Day 10 - 12

Thaily, Amy, Donna, Angela, and Lee at the Mountain Mission

Monday morning a meeting took place to evaluate the results of the Mountain Mission. One representative from each group on the mountain mission would attend and discuss which top 3 of their 10 homes assigned to their group were the most “in need” and why. When we began our mountain outreach Saturday morning, each group had a teenage student from CVII to assist in translating, a colombian volunteer (from the school, CVII housing staff) who would document the census (asking questions about: running water, electricity, food, jobs, levels of education, ect.) and 2 non-colombian volunteers.

Mark and his team heading to their first home

It proved to be a mixture of experiences. Some groups did not have a translator, therefore a few of our volunteers couldn’t communicate or understand what each family was sharing to the Colombian volunteer. Lara and Scott unfortunately had this limitation, but Lara was able to share some light and love by asking to hold and adore a number of their babies and bless them with enthusiasm when handing out care packages and a few spanish/english bibles. A few groups found homes that were very comfortable and owned “nice things” (ie. TV with cable, washer, fridge) and many homes were found to be a form of four pieces of metal as walls and a dirt floor with a tarp ceiling.  Most members of the community only have access to water 2hrs once a week, with no donation resources offered due to being “unaccessible” on the mountain. Groups that were able to translate gave a chance for a few of our volunteers to pray over each family and even share a bit of their personal testimony. Mark had said that his Colombian volunteer spoke openly about the love of Christ, and in doing so Mark was also able to share how Jesus has changed his life. At the end of it, each family gratefully received the food/hygiene packs, a prayer over them and their home and a few children were able to start school as external students at CVII the following Monday.

This mans home had 4 metal walls, tarp as a roof, no water or electricity and broken glass surrounding it. He quickly became a top priority for help from one group

It is incredible to think this process all began with a Case study for a boy and his little brother who wrote to Jeneane 13 times asking if they’d let them be students at the school, and at the end of it Jeneane said “CVII was able to adopt an entire community”. 

Jennifer, Camilla and a few girls from Numbers performing 

Monday evening we had the incredible privilege of having the children put on a talent show, as the American team were leaving the following morning. Songs from each age group, poems, jokes, and a very spiritually engaging drama from a group of CVII kids which had been taught to them only a few weeks previous from a visiting drama team. As an additional treat, Sharlene, Lara, Amanda and Bruce performed a worship song and for the big finale Donna and Scott performed a song from High School Musical. On the second day of our visit, it became apparent that both the kids and a few of the volunteers know most of the HSM songs which resulted in a number of impromptu singing with the kids and staff. It ended up being a hilarious and well received last minute addition to the talent show.

Bruce, Kevin, and Ruben working at Leviticus

Tuesday and Wednesday work days were much the same with progress slowing moving forward with the Leviticus site project. More shoveling, more moving buckets of dirt, more shoveling. God truly finds ways of humbling us through hard labour! But our team worked “hole” heartedly, showing up and doing whatever tasks (small or big or smaller) needed to get completed before our departure. Jeneane kept the remainder of the team busy with various projects of organization that were long overdue: supply rooms, donations, uniforms, and assisting in activities that took place with the CVII students. Tuesday was picture day for the whole school, and unlike what we can reflect on from our school picture day experiences, it wasn’t as simple as sitting on the stool and having a man guide you how to tilt your head and smile. In this case at CVII, many of the children only felt comfortable going through such formalities for a photo and smiling if “Mama Jeneane” was standing behind the camera, because that is who has earned such an offering from them and not this random stranger.

Our soccer tournament in the park with the CVII kids

Wednesday evening we were able to have our final outing the some of the older boys/girls and have a soccer tournament in a near by park. After everybody won we had supper with the boys at Exodus and spent time joking around, sharing stories, mocking each others accents and use of language, and reminisce on the past 2 weeks.

Monserrate, Bogota - The church on the mountain

Thursday was an exciting day with much completed. We were able to have one of our few moments of tourism and visit Monserrate, the church on the mountain where we were able to revel in the beauty of the Jungle to one side and the vast expanse of the city on the other while standing on the door step to an ancient church of Colombia. A few of our team members remained back at the work site. Mark and Bruce assisted in completing a few loose ends at the Leviticus site (both had gone to Monserrate last year), and our other team leader Richard remained back to assist Richard and Jeneane with something very exciting on behalf of the team. Kevin would like to share:

A huge thank you from Richard and Jeanene for all of the work the team members have done.  At the end of the trip, the team was able to purchase 3/4 of the iron needed to build the new four-storey Leviticus building (which will be built once enough money has come in).  We worked on the foundation of this building and bringing it toward Seismic Resistance Standards.  Richard and Jeanene were so ecstatic about this purchase!  Tehy said they were not sure what God's timing was for building the new Leviticus structure, but now that prayer is answered as we were able to purchase a huge amount of iron.  The Leadership Team including Mark, Richard B., Sharlene, and Kevin would like to say that all the credit and glory belongs to God for all that was accomplished on this trip.

Our team (minus Richard, Bruce and Mark) at Monsserate, Bogota

Scott with a little friend from Genesis

Bruce and a munchkin from Genesis

It seemed apparent within the Team that the greatest reward throughout this entire trip was the relationships between the volunteers and the children of CVII. Short term missions can be easily taken as selfish and are for our own development while trying to help where there is a need. During these two weeks no one anticipated the abundant opportunities God graced us with to make connections and develop relationships with the staff and children at CVII and to teach so much to eachother. The women volunteers were able to lead devotions with the older girls and teach them how God values them and that they are priceless and we were able to hear how they view and value themselves. The men volunteers in our team were able to lead devotions another night with the younger boys and discussed how to respect and love each other and to treat women wisely and set an example. Other days we were able to go jogging in the morning with a few of the kids, play soccer, share meals, go for walks, take them to church and worship together, and just sit and be in conversation and share silly moments together.  The love and fire of God within the children and staff at CVII is a contagious one. We continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers as we transition back into our SK lives, knowing a God greater then geographical barriers will continue to keep us connected in his spirit. We pray that God will take what he has taught us through his Colombian people into our own communities.

safely returned home to Saskatoon

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11