Blessed are the Peacemakers
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Mt. 5:9
For many people of my generation and older, the mention of Nicaragua conjurs up images of war. Indeed, for decades, war defined this country and for decades before that, horrendous oppression by U.S. backed dictator, Somoza and his National Guard. More times than I can count on one hand, I have heard people say these past few days, “Gracias a Dios que ya no estamos en guerra.” – Thanks be to God that we’re not in war anymore, that those days have passed.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Mt. 5:9
For many people of my generation and older, the mention of Nicaragua conjurs up images of war. Indeed, for decades, war defined this country and for decades before that, horrendous oppression by U.S. backed dictator, Somoza and his National Guard. More times than I can count on one hand, I have heard people say these past few days, “Gracias a Dios que ya no estamos en guerra.” – Thanks be to God that we’re not in war anymore, that those days have passed.
Still, forms of violence exist. They are the forms of violence that exist in any country; the violence of poverty, domestic violence, child abuse, crime, fist fights, etc. Luckily Nicaragua does not have the gang violence of neighbors Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Interestingly enough, they don’t have the gun violence of the U.S. either. I passed a billboard the other day with a picture of a man saying, “I am a man and I do not like guns!”
“Blessed are the peacemakers.” On Saturday, a group of fourteen youth gathered at 2nd Church for a workshop on how to be peacemakers. Saturday’s two hour workshop was the first of four in a series of conflict mediation headed by Global Ministries missionary Magyolene Rodrigues. Magyolene, a member of Iglesia Pentecostal de Chile, Curico, Chile, serves with the Convention of Churches Christian Mission of Nicaragua. Her field of study is agronomy. She works in environmental education, food security and conflict transformation.
2nd Church was in the process of beginning Saturday youth programs when they heard that Magyolene had gone to a workshop on conflict mediation. So they asked her to start off their Saturday programs with what she had learned. I was very impressed by the organization, content, planning…and the fact that 14 youth showed up while the World Cup was on!
Magyolene began with a group building exercise that any youth who has gone to camp would recognize; anyone wearing blue pants – and those in blue pants have to get up and quickly find another seat, anyone who likes gallo pinto (beans and rice) and everyone who likes gallo pinto (and that included everyone!) had to get up and quickly find another seat. They talked about what it meant to be a child of God…called to be peacemakers. Where would they find themselves in conflicts? Between their friends at school? At home? How will they be peacemakers in those situations? Each traced their hand and then wrote five expectations on the fingers of the drawings. These were posted and read. The sheets were very telling of the pastoral issues present in many of their lives unhealthy situations at home.
As I watched the dynamics of the meeting, I thought about how the youth were both very similar to and very different from the youth in our churches. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to bring them together sometime? This is one of the many possibilities in our partnership! In the meantime, I invite you to invite your youth groups to hold the youth of 2nd Church in prayer as they study and practice conflict mediation. The names of the youth at the session on Saturday are: Johanska, Joliveth, Namavis, Nema, Dayanna, Dana, Jensy, Mayerliny, Joswin, Carlos, Ruth, Genesis, Helen.
Thanks be to God for Magyolene Rodrigquez and her work as peacemaker. The Christian Church (Disicples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ are blessed to have her serving as one of our Global Ministries missionaries!
Dalene Vasbinder is Senior Minister at Woodland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. She is working with the Region of Kentucky and partners in Nicaragua in strengthening relationships.
Magyolene Rodriguez, member of Iglesia Pentecostal de Chile, Curico, Chile, serves with the Convention of Churches Christian Mission of Nicaragua. She works in environmental education, food security and conflict transformation.