"Thank you...for loving these little ones"

Jeanene and Richard with the littlest ones in CVII

 We were sitting in the van outside of the CVII “Beginning of Wisdom” school, waiting for the Principle to join the social worker, Jeanene, Pam and myself (Donna) so we could begin our intense day of case studies. The Genesis preschooler children were standing behind the entrance gate perfectly quiet and calm around their teacher...until they noticed her. There sitting in the front passenger seat of the van was their mama, Mama Jeanene. Within seconds it was chaos, the teacher glanced up and suddenly her class had gone from a calm cluster to excited yelling children lining along the gate, waving their arms and yelling her name over and over “Mama, Mama Jeanene”. It took Jeneane barely a second of smiling "Hello" through the van window to her precious children when it was obvious this would not suffice as a proper greeting. Regardless of us being hours behind schedule and the principle finally hopping into the van, these were her children, and she was beyond joyful to see all of them. Jeanene passed the gate into the school entrance way and the teacher instantly gave up trying to calm them as they all went running to her. The ones that were closest, quickest or smallest got in first for the hug and embrace, others grabbed at her sides, some even her legs. Whatever they got it was good enough to them, but hardly enough for their Mama. She took the next 10 minutes to make sure each one was greeted by name, kissed, hugged and fully embraced. Each and every one of those little children knew they were loved, and knew they were safe. Sitting in the van and witnessing this unfold, I could barely understand what it was I was seeing. It wasn’t sweet like a poem or corny like a song. It was alive and overflowing, it was living scripture. I have never witness scripture so loud before.

 "Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

 As Jeanene hopped back into the van and glanced towards us, she vocalized her infectious giggle and said kindly “See, that's why it takes forever for us to get anywhere around here!”. That would have to be the worlds biggest understatement.


Out of this journey that we all began just 3 months ago, with our 2 weeks in the upper slums of Bogota, we have experienced but a mere glimpse of the profound work Children's Vision has accomplished these past 18 years in Colombia and around the world. All of this began because of a challenge placed on Jeanene's heart and her disgust of the constant answer of "it just is" to questions like why these invisible children on the streets couldn't have a safe home. The answer wasn't enough for her, and hasn't slowed her down since. Hearing stories of her being held at gun point, the many attempts made at shutting the organization down, God has continually prevailed and amplified His love and light through Children's Vision into this broken nation. Through their warehouse of donations in Wisconsin they have done outreach to disaster relief efforts around the world. Part of the CVII mission statement is: "if there is a need, we will try to help". Even within their own neighbourhood in Bogota, they have transformed a community that although is still seen as unsafe, it is the safest its been in almost 20 years. Children's Vision is continually taking on medical mission projects (2 going on this year), new external students to their school (12 started during our visit), planning for additional houses to rescue more kids, and supporting additional projects around the world.

Children's Vision International has been one of the most purposeful, God-centered, hard working agencies I have ever had the pleasure of volunteering with. From the structure of their buildings, the high ranking education program, the case study evaluation system, or the spiritual discipline for staff/volunteers, CVII is truly set apart. What is usually unheard of is in this broken and violent nation of Colombia, there is an agreement of support from the Government, Police force, Military and citizens for this independent christian agency of CVII - PRAISE GOD! The Government assists in the receiving of supplies, the Police force escort mission teams into fragile communities, the military offer their own planes to take medical mission teams into isolated environments, while the surrounding citizens embrace and help CVII however they can. God is good!

This journey is far from over, for there is so much more we can do to help. 
Click HERE to find out about:

• Sponsorship for a Children's Vision International Child
• Donation of funds towards projects like the new Leviticus building
• Donation of currently needed items and how to send them 

Thank you for being apart of this journey with us. Pray for the team as we transition back into our Canadian lives and that God will use what we have learned to spread His love and light within our own communities. Like Jeanene, let us rise up to the challenge God places on our hearts, and never accept "it just is" but only accept what is His!


God Bless,
Donna Halsey (on behalf of Team Canada 2012)

Dear Jesus:

Tell me, where are you?
In this town called Bogota
it is hard to notice you
so many faces that just need food
people living in huts, that just wont do
but then hundreds of bags of food
come to a village that noone knew, except you
and just for a day, these huts are filled
with the spirit sent by your Son
and with that, glory to the risen King has begun
so thank you Children's Vision
for loving these little ones
by showing Jesus in a place there was none.

- Joshua Walden

One the families we helped on the Mountain Mission