To my Friends and Family.
I want to introduce you to an individual that I had the honor and privileged to meet! The Gentleman on the left is Chaddy Stendal. He joined the 4 X 4 Group at the river crossing. We recoginized each other as American and started to chat. There was something different and unique about this man that generated my curiosity. He had heard there was going to be a Gringo in the group and had no difficulty recognizing me! We would be passing through his ranch on the other side of the river and he would be insuring our passage for a couple days. In fact, he told me that he did alot of advance travel and communication with some of the villages and the Para-Military to communicate to them that the 4 X 4 group was not a threat, nor a "guerrilla faction" in disguise infiltrating their commumity.

Did I, or Fernando, or Alvaro [B-I-L] anticipate meeting a "reformed and resigned" FARC guerrilla?? Well it happened!! When stopped for a refuel and rest in a village that prior to Colombian spraying program, was a significant cocaine producing and distribution center, we met a young man through Chaddy, that had renounced his prior relationship with the FARC and is now a Para-Military. He stated that he began to realize that the FARC contributed nothing to resolve the plight and hardship of fellow villagers and was only interested in funding their political agenda! He now devotes himself to the reconstruction of the village and his fellow villagers, and is seeking ways to generate new business and economic opportunities. Chaddy told me that the Village and it's population was having a great deal of difficulty in the transition, but with faith, it will come about!

Chaddy told me that he has lived in this remote part of the country for 43 years, coming here at a very early age from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was barefooted and wears shoes only when on business in Bogota or when he visits the USA. Still intrigued, I pressed for more detail. Why did you come to Colombia? The story is very intriguing.

This morning back in Bogota, I learned alot more about Chaddy's family and his Brother Russell when I went to Google. Please, please, go to Google.com and type in Russell Stendal,
then click on Stendal family page. Then click on Chaddy Stendal. I think you will understand why I am honored and privileged to have the opportunity to have met Chaddy!

While on the google page, take a look at Brother Russell who as a Bush pilot was kidnapped by the Marxist guerrilas in 1983! Russell has written numerous books since then and I look forward to reading. I ordered from Amazon this AM. I am intrigued with these adventurers and the work they are doing! If you are interested in understanding the ongoing plight of these peoples, and the why and how terrorism plays out with poverished communities, I think you will benefit these works.

On a last note, take a look at the ransom letter the family received from the FARC for the release of Russell. It is on the Google page.