For years Colombia has been plagued by political tension between the leftist guerillas and right-wing paramilitary. In more recent years drug trafficking has only served to increase the strife between the warring factions, which has frequently erupted into violence, often at the expense of civilian lives.

Enith Diaz sought a response to this violence when she established YWAM Medellin some 15 years ago. Today the group has two primary focuses: to provide shelter for children whose families have been displaced, or killed, and to serve the community by meeting healthcare needs.

In February YWAM Medellin held a medical and community outreach in Uré, a town that has suffered greatly at the hands of the armed groups. “We had a fairly small team this time, but were blessed with health professionals who were able to attend almost a thousand patients over the course of four days,” said Jon Captain, who has been with YWAM Colombia for four years.

Besides medical consultations, dentistry, blood work and pharmacy consultations, a key element of the outreach is to open a space for those dealing with loss, grief and rage from the injustices they have suffered.

“We listen to their stories, share their hurt and tears, and invite them to begin the process of forgiveness. One woman had lost a son, tortured and killed by an armed group, who also beat her younger son and left him handicapped. Between sobs she kept asking, ‘How can you forgive that? How can I forgive what they did to my sons?’" said Captain. “All words feel like they ring so hollow.”

The team met another elderly woman who had lost both parents and six siblings in a massacre when she was just 17. Years ago she chose to forgive the perpetrators, but decided to make a public declaration of forgiveness during a peace ceremony the final night of the outreach.

“Forgiveness can seem like a difficult and nearly offensive thing to preach, but recognizing that just as human love is incapable of loving an enemy, so our sense of forgiveness just isn't sufficient. Our forgiveness is only possible by recognizing it as an expression of Christ’s love -- even for our enemies,” said Captain.

In addition to medical treatment, YWAM Medellin also serves the community through counseling, providing clothing, legal advice, tips on agriculture, haircuts and lice treatment, and workshops.

For more information about YWAM Medellin, please email jucmed at hotmail.com.