Use the links to download the PDF version of the resources. Using a windows computer, right-click on the link and choose "Save Target As..", then select where you would like to save the file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view these files. If you do not have this program use the link below. It is a free download.
May 1986 Newsletter
COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
In the jungle and prairie of Southeastern Colombia
Volume 14, Issue 5 May, 1986
A TRIBUTE TO CHEPE
For the second time since we have lived in Colombia, one of our neighbors has been murdered. The scenario was the same as the last time; a young man spent most of the afternoon leaning up against a light post, waiting. Chepe drove in that evening later than usual. As he got out of his car, the young man strode forward and from a distance of about 10 feet began firing. In a couple of seconds Chepe lay in a pool of his own blood. His wife and children stood screaming in the doorway of their house, just a few feet away. The hit man did not even bother to run. He simply walked away as if nothing had happened. He had no fear of the police. None of them would have the courage to confront him. And the fear of reprisal would keep any of the witnesses from ever identifying him. So Chepe was dead.
We had known him and his family ever since we had come to Villavicencio. His wife and daughters are sympathetic to the Gospel but Chepe had always been resistant. Still, he had been a good friend and neighbor. As with most Latin men, he loved little children. When our girls were small, he would often take them downtown and buy them ice cream. He was a farmer by trade and had done quite well. After such a tragic death, one is always left with the nagging question, "why?"
In the case of Chepe, no one really seems to know. Some think that it was because of a boundary dispute with a neighboring farmer. Colombia is still somewhat like the American Old West in that respect. But the most common belief is that it was a "boleteo." That is the Spanish word for a particular type of extortion. Here in Colombia, if anyone has $10,000 or more in a bank account, some lowly paid bank employee will pass that information on to the extortionists. The individual gets a visit or a phone call, "please give me a check for $10,000 or else..." The police are powerless to help so it is no use going to them. You either hand over the money or you are murdered. That has become a sad but common fact of life in this very violent country.
So we mourned Chepe's death. We lost a good friend and neighbor. But we also mourned because we had not been able to win him to the Lord. His death without Christ hurt os deeply. Perhaps, if we had been a little more diligent in our efforts to evangelize ...
But this tragic death reminds us of a people sick with sin, where God is spelled MONEY, where life is worth very little. The only real solution for Colombia is the Gospel. To put an end to this type of tragedy we must renew our efforts to preach the Good News. But in doing so, we are living amidst the violence that sin produces. Please keep us in your prayers as we work towards this common goal.
WORK CREW UPDATE
Last month we published our first information on the 1987 work crew. Due to scheduling problems, we have changed the date of the trip. Instead of coming to Colombian during the first two weeks of February, the work crew will be here during the last two weeks in January. Please make note of this change if you are interested in participating.
Plans still call for working in the Bogota area on the church building or Christian center. This in no way reflects a change in our policy of letting the Colombians build their own church buildings. Instead it reflects to sense of urgency we feel as the political situation deteriorates. We need to get as many churches going and into their own buildings as quickly as possible. This has caused us to modify what has been an iron-clad policy up until now. For the last two years, no new missionaries have been allowed into the country. Any missionary who let his visa expire was unable to renew it. Restrictions have been placed on the changing of dollars. While our work has grown steadily over the years, the New Testament church here is still small enough that it could be swallowed up if it were to loose all missionaries at this time. Come to Colombia in 87 and help us strengthen the church for what could be some rough days ahead. Write to Don Miller today and ask for further information about the 1987 Colombian Work Crew.