A look of compassion

During the week I go to 8:00 mass on most days. Last Wednesday as we were giving a ride to several senior citizens, we stopped for a red light. There was a young man selling papers and I looked at him with eyes of compassion and love. It was a brief encounter but a very heartfelt one for me. I thought about his struggle to make a living selling papers, about where he must live and if he even had family. The next morning as I walked to a woman’s circle in one of the colonias a woman commented that the paper boy on the corner had been assassinated at 4:00 in the afternoon on Wednesday. I couldn’t hold back the tears as I heard the news, why, how, my heart was filled with questions. So many are being assassinated and there are no answers as to why or who is responsible: just one more has died, three have been assassinated, five have been assassinated…and the pain of the families that receive the news how can they continue to face life? So many families choose to leave, so many poor families cannot leave. There are no answers and the violence continues to escalate. How Long, O Lord? How Long?

2011 Peace Teams: Deadlines for Application & Training plus News

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The pain in the reality

Sunday was the first day of the soccer tourament that I am coordinating with a gentleman from the area. Our first game started with "Barcelona" Vs. "J.O Ladies", it was a great game and we all had fun. I am the referee for the games and I never expected them to take it so seriously, its not just a game here, it matters to them. Our first game concluded with Barcelona as the victor 3-2. As our second game started between "Manchester City" and "Argentina" everyone was in great spirits. Around 10 minutes into the game, We heard gunfire that was very close in proximity. The gunfire was on the street adjacent to the field where we were playing. During the gunfire, I felt like everything slowed down, but it was moving so fast. People were running trying to get their kids away, people yelling and screaming, driving away in cars. The soccer game completely stopped and all the kids ran to the corner of the field where you could see the situation that was taking place. The gentleman, his wife, and I were calling to the kids "Venganse! Venganse!"(all of you come here, Come here). The young man I work with finally went to the corner and physically moved the kids back. When we first arrived we asked the Centro "what should we do if we see or hear something happening?". Their response was very simple, "Turn your back or they will kill you too, they will kill you for even looking". A woman came over and said something to the young man I work with and he came over and told his wife and I to sit down against a wall, I am not sure what that women told him, but it was clear that we were in danger. As we were yelling for the kids, I just happened to get our safety phone call from Michigan Peace Team. Obviously this was not a good time, I asked her to cal back later. That phone call took the last of my phone minutes and so now not only was I in an unsafe, unplanned situation, but I had no way of calling Nina who was not with me. I have to admit that I felt a lot better becuase I had the young man, and his wife there with me. Around 5 minutes passed and parents came for their kids to get them home, people were still running and yelling. We found out that a man came to kill another man, He was walking with his wife and child. When he saw that they were coming for him, he ran away and his wife was left with their child. The man shot her 6 times instead, the child left unharmed physically. When it was safer I left with my affinity team in a car, they dropped me off at home.

The Violence here is very real, but the people that are left here to fight it are real as well. The fear is paralyzing to man. That woman was killed, for reasons unknown, but no reason given could justify the taking of a life.

Join us for the Next Team Training (Oct 22-24, 2010)

Join us this month for an Advanced Training Retreat (October 22-24, 2010; more information and online registration at Idealist.org).   Curious about the training? At the end of this posting is a list of some of the practice areas covered during the Retreat.

As you may know, in 2010 MPT worked with hundreds of local and national peace-minded folks to offer basic and advanced trainings, and to deploy Domestic and International Peace Teams.  We had peace team members and volunteers from all across the United States.  We also had international applicants, team members, and volunteers-- from Romania, France, Germany, and more.  Our program in Juarez continues, and we are evaluating options for that program in 2011; in the meantime we are taking applications for both Juarez and Palestine for next year.  We will continue our commitment to deploy teams quarterly to the West Bank. 

We are need to confirm peace team members to start training this month, for deployment to Palestine in January 2011; and as always, we need veteran team members to serve as team anchors.

Whether you're considering an 2011/12 International Team to Palestine or Juarez (even if you're not sure)-- or if you aren't interested in a team, but want to practice and improve your nonviolence skills, this is the training weekend for you.  If you want to continue your nonviolence training for your personal or professional development, this training is stand-alone.  It's an amazing chance to further your own grounding in nonviolence, and learn more about nonviolent action in a team retreat setting. 

For those who want the option of going on a team in January, February or March 2011, this training is required.  If you plan to deploy later (or if plans change), this weekend intensive meets the requirement for your one of your two training retreats in preparation for any team in 2011 or 2012!  If you are considering a team January through March 2011, you will also need to start the online/remote portion of your training, which starts as soon as possible this month.  Contact NicoleR/MPT@gmail.com for details. 

We encourage you to start on-site and remote training as soon as possible if you are considering an International Team in 2011/12; there is no obligation, and training is part of the process of mutual evaluation to decide if an MPT Team is the right fit for you!

Here are just some of the areas covered at our Advanced and International Trainings (in both retreats and remote/online training)...

Getting to know oneself (hopes and fears, relationship to money, goals and expectations for trip, how do you deal w/ stress/conflict  etc.)

Getting to know the team and team building activities

Listening and Communication tools (active listening, I messages, CLARA)
Role Plays
Consensus decision making
Affinity Teams
Self Care (co-counseling, trauma, compassion fatigue, ritual, first aid etc.)

Power, Privilege and Oppression

Media and 'Telling the Story'

Who is MPT?
What are Peace Teams? What is nonviolent conflict resolution/third party nonviolent intervention? What is our role?
Nonviolence as a big picture, and What is nonviolence?
Location Specific Training @ second On-Site Retreat (background of conflict/brief history, cultural sensitivity, etc.) -- for International Team Applicants Only
Administrative Stuff, Forms, Tips and "nuts and bolts" info. (packing tips, MPT Forms, what we expect from you/what should you expect from us) -- for International Team Applicants Only

We hope you can join us!  Please register online now or simply email or call me at the information below with any questions or concerns!

In Peace,

Nicole Rohrkemper
International Team Deployment Coordinator
Michigan Peace Team
(586) 419-1070 (direct line)

www.MichiganPeaceTeam.org

www.MPTinPalstine.blogspot.com
www.MPTinJuarez.blogspot.com
MPTenEspanol.blogspot.com

Learn How You can Join a Peace Team- FAQs at http://mptinpalestine.blogspot.com/p/faqs-for-potential-teamers.html.

Juarez children: witnesses of violence, future of peace

Democracynow! interviews independent journalist Jean Friedman-Rudovsky, who journeyed to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico to investigate the impact of extreme violence on children. Her reports from the ground were published in Village Voice media: "Juarez children: Drugs, death, and fear."
Jean Friedman-Rudovsky witnessed immense suffering by children and their families who had experienced the violence first hand, but she also felt great hope from the people of Juarez, directed at their children. Locals are focusing peace efforts in bettering the lives of their children through giving them good daycare, education, extracurricular activities and overall emotional support.

Happy Endings

My father always said; “No hay un mal de donde no salga un bien” There is nothing bad that happens from which something good can come. Last week a family that owned a small neighborhood store in one of the colonias and had lived in that colornia for many years, had their daughter kidnapped. The family was well known and loved. The family had to raise thousands of pesos if they wanted their daughter back!! One can only imagine the pain and desperation of this father who began to sell and borrow to have the ransom money. The neighbors gathered in solidarity and began to bring him little by little small savings, the money they had to pay their bills, the money they had saved for an emergency and a small miracle happened that with the help of all the neighbors this father was able to have the ransom money. When word was out that the daughter was to be returned, the neighbors began to pour out into the street, and there was such an outpouring of love and unity that no one could hold back the tears and joy. The street was filled with children, youth, the old all united as good neighbors to end a nightmare with embraces of welcome and so much love.
To hear the enthusiasm and gratefulness of the person who shared this story with me just filled me with gratitude for a happy ending. It also helped me apply my father’s wisdom, to every day happenings to life here in Juraez.

What are we celebrating?

Violence and drugs affect the city of Juarez in many ways, some bad, some for the better. When Nina and I wake up in the morning you see families walking their kids to school. The kids that are being walked are not just 5 or 6, they're 17 and 18 years old. The community and the family has become very close knit and important. People ask families "Why do you walk your young adults to school?, it wont stop them from taking your daughter or son. they will just kill or take you too", their response is "at least I will know, at least I will know what has happened to my son or daughter". Families eat together at the table, talk, listen, and love each other.
Last friday Nina and I went with members of the Center to church during their choir practice. Everyone was singing and having a great time, when a man walked in who I noticed was carrying a kitchen knife on him, in his belt strap. Nina and I were facing opposit directions and she only saw him but did not see the knife. One of the women we work very closely was sitting next to me and paid no attention to it. After dancing to the music for a minute, he left and went outside.
I told Nina about the knife, and asked that we close the door given that he was directly outside. members of the choir said "esta bien (hes fine)", I trust these women, so I said okay and kept an eye on his where abouts. When I looked outside again he was chasing another member with the knife, I told Nina and the woman who said it was fine, and again they brushed it off. Neighbors began to come outside and calm him down and talk to him even though he had a knife.
At this point, I was thoroughly taken back that no one was alarmed, so I asked them why they were not concerned. They told us that he was a member of the community who has been damaged by drugs and just got released from Jail. They said he used to be calm and cool but since his release has been afraid. The minister of the church we were at said that the man regularly helps him with jobs that he needs done, he just carries a knife because it makes him feel safer. His community, has taken it upon themselves to help support during his struggle with life of drugs, and what it has done to him. The community is so close here, even though many consider it to be divided. Our community, has realized the violence brings everyone together. No one is safer than someone else, so people watch out for each other.
Today marks the Bicentennial of freedom from spain for Mexico. The government in Juarez is not celebrating, but the people and chruches are. The government and many people have asked "What are we celebrating when the people here are feeling so much pain?". The people of Juarez have a right and a need to celebrate more than anyone. They are celebrating the love that has continued to strengthen the people of Mexico and their families. Celebrate to the fact that you reside, and live, and fight for this city even though many have left. Most of all, they are celebrating that they are Mexican, they love being Mexican, and nothing can change that.