in Cali will be a life-changing experience.

If you think you might be interested in joining the work team in October, please e-mail me privately for details and contact info. And as always, thanks for your support of our project. The need for funds is ongoing, and your donations are appreciated.

Car Bomb Hits Police HQ in Cali

A large car bomb has exploded in front of police headquarters in Colombia's south-west city of Cali, the first such attack in a major city for four years.

Officials said the blast, which killed one person and injured more than 30, was most likely the work of Farc, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. But drug traffickers, paramilitaries or common criminals have not been ruled out as suspects. A $500,000 reward is being offered to catch those responsible.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in Colombia's long-running civil conflict, which involves state forces, rebels and paramilitaries. Both the guerrillas and paramilitaries are heavily involved in the drugs trade.

'Treason'

The car bomb, with an estimated 80kg of explosives, was parked outside a police barracks. A passing taxi driver died in the attack and many of the wounded were police officers. The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin says the authorities blame the Farc and if true, it shows the guerrillas have returned to the campaign of urban terrorism they abandoned four years ago.

The security policy of President Alvaro Uribe has managed to isolate the rebels from most of the major urban centres - yet the rebels have managed to keep a toehold in Cali.

The timing of the attack raises questions, with the second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), due to sit down this week with government officials to discuss a possible peace deal. The Farc have accused the group of treason and are seeking to win over dissident ELN guerrillas that want to keep fighting - and a high-profile display of strength may be the way to do so, our correspondent says.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6540217.stm

Published: 2007/04/10 06:35:38 GMT

© BBC MMVII

***ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM BOYCE WALLACE, AMERICAN MISSIONARY TO COLOMBIA:
The blast also impacted Cali Central C P Church some 500 meters away from the Police HQ. Although there was no structural damage to Central Church, windows were blown out, doors were damaged, almost half of the ceiling in the chapel fell and other minor mishaps. The caretakers were asleep at the time and were unhurt. This is the second time that Central Church has been affected by car bombs. The first time was when a nearby hotel was hit a few years ago. In neither case has the church been the object of a terrorist attack.

Buenaventura Fighting

Missionaries to Colombia Boyce and Beth Wallace are requesting your prayers and positive thoughts for the people of Buenaventura, Colombia.

Buenaventura -- located along the Pacific coast, 215 miles southwest of Bogota -- has long been Colombia's largest port and central exit point for the country's coffee bean export. Recently it has also become the center for drug traffic. Cocaine shipments going by water to the US are channeled through this port. In recent years, the city has experienced a violent turf war between leftist rebels, far-right paramilitaries and drug traffickers. Last year, there were about 300 homicides in the city, which has a population of 300,000.

The drug war is raging on this month, and the casualties continue to mount. On March 16th, deadly bombing rocked the coastal community. News reports indicate that the blast, which damaged buildings and stores, occurred as two policemen passed by on patrol in the center of the port city.

There are three Cumberland Presbyterian churches located in Buenaventrura, all three of which have been involved in the latest violence and have lost family members. Tragically, Euripides Morera, pastor or Rios de Agua Viva, was wounded by shrapnel from a homemade bomb, a bomb that killed his nephew.

Pastors of the other two Buenaventura congregations, Rodrigo Torres and Gilberto Arteaga, also need our prayers and support as they continue to minister to dangerous and suffering communities.

Please be mindful of the people of Buenaventura and of those who are there to provide aid and support. Remember that Colombia does not have a drug problem. Americans and Europeans have a drug problem, and that without this demand, narcoterrorism in Colombia would cease.

U.S. volunteers report progress at construction site

The group of volunteers from the U.S. are home, following two weeks of work at the construction site in Cali. The following is a progress report from group leader Sam Suddarth of Smyrna, Tennessee.

"The work on Hogar Samaria is progressing. Our 13 member group was from 5 states. We moved dirt in wheelbarrows. We dug ditches and poured concrete, twisted wire ties to put reinforced steel together. Hard work!!!

Tired and dirty, we fellowshipped with our Colombian brothers and sisters, and were treated as royalty by our hosts.


We had Holy Communion at the worksite, and stood in a circle on the newly poured foundation for a new wing and prayed. This new wing will be a two story structure with living quarters above, and a gymnasium below. (Photos coming soon!)

We visited Popayan, one of the oldest cities in Colombia, and Ramonsa, the poor area where there was a devastating fire last year. We also visited the Colegio American and it's satellite schools in Samaria, San Marcos and Renacir."

The next opportunity to travel to Cali to volunteer with the construction of Hogar Samaria will be in October 2007. If you have an interest in possibly joining the group on this trip, drop me a note and I'll send you information. Just as Sam mentions in his report, these trips offer much more than just work (though there is a lot of hard work!), but also an opportunity to visit various parts of Cali, including schools, churches and cultural sites. As someone who has been to Cali twice, I can attest that time spent with the gracious people of Cali is bound to be a life-changing experience.

Please join us in thanking to the volunteers who made the January work trip.
Ollie McClung, Glenda Riddick of Birmingham AL
Tommy Jobe of Nolensville, TN
Barry Summers of Huntingdon, TN
Sam Suddarth, Kim Glasscock of Smyrna, TN
Gloria Gregory of Nashville, TN
Obadiah Okeson, Eddie and Linda Bowen of Hodgenville, KY
Cheryl Bingemer of Jasper, IN
Tommy Tiffin, Marvin Terrell of Longview, TX

(photos by Sam Suddarth)