Colombia: Through my eyes (Day 3)

July 25, 2011

Barranquilla, Colombia

I don’t know how I’m going to be able to recap everything that’s happened since last night. The storm I thought we were having? Turns out it was a power line connected to our hotel that broke and the flashes I thought were lightning was actually sparks from when cars ran over it. Total blackout. Although it isn’t really funny, the most entertaining part was trying to warn innocent passerbys and cars about the live-and sparking- wire in the street. Mostly we just shouted “No!” and “Peligroso!”. It was decided that it would be safer to move to another hotel a few blocks away. Even though everyone was very helpful and accommodating, we didn’t get checked into the new hotel until 11:30, and by that time, I was exhausted.

This morning we split up into dos equipos and my group went to a Compassion Development Center (CDC) in Port de Colombia. The center, though obviously in a very poor area, was relatively nice. We were once again greeted by overjoyed children who took our hands and led us to our seats. They welcomed us with songs and a prayer. Los ninos fue precioso! After a tour of the building given to us by an 8-year-old who spoke confident and clear Spanish, we started our Bible School. Our music bordered on disaster, but the children loved it regardless. They thought the puppets were great. The crafts were a little bit chaotic as well. As wonderful and generous as these kids were, you couldn’t pull out stickers, bubbles, crayons, or nail polish without being swarmed with 20 children. At my craft table, I didn’t have a translator, but I was brave and attempted conversacion con los ninos y sus mamas y papas. I don’t think I did half-bad. One of the translators, Claudia, was impressed even though I had a few misunderstandings.

There was a little boy named Daniel I fell in love with today. He was 6 years old, and if I could have taken him home, I would have. He sat on my lap during the puppet show, and hardly let go of my hand for the rest of the day. At craft time, he asked me what my name was, then wrote it on his craft and tried to give it to me. I was once again amazed by the generosity of these children. It always seems like the people who have the least to give end up giving the most. Daniel wasn’t the only kid to offer the gifts we’d brought for them back to us. Throughout the day, Daniel grabbed two of everything and always tried to give one to me. He even decorated my nametag with stickers. And he did NOT want to leave when it was time to go to games. We would send him outside, and after 5 minutes, he would be back at my side. Telling him good-bye wasn’t easy. He was so sweet. After lunch, we split up into groups and went to visit the families of several children in the program.

Daniel and another little girl during craft time!

 These visits really helped me see how much Compassion International and the sponsors do for these children. Some children were receiving chemo treatments, getting surgeries to fix deformities, other were getting food and clothes, and in some cases I believe the families were receiving assistance also. The family we visited was a mother and father (unusual) and cuatro ninos. The littlest boy, Kevin Jr., took me to his room, which had two small beds the family of 6 shared. He showed me his stuffed animal Bendito, so worn and ragged I couldn’t even tell what animal it was, but you could tell he treasured it. I gathered just from looking around that his only possessions were probably Bendito, a soccer ball, and a blow-up ball. I noticed on the bed the children had laid all of their crafts and gifts from VBS perfectly on their beds. It was funny, because in the US, kids wouldn’t see so much value in paper, stickers, pencils, and bubbles. But you could tell the children would take care of these things for a long, long, time.

The family from our home visit

  Another great experience the past 2 days has been getting to know the Compassion staff in Colombia and our translators. Most of them are close to my age, and they have been an invaluable part of our team. I wish my Spanish was as good as their English! Haha But it is just amazing to see so many young people devoting their lives fully to Christ and the children of Colombia. I have enjoyed learning about their lives, and they have been helping me with my Spanish. I am learning mucho! I will be really sad to leave tomorrow, but several of mis amigos nuevos has offered to teach me Spanish on Skype. So I am excited about that.

Our guides/translators surprised us by taking us to a black sand beach in Barranquilla. It was beautiful. They let us get in and really seemed to enjoy watching us enjoy our surprise. When we got back to the hotel, we headed to un mercado. Viviana, one of our translators, helped me pay for some bracelets in American money and figured out the exchange rate. After that I made some purchases on my own and was kind of proud that I figured things out by myself. I ask Viviana if everything was made in China like it had been in Jamaica. She laughed and said, “Yes, but even though it was made in China, you can say it looks Colombia.” She cracks me up.

After today, I have several pages in my journal filled with pictures drawn by kids and conversaciones y palabras of the translators. My favorite one was with Esteban. I was trying to explain a sand dollar to him, and I ended up having to draw a picture. He said he’s seen them but he calls the galletas de mar- sea cookies. I couldn’t stop laughing!

Today, one of the Compassion staff from the site, a boy probably about my age named Dimos, borrowed my journal from me and asked if he could write a message. We were in a hurry to leave, so I didn’t look at it then and didn’t notice it until just now when I went to turn the page.

Myself, a girl from the team, our translator, and Dimos on the far right.

It’s Jeremiah 29:11. In Spanish. And now I am once again struck by how big our God really is. Because out of all the verses in the Bible, Dimos chose this one, and it directly related to a struggle I was going through at the moment in time.

The relationships I have formed with these people en tres dias are unbelievable. It’s easy to see God is at work. I just will never be able to express my gratitude for the people who helped me get here. I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be. And I have been praying hard about the possibility of practicing physical therapy in Colombia as a missionary a few years down the road. This country and its people have captured my heart.

“Por que yo se los planos de que tengo acerca de Vosotros, planes de bienesto y no de mal, para darles esperanza y futuro.” –Jeremias 29:11

from Jess, with love

always