Our History

Our humble beginnings take us to a remote Wayúu indigenous settlement located in a ranch community between Uribia and Manaure on the northern peninsula of Colombia. This vast and arid land that borders the Caribbean Sea and immerses itself into the Guajira desert, is a place where the sun, wild vegetation and fauna would challenge even the most infallible spirits due to its harsh and inhospitable environment.

This land became our home. Our ancestors had handed us this territory as a priceless and unique treasure to which we held legitimacy and rights to ownership as direct Uriana Clan matriarchal lineage descendants. Our ranch-based community was later baptized La Paz “Peace” as it was what our community needed and my elders hope for in the region.

It was the year 1980, and my eldest sister Cecilia Lindao Uriana, led by God and following in obedience, commissioned and spearheaded this beautiful life and family project. She abandoned her last semesters of law studies in the capitol, and fearful but determined, relocated with our mother Petronila Uriana to the enchanted community they both baptized as “La Paz.” It was now a land where the word of God and eternal life was spread, all across a community that longed for a glimpse of hope and salvation.

Petronila Uriana as the official matriarch of the region and leader of the URIANA Clan envisioned and strived for a region where brothers and sisters of all clans would know the word of God and through it elude the dark days that succumbed the region in those days. Death, clan wars, starvation, illiteracy, misery, lack of basic resources and desolation ruled the land, and she and Cecilia were determined to dissipate it all in God’s name. This was the beginning on a long journey, one that has lasted over forty years, where faith in God’s word, constancy and determination has slowly brought back hope.

The hearts and minds of the Wayúu families were gradually open and touched by God. The acts of benevolence performed by both Cecilia and our mother were eventually recognized and rewarded with acceptance of the word of God into diverse neighboring communities. Slowly but surely it was faith that led the way and hope took on a whole new meaning. People began to come and the first congregation and place of worship in the region was erected in La Paz. With the help of our head church Centro Biblico Internacional located in Barranquilla, headed by pastor Jaime Murphy and his wife we begun a war against forces of evil (piaches) in the region and were able to formally established a house of God in La Paz, Centro Biblico Internacioal Wayúu. Other pastors have provided enormous support thereafter, allowing for an increment of followers in our local church and the spread of Christianity among the Wayúu ethnic groups of the region.

On February 4, 1991, Reyes Maria Lindao Uriana was called by God to work with the children. It was then that the Christian School of La Paz was born and became the home to 150 Wayúu children; this was the beginning of an official calling that was to change the life of many in the region. Due to relatively new nature of the project, very few resources and aide was received at the time. Dr Miladys Mengual Meza was the only collaborator through the organization ICBF, eternal thanks to her, God Bless her soul. A year later, with the guidance of God and the collective efforts by our family and the head church in Barranquilla (sisters Yolanda Zabaleta and Juliana Smith, Pastor Rafael Gómez D’Sola) a beautiful love story was officially begun and to day remains. Additional support and extended gratitude is offered to the organization Piedad Internacional (Latin America Child Care)by means of Miguel and Nohemi Lawrence who bless us with the support and child sponsorship grants.

All great leaders leave their mark as they walk through life leaving imprints of their work legacy. My sister Cecilia Lindao Uriana was an icon and a recognized leader for our community and the La Guajira state as a whole. She traveled throughout the country fighting for our rights, the rights of children and their mothers; she created processes that to this day stand and position our communities in the map, she gave us a name, an identity. Cecilia met with presidents, governors, ministers, mayors and local leaders to insure the Wayúu communities were not forgotten, they knew her and our people loved her for it. When God called for her in 2008, the pain was felt throughout the land. It had been 28 years of making a change and bringing forth love, fear of God and endless blessings to communities that lacked a moral and spiritual compass, she had brought back hope and smiles in the lives of many. Cecilia will always be remembered, with love and gratitude.

Today, the school is a utopia of blessings and has been officially recognized as educational institutions. Every year, our students compete with top schools in other states and excel in the countrywide tests. Ministry of education and secretary education for the state highlight our efforts and most importantly, the children of our community , their parents, siblings and even the “Alijunas” (foreigners) have been blessed with the word of God and his work in the lives of a population that sees in him salvation. Praise be to him!