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| FEBRUARY 2005 | ||||
| Newsletters top | ||||
| Real Problems Real Heroes | The Best Christmas Ever | Presidents Desk | ||
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| Colombia is a 'no kidding around' place with "real problems." If I told you the stats, you would gulp. Excluding the Iraqi war and nations affected by the recent tsunami, it has the world's third largest internally displaced population after the Congo and Sudan. Our team of 23 diverse Americans chose to spend Christmas in Colombia working with some of those displaced people. From a spiritual perspective, it was a time of incredible opportunity to share God's love, experience His grace, and serve others. | |||
 From a human perspective, the safest place in Colombia is supposed to be
Cartagena, which is where we stayed at night. Cartagena is located on the
northern coast, which means it sits on the beautiful Caribbean. It is a city
of extreme contrasts, boasting one of the most extravagant hotels in the
world and where wealthy tourists choose to vacation. The walled old town of
this fortified Spanish colonial port is packed with churches, monasteries,
plazas, palaces and noble mansions with overhanging balconies and shady
patios. Our team paid all this a small and curious visit but God has us
focus most of our time on the contrasting life in a village called Villa
Hermosa, one of the squatter villages consisting of 10,000 to 15,000 people
(no official census). The village has evolved just in the last four years as
a result of two million people who had become displaced, seeking refuge from
the paramilitary forces and the guerrillas. These two groups are at odds and
systematically attack the civilian populations that live in the rural areas
when they believe they are supporting the other faction. The displaced
civilians end up in villages such as Villa Hermosa where their homes are
huts put together with anything they can find; where the floors are of dirt
which turns into mud in the rainy season; and where there is no sewer, water
or roads to speak of. There is some electricity, which comes and goes. |
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 Our mission had several components-medical, educational, spiritual,
humanitarian, and a message of hope through Jesus. All this was inspired by
one doctor, a woman named Mercedes Gardela, who after committing her life to
Christ has dedicated her life to serving the poor of her country,
particularly children, pregnant and lactating mothers and the elderly, the
most vulnerable in these situations. Doctor Mercedes, a native Colombian,
attends a Christian in Action Central Church in Cartagena and had been
working in a clinic in a village that was supported by a "leftist" Spanish
organization. Because she was not allowed to share God's love with the
people she served, she began to think of ways in which she could reach
villages that had no medical services and in that process, share the hope
that only comes through Jesus. She found Villa Hermosa and decided to
dedicate as much time as she could to this village. Her ministry has
expanded enormously during the past year. Dr. Mercedes takes city buses and
then walks to the 750 sq. ft shack (it looks much smaller) where all of her
ministries take place. The waiting room, which turns into a feeding room or
a school depending on the time of day, is about 8 x12. In this small
building Dr. Mercedes, assisted by volunteers from the local CinA Church,
sees patients, has a dentist stop by occasionally, feeds over 200 children
and 50 elderly, holds Bible studies, provides spiritual outreach, and runs
classes for mothers on how to care for their children in squalid conditions. |
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 Our first effort was to build the foundation to the planned clinic that was
so desperately needed to allow adequate access to medical treatment for the
children. They often go far too long suffering with afflictions that
normally have a simple cure. At our first sighting of the plot of land
recently bought for this clinic, we were gratified that the footings were
laid. What was immediately apparent was that the 2400 sq. ft planned
structure would quickly become inadequate. One businessman on our team
decided right there that he would buy the three parcels adjoining the newly
bought land. He and another businessman on our team committed to raising the
money to finish the first building with some expansion in mind. This was
just one of the many examples of God's hand in our time in Cartagena. Our
construction team alongside the Colombians began to work that day in the
extreme heat but with real encouragement that God had a wonderful plan for
this Villa Hermosa. |
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Our medical team set up a dispensary as well as a screening section in one of the rooms of the school. Bed sheets were strung across a wire in another room to provide some privacy as Dr. Mercedes examined patients. Two part-time volunteer dentists occupied one other room and they managed to provide services in the most primitive of situations. Our team leader immediately went out and bought tons of toothbrushes and toothpaste. Classes were given to the children on how to brush. | ||
| Two other rooms, as well as a shady spot next to a man's hut, were used for evangelism. Our evangelism team wasted no time in moving into high gear. We worked alongside the three Colombian teachers who provide a preschool on a daily basis and also several Colombians including a two English teachers who gave their time during their Christmas break. We divided the children into two groups: one, age six and under and the other, ages 7 through 12. Puppet shows, stories about Jesus, music, games, coloring and laughter filled their mornings before the full heat of the day arrived in the afternoon. It was sad to see nine- or ten-year-old girls often toting a baby, usually a younger sibling, for whom they were totally responsible. These girls would try to color while the baby tried to grab at the crayons. Girls older than 13 seem to be carrying their own babies. The plight of females in war is a very sad thing. | |||
 At noon the children walked to the old building where they stood in line for
an interminably long time to await their turn to receive a lunch of beans
and rice. As we watched this scene take place and saw the mothers bring
their sick children to the clinic and the elderly struggle with the very
basics of life, it occurred to me that there is so much hope for these
people if we can reach them for Christ now. There is enough of a
social/family/physical structure to provide some stability for the ongoing
nurturing of the seeds planted for Christ. Despite the
social/psychological/spiritual/cultural demise experienced by these people
as a result of the drug wars, they are still willing to see hope through
Jesus as the answer. And He is truly their only hope. |
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 I had taken several copies of The JESUS Film, the original and children's
version in CD and VHS and was able to show it several times to the children
and adults in the schoolrooms. Finding two TV sets and CD and VCR players
proved interesting but God provided the way. One day we went hut to hut to
invite as many adults as we could to a showing. Many men came and stayed
throughout the showing despite one long delay in the middle due to an
electrical failure. I had come to expect such things. Having worked with The
JESUS Film ministry before, I knew of the spiritual battles that took place
in such situations. Prayer went up and the electrical problem "disappeared"
and we continued. I asked two men from our team give their testimony after
the showing. Many came to the Lord. It was gratifying to see the men make
this commitment. There appeared to be is a disproportionate number of women
and children in this village. Again, many men are forced into the
paramilitary forces or the guerrillas. The women and children need the
protection and involvement of godly men as they cope with the myriad of
social/spiritual/physical issues facing them. |
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 It was a privilege for us to work alongside Dr. Mercedes, a humble, giving,
Christian doctor being obedient to God's call in her life, the twenty local
people who are volunteers and the three teachers in the preschool program.
It was heartening to see the efforts made in the clinics, the lunch
programs, and the spiritual outreach provided by the church members. It was
satisfying to be a part of the construction of a new clinic and it was
humbling to encourage this small group of Colombians as they encouraged us.
The scale is never balanced. I think the team would agree that we received
more than what we gave. I think our team of 23 North Americans would also
agree that this was a very fulfilling Christmas and though Columbia has
"real problems," the Colombians who work so tirelessly day in and day out on
this project are "real heroes." |
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Because it was Christmas and because the one halfway decent structure, (a
six-room school with no books or supplies), was not being used during the
holiday, we were able to transfer our other efforts - evangelism, vacation
bible school, the dispensary and Dr. Mercedes' clinic - from the current hut
to the school building. It was one of the many answers to prayer. We
couldn't have operated in the space currently provided. We had transported
1500 pounds of medicines and medical supplies.