7/23/2019 Psalm of Hope

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A PSALM FOR HOPE

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and findgrace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4.16 (NRSV)

Our hope is in God,

whom we honor at all times.

We arise in the mrnin! thin"in! # $%& Lr'& an' !iin! than"s #r the bessin!s # ea*h 'a$.

We arise rememberin! the ni!ht # the 1+th # A,ri # -1/ when a !%erria *mman' # the FAR0entere'La Esperanza(S,anish #r H,e)& a twn in r%ra 0mbia& an' atta*"e' sme / s'iers #the 0mbian arm$ wh ha' set %, *am, in a s,rts arena ben!in! t the *iiian ,,%atin # thetwn.

We sh%''er at the th%!ht that s*ar*e$ tw meters awa$ sme # the sisters an' brthers # the *aMennnite rethren *h%r*h ha' their hmes. 2ra!i*a$& 11 s'iers were "ie' an' -+ w%n'e'3 an'it amst br"e the ,ea*e ne!tiatins between the ernment an' the FAR0 *%rrent$ ta"in! ,a*e inHaana (0%ba).

We be!in t #ee sme # the #ear that the sisters an' brthers # the *h%r*h an' ther *mm%nit$members m%st hae #et as 'eath seeme' imminent in the *rss#ire.

We thin" # %r sisters an' brthers # La Es,eran5a an' we ,ra$ t $%& h '& #r their ies& #rtheir ,rte*tin& an' #r their stren!th.

Our hope is in God,whom we praise at all times.

n the a#ternn we "nee be#re $%& Lr' 7es%s& t ,ra$ #r the members # the Mennnite rethren*h%r*h wh are a*tie in their *mm%nit$ an' h' ,sitins # ea'ershi, in the *mm%nit$.

A#ter the eents # the 1+th# A,ri& their ies hae be*me #ie' with %nease. 2he$ hae beensti!mati5e' an' the$ are bein! wat*he'& een when the$ meet #r wrshi,. Nw the$& t& are %n'erthreat. Lr'& ,rte*t them. Lan' mines hae been ,ante' ar%n' the twn an' a 89$ear ' !ir was"ie' b$ a mine.

'& !ie them ,ea*e ami'st the tensin an' ,ari5atin *reate' b$ the arme' ,arties. Pe,e # the*h%r*h an' the *mm%nit$ hae been ,ress%re' t *abrate in ne wa$ r anther. Lin! '& #ithem with wis'm an' ,r%'en*e t "nw hw best t res,n'. 2he 'istr%st that has been swn&t!ether with the emtina im,a*t # what the$ hae e:,erien*e'& has e#t in them a resi'%e # #earan' isatin.

We thin" # $%& %r sisters an' brthers # La Es,eran5a an' we ,ra$ t ' #r $%r ies& #r $%r,rte*tin& #r $%r stren!th.

Our hope is in God,whom we glorify at all times

7/23/2019 Psalm of Hope

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At ni!ht#a we re#e*t n %r sisters an' brthers # the *h%r*h in La Es,eran5a;hw& in s,ite # it a&the$ hae remaine' strn! an' *ntin%e t he, their *mm%nit$ # La Es,eran5a t me #rwar'.2he$ witness t hw "nwin! 0hrist an' ' Vae Re!in # 0mbia& an' b$ Men*'es&

7%sta,a5 an' 0EAS;r!ani5atins # the Anaba,tist *h%r*hes # 0mbia wr"in! t #ster 'ee,ment&?%sti*e& ,ea*e an' ,s$*hs*ia an' s,irit%a s%,,rt #r i*tims # the arme' *n#i*t an' #r re*n*iiatin.@