BARRANQUILLA, Colombia (Mennonite Mission Network) – When a six-person Youth Venture team, a Mennonite Mission Network program, visited Colombia, July 10-31, they saw the fruits of peace in action.
A 10-hour mule ride carried the Youth Venture team to the top of a mountain in Colombia. In between the clouds and islands of land below, three cities could be seen. They soon learned that this piece of land was once a paramilitary control center.
For almost 50 years, Colombia has been gripped by civil war. Because of it, hundreds of thousands have died and more than four million have been displaced from their homes. Although, in the northern part of Colombia, the Youth Venture team didn’t experience any violence.
After years of peace talks, the mountain-top land controlled by the paramilitary group, was returned to the original owner. Where violence and cocaine plants once grew rampant, there is now a farm.
According to Isaías Rodríguez Arango, peace talks don’t always work. Arango, a friend of Graham and Rachel Unruh, Youth Venture leaders, is skeptical that the dialog doesn’t address underlying issues of wealth distribution.
Scott Litwiller of Mennonite Mission Network hosted the team. He grew up hearing about peace theology, and now Litwiller is especially thankful to see these peace talks come to fruition. “It gives me hope that the many peace talks going on [in other parts of the world] might work eventually! I hope and pray for that day.”
Litwiller has related to the Mennonite churches in Barranquilla since 2011, and some of his favorite memories include hosting learning groups. Litwiller enjoys the different perspectives and the learning that takes place during these cross-cultural interactions. He’s also thrilled to introduce people to his Colombian friends. “They love meeting people and they’re excited to share their stories and culture,” he said.
Part of Colombian culture was shared at the three birthday parties that the Youth Venture team attended. After dinner and cake, everyone gathered in a circle and told stories about the person with the birthday.
But learning by immersion wasn’t enough for some of the Youth Venture team. In “Spanglish,” a mixture of Spanish and English, the youth from Colombia and the United States talked in depth about culture. “The opportunity to experience another culture and to see God in another context is incredibly valuable,” said Graham Unruh, who co-led the team with his wife, Rachel.
During the three weeks in Colombia, the Youth Venture team visited a coffee processing plant, tutored English, made new Colombian friends at a church young adult retreat, and “witnessed firsthand how God is at work in the world,” Unruh said.
Each year, Youth Venture sends young adults ages 13-22 across the United States and around the world. This year, 30 participants visited Ft. Myers, Fla.; Quito, Ecuador; Barranquilla, Colombia; and Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
“Youth Venture offers a glimpse of God in action in so many Christian communities around the world,” said Arloa Bontrager, Youth Venture director. She is grateful for all of the young adults who have opened up their hearts and minds to experience Youth Venture this summer.
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For immediate release
Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
