Well, I´ve been here 4 months now, so I suppose its about time I told you what I´ve been up to since I arrived in Bogota. I´ll make it as brief as possible; I´ll write something a little deeper later.
YWAM
I started orientation in The Other Way, a 'drop in center' for children living on the streets. It is the first stage of the YWAM process. Around half of the children actually live on the streets, and the other half are picked up in our bus from their neighbourhood called Colombianita. It is a very poor neighbourhood, and kids living there are generally one step away from the streets. The majority of the children are below 6 years of age. We give them breakfast, give them a shower if they need it, tell some bible stories, draw some pictures...pretty much a childcare.
I spent my second (and subsequent) week at Light and Life School, the second stage of the YWAM process. The children there are from around 5 - 12 years of age, and have usually progressed from The Other Way. My first day there one of the teachers was away so I was asked to take her class. The teacher did not return for the next 2 weeks, so I ended up being 'profe Jon', in charge of Maths and Spanish for 5 kids.
I´ve throughly enjoyed it, and have found a place to call home for a while. I mostly enjoy teaching Maths, as the kids are very keen to learn mathematics. They devour the worksheets I give them, and usually ask me for homework. I´m not as keen on the Spanish, as my Spanish is not perfected, and most of the time I feel like they´re teaching me more than I am teaching them. But we get by.
It is a true blessing teaching these kids. If they were not with us all day they would be working on the streets, so each day I have with them I count as an absolute blessing. Each moment I have with them I know is one extra moment I can demonstrate God´s love; I dont take any minute I have with them for granted!
CHOCO
Displaced from his home because of civil war.
My name was put forward to join a YWAM health brigade to Choco, a jungle part of Colombia, and a destination for many internally displaced people. I was part of a team of nurses, doctors, orthodontists, and a huge children ministry team.
We visited a different area every day, offering free medical and dental care to hundreds of people. At the same time the childrens team did a fantastic job sharing Gods word with some very disadvantaged children.
I was very blessed with God´s protection over the 2 weeks. Firstly Choco is a Guerilla strong hold, and I was at high risk of kidnapping. Over the past months quite a few people have been kidnapped from there, and Choco is under great pressure as the guerilla push through their land. Secondly I found a spiritual darkness in Choco that I had never felt before. It was a physical awareness of deep spirituality that surrounded me; but it was overridden by a physical touch of Gods protection.
The t-shirt of a child displaced to Choco. "The children are tomorrows future so don´t limit them today. Say no to child labour."BARRIO PERSEVERANCIA
During the afternoons, after my work with YWAM, I have been volunteering in Barrio Perseverancia. This neighbourhood is amongst some of the more dangerous in Bogota. A high percentage of its residents are theives, and most Bogotanans have a look of shock when I tell them I walk to this neighbourhood every afternoon.
I have found shocking abuse in this neighbourhood. I have found children with horrid lash marks from severe beating with wire cables. I have heard many childrens tales of seeing their fathers murdered in front of them. The stories sicken me, and I dont think I´ve ever seen such a big population of children facing severe abuse.
I found an organisation in the area, funded by Compassion International, who run a drop in center for the children. Most of the children are funded to go to school, and outside of school hours they spend much of their time with the organisation. Each day of the week has a specific focus. Wednesday is spiritual day, where we discuss the bible, and talk with the children about their lives. I´ve been amazed how open they are about what they face; and can only hope that their openess with us might make us more effective in the support we can give them. Thursday is baking day, where a baker comes in to teach the kids how to bake bread in the small bakery the organsation runs. Fridays is recreation day, and we usually hang out in the park.
I´ve gotten to know these kids quite well over the past months, and although the frustration of what I see can at times bring me down, I feel blessed every day that I get to spend with them.
MIGUEL AND THE BAKERY
The bakery in Pereira many of you have been helping to fund is very close to starting up. Proposals have been put forward to the government, and we are awaiting a team of bakers who will come in to teach the women how to run the bakery.
I am in Pereira this week for Easter, and have been fortunate to catch up with Miguel. He told me with great enthusiasm that he is loving school, and that he has already learned how to read. He has already skipped another grade, and is now in 2nd grade. He has also joined the school choir.
BOGOTA
Bill board advertising the 4th Feb rally against the FARC "NO MORE 4th Feb against terrorism"Bogota has quickly become my city. The longer I spend here the longer I feel I will stay. I have quickly made friends with the foreigners I work with (a group of 10), and the Colombians I have meet along the way.
I live in a really cool neighbourhood with an English friend...though I am looking to move to Barrio Perseverancia in the near future. Oh, I also go to church in Barrio Perseverancia, so I feel I am becoming part of the community there, and I am looking forward to making a move there at some point.
I think overall that is what I´ve been up to in the past months. I´ve had many more experiences, met many more people, and have recieved insight into the childrens lives I work with that would take me a book to write. I will write a little more detail about the children when I have the chance.
Praise Points
- My language skills have been advancing rapidly, and I am functioning well linguistically with the children
- I have found a place in Light and Life School, and am happy serving there for this season
- God has given me complete peace about my safety, and I have never felt at risk. I thank Him for my protection in some very dangerous environments.
- Tensions between Colombia´s neighbours are still high, but peace has been maintained between the countries
- I have a great group of friends, which has made my transition to Colombia much easier
Prayer Points
- Continued protection and safety, especially on my visits to Barrio Perseverancia
- Wisdom as I work with the children at the school, attempting to meet their educational, spiritual and emotional needs.
- Wisdom as I work with the children at Barrio Perseverancia. That God would guide me in offering them support, and would teach me how to support them in more practical ways
- That my mind is protected from discouragement resulting from what I see daily.
- direction as I look at a long term committment with YWAM Bogota
- wisdom in finances as I look to a long term committment
- That I would bring honour and glory to His name daily
