Word & Deed: Focus on Colombia

Being Christian in Colombia

2010-10-16T13:54:00.001-04:00

Encouragement in the Lord by John Otten

It is a privilege to be able to see how Christians confront the various pressures and joys of life in the developing world. In May 2010, I traveled to Colombia with Rick Postma, Colin Postma and Derek Naves, visiting projects supported by Word & Deed. While talking with our various project partners at CDA (Corporacion Dios es Amor, Corporation God is Love), we found that in discussing the operation and management of various projects we were also given a rare picture of life as a Christian in Colombia. It was good to encourage one another in the ways of the Lord.

CDA knows how important it is to provide youth with a Christian education. A grade 11 student, Carlos, has been attending CDA’s Altos de Cazuca School for three years, and says that it has radically changed him. He grew up going to a public school, and had become very rebellious. Carlos was thinking of joining a gang. Thanks to the grace of God working in him through his teachers at CDA, Carlos now looks at life through the lens of God’s Word. Other students at the school have similar stories to tell. They speak highly of how the school has shaped them, and they aren’t at all shy to emphasize how the biblical worldview impacts them. This is very encouraging.

A sponsor child at home with her parents and brother.

Elisa is a student of the School of Practical Ministries developed by CDA. This program is designed to strengthen the witness of believers in vulnerable communities by training various leaders in the work of evangelism. As a youth leader in her church, she sees the struggles that her peers have, and is concerned about the many numbers of youth that are lost to drugs, alcohol and prostitution in her community. Elisa challenges the youth in her church to “gird up their loins” and to reach out to those around them.

At one of the schools we asked the high school students whether attending church is important, and everyone raised their hands. When we asked how many attend church, only half responded. Why? Some say there aren’t any good churches around – they don’t follow God’s Word or just ask for money. At times children may believe but the parents do not, so they have no way of getting to church.

In another area of education, CDA was very excited about the Jonkmans’ training seminars this past year and the Old and New Testament teacher commentaries. In our discussion they expressed concern for the North American churches where they always see the same people year after year, and no new outsiders. Why do our North American churches keep such rich teachings to themselves?

Missy Christie with two girls from girls home.

According to Beatrix, the director of CDA Cartagena projects, there is no religious or political persecution in Colombia. There is, however, guerilla activity, which the army cannot control. Many people have no choice but to flee from the guerillas, including Ingrid, a grade 11 student at Altos de Cazuca. She and her seven sisters used to live on a prosperous farm and go to a private school. They were forced to flee their farm because of guerilla activity, and have settled in Altos de Cazuca, which is a town originally developed as an IDP (internally displaced people) Zone. Because the majority of its people are IDPs, this community is very poor and unstable. It is still a struggle for Ingrid’s family to be there, but they are glad to be alive. I didn’t sense any resentment in the telling of her story, and she expressed a wonderfully confident trust that God would provide for her and her family. Christian education has proven to be a very successful tool in encouraging Colombian youth and leading them towards Christ-centered lifestyles.

Many adults are living in poverty, unable to provide a sufficient income to care for their families. We often want quick fixes to the poverty in the developing world and think that the best solution is to hand out money. Usually, this type of aid does more harm than good. In response to the poverty in Colombia, CDA has developed a microcredit (also known as microloans) program to establish and/or strengthen business ideas among the unemployed or underemployed.

One town benefiting from the microcredit program is La Boquilla, a town with a very poor and transient population. It was a fishing community where the men would leave early in the morning, fish for a few hours, and then lay in their hammocks for the rest of the day. A decrease in fishing, however, has made it necessary for people to find other income sources. Because the people there do not trust each other, it is very difficult to set up cooperatives (a group pooling resources and working together). The first response to a microloans project was excitement at the prospect of getting free money; many entered the program with no intention of ever repaying the loan. CDA spent a lot of time in the initial phase of the project training participants in business principles and Christian values. Only after these sessions did CDA award very small loans. CDA knows and even expects that people will use their initial loan to purchase things they didn’t budget for. But people learn very quickly that if they don’t repay their initial loan, they won’t receive another. Is CDA being too tough? Cesar, the program’s organizer, says that if CDA becomes known for being lenient on loan repayment, they will get a reputation for providing “easy money” that will negatively affect all of their projects. Cesar notes that people are becoming more businesslike. Initially they thought everything was free, because they were used to this from other organizations. They are starting to realize that repaying loans leads to greater opportunity, and are learning to appreciate the system.

A successful micro-loan project

CDA itself has been affected by the recent economic downturn in North America and Europe. They are trying to raise more funds in Colombia, but have had some challenges. Large local companies have their own projects to support and don’t tend to give to other organizations. Also, the mostly Roman Catholic population feels uncomfortable giving to evangelical causes like CDA. Even among the Protestants, there is not a culture of giving in Central America. Jimmy, our guard, noted that it has been good for CDA to try to take care of some of their own financial needs. It creates unity among the staff and shows which employees are truly dedicated to CDA’s ministry. Staff members must give more of themselves. Finances have also challenged the organization to find local solutions and seek ways to be even more efficient. Seeing these internal challenges makes the staff pray more sincerely for their work and thank God for how He has blessed it so far.

John Otten is the Director of Administration for Word & Deed Ministries.

John Calvin Christian School

2010-07-23T10:41:00.004-04:00

John Calvin Christian School phase 2 has now been fully funded at $276,000. The Lord is good!
Students have moved into phase 1 and construction for phase 2 is underway.

Please click here to view the most recent pictures and watch the building go up.

Bundles of Love Testimonies

2010-01-30T14:06:00.000-05:00

José Fabián Maldonado Martínez
11th Grade
I feel very blessed for having received these beautiful presents from the Corporation; they are very beautiful and motivate us to continue with our studies. I want to thank CDA for caring about the poorest people and making me feel so special. CDA has really contributed to the increase in the quality of life of the families in Cazuca. I am very proud to study at CDA because they provide us with a quality education that is based on Christian principles and values.
Thank God and CDA for providing us a light of hope!

Leidy Lorena Velásquez Aroca
5th Grade
Thank you very much CDA for the present, you have a great heart! When I received my present, I felt very happy because I know that now I have a beautiful schoolbag to come to school next year. I am very happy to study at CDA because I have friends and teachers who love me and teach me with patience and love. I hope that you continue helping us until we graduate.

Sponsor Child Testimonies

2010-01-30T13:33:00.002-05:00

Miguel, Lucero Alto

11th GradeI have attended the CDA School for 11 years, and throughout those years the institution has provided me with not only the best education but with the opportunity of a better future. I can say that the CDA School really changed my life.

You might wonder how CDA changed my life! When I first began to attend CDA I had some learning difficulties. Throughout the years at the school, I overcame those difficulties and now, I’m just a regular child. Besides, at CDA, I had the best experience of my life: I got to know the Lord Jesus Christ. I think that if it wasn’t for the Christian principles and values that I learned at CDA, I would have never truly met the Lord.
At CDA, I have experienced the best moments of my life because I have made really good friends and have had amazing teachers. At this point, when I know that I will be graduating in a couple of months, I can say that studying at CDA has been a great gift from God and that He has changed my life and the lives of many of my classmates and friends at the school.

Ismael, Cartagena
5th GradeMy name is Ismael. I am 12 years old and I have attended the CDA Cartagena School for four years. My mother’s name is Luz Mary and my father’s name is Alex. I am in 5th grade. Many years ago, I had behaviour problems and I was very sad because my parents separated and I had to move with my father. Then, my parents sent me to live with my grandmother and even though I used to see my mother very often, I was still very sad about the whole situation. I did not study hard enough and my academic performance was not good enough. After a while, I could move back with my mother and I am living with her now. I am very happy now because she takes good care of me. This year, my behaviour has improved and I really want to behave well so that my parents see that CDA has changed my life.

I like CDA School very much. My teachers treat me very well and teach me many values. Besides, I like the fact that they talk to me about God and they teach me to respect other people. They give me the opportunity to study every day. I want to be a good professional in the future and be able to help my parents and siblings.

Nora, Santa Fe
10th Grade

My name is Nora Martinez.
I have attended the CDA School since Daycare. I am 17 years old now and I am convinced that the Lord does wonderful things in people’s lives. I am very grateful to God because He saved me, and today I know His love and His message.
Throughout this year, I have experienced a great spiritual growth because I have been attending the Paraíso Church and because I have been able to attend the spiritual activities carried out at the school. Besides, I participated in a pedagogical field trip in which we encouraged the people in the neighborhoods to attend the Church, to have a closer relationship with God and to search for Him with all their hearts.
During that activity, I felt that the Lord was using me as an instrument and that He wanted me to accomplish a mission. I noticed that I felt very happy when I talked to people about the Gospel, the Lord’s message and about all the love that the Lord has for sinners. I was very happy when a lady told me, after we finished praying together, that that prayer was exactly what she was in need of because she had had a very difficult day. That was the best gift that the Lord could have given me during that evangelization activity.
Despite the fact that I come from a beautiful family that has problems like many other families in my neighborhood, I will continue serving the Lord and I will always remember His promise in Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." I pray that my family, some day, will accept the Lord in their hearts and they will become a great testimony and a great example of how Jesus Christ can transform lives.

John Calvin Christian School Project in Colombia Begins!

2009-10-19T10:15:00.001-04:00

Please join in thanking the Lord that He has provided the $346,000 required to begin phase 1 of the John Calvin Christian School project in Barranquilla, Colombia.

We are now raising funds for phase 2 ($287,500), which is scheduled to begin next summer (2010).

Click here to view a presentation on the John Calvin Christian School (including descriptions, funding goals etc.). This presentation will be updated with pictures as the project progresses. The below picture shows part of the existing structure being torn down to make way for the new structure.

Colombia Updates

2009-06-13T15:57:00.005-04:00

Bogota – Santa Fe CDA School – Child Sponsorship.

Erika Pacanchiqueis is a grade 7 student of the God is Love School in Santafe, who joined the project in 2001, when the school was located in “El Cartucho”. One of her brothers graduated from the school.

She lives in a secluded neighborhood, so her family decided to enroll her in another school that was closer to their home. Due to some difficulties she faced, the family decided to enroll her in CDA once again, reason why she considers the school as her second home.
“I entered the school in first grade back in 2001, when the school was still located in Calle de Cartucho. My two brothers also studied here. Diego graduated in 2003. He has a problem with his right eye because of an accident he faced when only eights years old. A few days ago he received a new operation and is in recovery. After some time, I was transferred to another school, because when the CDA school moved, it was far for me to attend. At that school, my few school materials were stolen, I was threatened and it was basically horrible. For this reason I begged my parents to send me back to CDA. When I came back I was entering seventh grade, but now I feel good, I am accepted, loved, teachers not only care about my academic performance, but they look at all my needs as a person. Even caring for my personal and spiritual life as well as for my family.
I consider this to be the best school and desire to continue here until I finish high school. One of my dreams is to become a professional in the area of communications. I know that this opportunity of studying at CDA, brings me closer to fulfilling my dream.

Bogota - Altos de Cazuca CDA School
Name: Clara Inés Rueda
Occupation: High School Academic Coordinator
Throughout my teaching years, the Lord blessed me with working in different Christian schools. I have seen His blessing at each and every single one of them, but I feel specially happy at CDA. Everywhere I look, every day of my life I see the love of the Lord being shared and this is a motivation, because the vocation to which the Lord has called me is a gift, which I must respond to every day. The Lord Almighty has a special purpose for my life and that is to serve those who need me. Its gratifying to see the joy reflected in the students faces, when they arrive at school, regardless of the heap of problems they have. It is in those faces where I see God´s love and mercy. The experience as academic coordinator allows me to continually update my knowledge in order to offer the teachers, the necessary tools to transform the teaching-learning process into a space of knowledge interaction. The attitude the teachers assume during the development of certain activities, such as the Education application of efficiency tests is also motivating, taking into account the interpretative, argumentative, and proposal capabilities, which make the students competent human beings in their every day life, bearing in mind that they and only they are the makers of an integral education.
If we reflect God´s love with our attitudes and words, we will be aware of that love that we have sown in our students’ hearts, the love that God asks us to give in his example, for He showed us his never ending love when He died on the cross. Our dreams will emerge from this love, to see our students as missionaries, preachers, personalities from the public life, and professionals that contribute with their wisdom and experiences to an improved society.

Home Support
OLGA LUCIA VALENCIA COTINCHARA
Olga Lucía lives with her parents in a neighborhood called Barrio 8 de diciembre in the locality of Ciudad Bolívar. Her family is composed of her parents and a 6 year old sister. Olga is 10 years old and is studying in 4th grade. Her father has been suffering from epilepsy for 17 years, which has prevented him from working.
However, her mother has always worked and provided sustenance to the family. She learned how to knit woolen clothes but due to the lack of job opportunities she has worked in other activities. The situation is really difficult taking into account their monthly expenses: rent, public utilities, schools, uniforms, transportation, food, medications of her husband and others.
They have been Christians for about 10 years and have been hosting a cell group at their home for 7 years. Olga Lucia has been benefiting from the program for about 5 years with groceries, school supplies or shoes. She is really happy when she receives letters or gifts from her sponsor. Her family has received spiritual guidance through devotions, counseling, and workshops on child rearing which has generated great harmony and good family relationships, despite the fact that the parents’ roles are reversed in this case.
At present, María works at a female underwear factory (in different shifts) and earns minimum wage.
She would like to buy a knitting machine and work at home so she can spend more time with her family.
She is also interested in studying tailoring and dressmaking but due to her work schedule, she can’t enroll at any training center.

Continuing Education
MARGARET LICET BELTRÁN CASTILLO
18 years old
Public Accountant

“My family and I became Christians many years ago, when we came to CDA. At our school I remember we were always taught about the Bible and at home those teachings were reinforced through the way in which we lived.
My brother currently studies at the Lucero Alto School. He is in ninth grade and that is the school where I graduated from, having started my studies at the early age of 4.
I am happy because thanks to the help received through CDA and now through the scholarship fund, I have been able to follow a professional career. I am entering the fourth semester of public accounting and although during my school years my dream was to become licensed in math or physics, I can now say I made the right choice and feel satisfied with the career I am following. Right now I am dedicated to my studies and to the group of children I have at my care at the church I attend, where my father is now a pastor. I am a Sunday school teacher there and we carry out evangelization activities and much more, sharing always those Christian principles and values, which I learnt at CDA. I can say today that CDA is an organization that lives out what it speaks. It truly cares about preparing us for life and as I am now away from the CDA environment I miss the way in which they cared fro each individual, teaching us always to honor God. At university everything is different. People only care about themselves and this reflects in our society. I think that if I had the opportunity of becoming the president of this country, I would focus on providing equal opportunities so people can have a chance of improving their lives. But for now, my plans are to finish my career, find a job and help my parents cover their needs. In whatever I do, I want to serve the Lord.

Cartegena
Mother of Student

Shirley Castillo, student’s mother. God Is Love School in Cartagena.
First of all, I want to thank God for the great blessings He has provided me with; my two daughters, 7 year-old Miriam and 4 months-old Luisa Fernanda.
The God Is Love School has provided me and my daughter Miriam with a lot of support. This institution is excellent and my family and I are very pleased with the way they have treated us and worked with us. Academically, my daughter has experienced noticeable improvements and she has been provided with health services, food, and everything a student needs in order to study.
Also, I have received advisory, which has helped me to be able to handle myself in difficult times and have helped me make wise decisions.
I want to thank the CDA team very much. May God bless you all!

Colombia Profiles

2009-04-06T20:33:00.003-04:00

Child sponsorship impacts not only the child, but the whole family. One aspect of the program includes schooling for parents.

Bogotá – My name is Marcela Jaimes and my son, Daniel Guzman, attends the CDA School. He is in preschool. Before attending the School for Parents, I did not know how to be patient and handle difficult situations at home. Nowadays, I am able to look for strategies that allow me to solve any conflict that I may face with my family. I have learned that problems can be solved if I have a truthful desire to solve them and if I pray to God. I have been attending the School for Parents for a year and I can say that I liked it very much from the moment I attended the first workshop. The information they provide us with is very useful and the directors teach us strategies that can be applied to our daily life and how to apply those strategies by showing us examples of actual situations. I am very surprised because I did not think we could have an opportunity like this to learn and be able to express our ideas and our daily experiences. Today, I thank God for CDA and for the positive changes we witness in our families every day.

Sadly, child abuse is all too common in Colombia. When abused children are discovered, they are placed in special home for a total of 60 girls, 30 of whom are funded by Word & Deed North America. Needed in 2009: $123,500 CDN / $103,000 US The Girls’ Home, Johanna Catherine Patiño, 14 years old.
My life was very normal until my father and my mother died from an incurable disease called HIV AIDS. After my parents died, one of my sisters continued supporting me financially even though in order to do so, she had to face many economic difficulties. We were living in the neighborhood Cazuca in Soacha. At the beginning, I was happy to live with her, but after a while, she started insulting and abusing me and my brother physically and psychologically. For that reason, my little brother decided to escape from home and he started living with my other sister. Even though I miss my little brother very much, I am very happy about him escaping from home. One day, I went to visit my other sister and I told her what happened; she immediately contacted CDA to get help. Since I arrived at the Home, I feel happy and peaceful. I believe that God is always present in our lives, even when we have problems and difficulties. Thanks to Him, four years ago I was offered the opportunity to live in the Girl’s Home. Since then, I have been able to experience how my life has improved in all aspects. Thanks to my Heavenly Father, I have everything I need and I do not lack anything.
Not very long ago, my Home mates and I attended an activity carried out at the church. Through this activity, I was able to forgive many people that hurt me and that I even hated in the past. Now that I have forgiven these people, I feel like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Now, I feel the love of God in me and I feel that the problems in life are not as big as I always thought. I pray everyday for my family’s wellbeing and for them to come closer to God. I thank Him for CDA because I can really witness His love in everything they do in order to help vulnerable people and especially in order to help me in many ways, from providing me with food, to providing me with health and psychological assistance, among other ways.
Now, I want to be able to help my family and friends in everything I can. After I graduate from secondary school, I want to study psychology in order to help people in need. I want me and my brother to have a successful life.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my gratitude this way!

The objective of the scholarship program is to provide post-secondary education to the best students who graduate from CDA schools. Given that many of the sponsor children from Word & Deed North America are just now beginning to graduate, we expect the needs for this fund to grow dramatically. There are currently 5 young people being funded. Needed: $4,000 CDN / $3,300 US

Ingrid Yeraldin Borda Aponte, 19 years old, Business Administration
The current situation of my family is a bit difficult. My father has suffered heart problems for the last three years and has not been able to work. My mother is also facing health issues and undergoing several exams, but together, myself and her, are working to cover our needs. To top this off, my oldest brother disappeared three months ago and we have no news from him or have any idea of what could have happened. All this has us feeling sad.
My first contact with CDA was back in 1995, when I entered first grade. I remember I always dreamt of becoming a doctor or a nurse, but then in high school I realized I got very nervous when I saw a wound or blood and that made me change my mind. This is why upon graduating I decided to study Business Administration. I am now entering fifth semester and I study in the mornings and in the afternoon work in marketing.
I am deeply grateful to CDA for selecting me for the scholarship program. If it had not been for the help received I would have never achieved my dreams. CDA is an organization that lives and demonstrates the love of God, caring for the development of each of us students and our families. As a student at University I see the difference between the way CDA relates to the students and how things are outside of that environment. I miss the daily devotions at the school, but have learnt to have my own devotions. At University no one even mentions God and they don’t really care about the people as such. All they care about is that you pay and what grades you get. At CDA things are different, because they take into account each person's situation and need. I believe that this country has faced and faces so much hardship, because of the lack of opportunities and care. I wish there were more programs geared toward truly caring for the people and providing them opportunities to develop and do well. I hope to become a good business administrator, maybe establish my own business and generate employment for others, helping also my family.

Helping Hands is a project running in both Bogotá and Cartagena which assists 40 families, who have hit “rock bottom”, for a period of three months by providing them with food and other staples together with regular Bible based seminars. Needed: $40,500 CDN / $34,000 US for Cartagena and Bogotá.

Teodosia Solano de Álvarez, Cartagena

Knowing and being linked to the CDA projects has brought me many blessings and benefits. The sewing and dressmaking training at the VTC enabled me to earn income as a result of what I learned and in so doing, sustain my family now that I have the responsibility to economically provide for my family. There are occasions in which I fail, but here I receive encouraging words from my teachers and the CDA staff in general. Belonging to the Helping Hands program was very beneficial for me, not only for the groceries, but for the training they gave us, impressing on our minds that the material things pass away, but the spiritual ones remain with us forever.
The support they have brought me has been marvelous and has helped in my spiritual and personal growth. Everything learned during this time has enriched me as I have put it into practice, it has all been a gain for my life and I will never tire of giving thanks to God for the person that developed this great project and for the people who work here.

Word & Deed has supported John Calvin School in Barranquilla, Colombia for three years. There are over 200 students. The school is supported through sponsorships with an additional $104,000 CDN / $86,500 for operational costs. A new school and a medical clinic are being planned to replace the current run-down facilities.

John Calvin Christian School: Student’s mother
My name is Viviana Palacio Herrera, I am 26 years old, and I have two children; Dayana and John Eduardo Hernández. John Eduardo has recently started attending the John Calvin School.
Before my children started attending the institution, I did not value the blessings that God provided me with, because I did not understand that when something good happens to you, it is because God made it possible. In this area of Barranquilla, it is always difficult to find a job and being able to support your family and bring food to the table every day requires a great effort. Now, thanks to CDA, my son John receives nutritional meals and most of all, receives a quality education. At the same time, the Parents School has helped me a lot; I had never known about a school where they also trained the children’s parents. I am very grateful to CDA for training me as well.
So far, I find the John Calvin School to be very organized and the students learn to be disciplined. What I like the most about the education that the school provides is that the children are taught about God’s Word. I am very grateful to CDA for all the benefits they provide us with; my children can enjoy a very nutritional meal every day and they receive a great education.
On behalf of my family, I want to thank CDA for helping the families from the neighborhood Las Américas and especially, for providing our children with a great education at such low costs for the parents.
I hope to continue being linked to this program until my children finish their secondary education. I wish, in the future, that you can offer technical education so that the children can continue their education and suceed in life.
God bless you, keep up the good work and I hope you continue blessing us in the future.

God is on the Move

2009-04-06T16:12:00.009-04:00

Update from Colombia: By Missy Christie De Acosta

Paola and students

I have shared many conversations with the supporters of Word & Deed, those people young and old, who make the work of CDA possible. What I recall most is their expressions of love, kindness and genuine interest in our country, Colombia. From every trip, new ideas, encouragement and motivation have filled my heart. When I return to share my experiences with my staff, we feel we are not working alone, but are a part of a larger team that has come together with commitment and love to make a difference in a hurting world.

Such teamwork is what I believe God has blessed, allowing us to continue serving and to dream of reaching many more with hope and opportunities. This blessing is evident throughout the history of CDA, as schools continue to grow, plans for extending projects are accomplished, and we are constantly challenged with new opportunities for service and participation in the development of Colombia.

Every year we’ve seen good fruit come out of the seeds planted in the hearts of those we serve. Take the young girl Paola, who graduated from CDA’s school at Altos de Cazuca in 2005. Just last year, after completing her professional studies, she was hired by CDA as the Human Resource Manager. She now has the opportunity to give back to others some of what she received throughout her years of training. Such is only one example out of hundreds of lives which continue to be touched by the caring hearts of other human beings and the uniting of CDA and Word & Deed.

Continuing with good news, this past December we were also blessed that the Lord allowed us to complete the project in the city of Cartagena. Besides the nursery school, pre-school, elementary school, and health center, we now have a complete secondary school available for the children of the impoverished area of El Pozon. The local government has recognized CDA as a key factor in achieving the goal of fighting extreme poverty in their city. This secondary school will nurture 450 youngsters!

Construction work at the El Pozon school in Cartagena

The adventure of helping people generate income by establishing a micro-business in the sector known as LaBoquilla (in Cartagena) is slowly giving good results. This past holiday season, families were able to sell their products, thus bringing in food for their children and achieving an acceptable level of stability.

The children’s home (also knows as the Girls’ Home) sent back to their families 20 of the little girls that had been under our care for some years. This is the first time we have such a number of successful cases in one period. The need now is to follow up on these families, support them all in prayer, and prepare the way for the new little ones in need of protection. At this project, your generosity allowed the children to receive a brand new bus, making it possible for us to safely transport our little ones!

Moving on to Las Americas suburb (in the city of Barranquilla), the challenges continue as the need for the building of a school and medical center becomes greater every day. Throughout the last period, many efforts were made to get the government’s approval for the school’s construction. Praise God that we have advanced, having finally obtained official permission to take off with the building plans next fall. Challenges in the area of health remain, and the need is great, but we are certain it will all come through in the Lord’s perfect timing.

More blessings came our way through the efforts of Word & Deed, enabling us to repair the ambulance in Bogotá and purchase new equipment (funds also came from Word & Deed Holland for this project). Our patients at the different clinics now receive improved services and care.
The blessings, as you see, have been many, and each of them is multiplied by hundreds of lives. Yes, the work is much, but the joy is indescribable. Therefore, although the load at times gets heavy, each successful story and life touched are reminders that God is on the move and that we had better stay close and in tune with what He is doing. When He works, GREAT things happen! And that is what we expect – good things for Colombia.

As a family, the Lord has also blessed us, allowing each of us to discover his mercies and tender care, every step of the way. I am always amazed to see how the Lord works, even in circumstances that seem impossible. He is always teaching and leading the way, bringing goodness and joy, even in the midst of suffering. That is what we have experienced in the past and what we continue to see manifest every day of our life. His mercy and grace is the fuel that keeps us going and believing that He who has begun the good work will surely complete it.

At times, I wonder what our life would be if we had followed the counsel of several of our friends and family, and left Colombia in search of opportunities in another country. Although in my work I usually have to bring out the difficulties faced by the Colombian people, when I think of leaving, all I can see is everything else that is Colombia. The problems of poverty, violence, corruption, and abandonment trouble the lives of thousands, even millions. Yet there is its beauty, diversity, richness and life, represented in its people: men, woman and children who bravely confront life, who give even the little they have and appreciate that which is plain and simple. Colombia is a nation whose people always have a smile, even in the midst of lack and despair. A country for which it is worth working together. A country with fertile ground where many are still waiting to receive the good seed, the good news that will allow good fruit to come forth. That is Colombia – the place where the Lord has called us to and the place which we are proud to continue calling our home!Paola

To all of you, supporters of Word & Deed, thank you for being part of this great task. Thank you for each prayer and for all the love, that even from a distance, we can feel so closely. Missy Christie De Acosta is Executive President of CDA group.

Columbia Profiles

2009-02-05T18:28:00.005-05:00

EDWIN BEDOLLA, 4th GradeEdwin (far left) with his family

My name is Edwin Bedolla. I am 10 years old and am in the fourth grade at the John Calvin School. I like my school because here I have learned many good things.
I live with my family, my mother, father and my siblings. I give thanks to God for the opportunity that He has given me to study in this school where they have taught me many values and the love of God through the devotionals.

MARIAN LIZBETH PUERTAS DIAZ , 11th Grade

I want now to say what these wonderful people have done in my life:
Thanks to Corporation God is Love (CDA), and the sponsors who have been by my side, my life has improved in a hundred percent in the spiritual area. God came into my heart and made me a new person; He gave me a humble heart.
You have planted in me love towards the people that surround me and my mind was renewed through knowledge of the Bible. All the assistance and support received from the school has helped me achieve my goals, for in moments of need, I have always found a helping hand in the school.
Through the Leadership School we realized the importance of studying for the realization of our dreams. Here, at CDA they are always concerned about our education and our moral well-being, they teach us values. The fact of renewing the school facilities every year shows the respect they have towards our community and the value they give to our lives. This is something I´ll take with me, always looking and trying, holding tight to God’s hand, to be a better person every day, to set a good example for my family and community.

FABIÁN ALEXANDER TOVAR, 16 years old, 11th GradeFabian (far right) with his friends at school

Despite many difficulties and many economic problems, I come to a place where I have learned to see life through different lenses, as my eyes have been opened to another reality for my life that was new and previously unknown. In this place I feel strange as I have met people who are totally different and from the moment that I met them I have felt special and important because they have treated me with care. In this place I am striving to achieve goals that I previously did not even have, like Academic Excellence and a Diploma for living in unity, among other things, which motivate me to move beyond the place I am at now. Throughout my life other people have motivated me to do better each day; however, I was not able to obtain improved performance in my Education.
Since I was young I have had an illness with my heart and despite this situation I tried to become a good sportsman.
In this place I fell in love with something that each day awakens passion in me, when I play an instrument, like the bass, I forget all the difficulties and although I am not the best musician, I feel that I am good and I am playing various parts, even though I need to study more so that one day I will be better.
I am now in the eleventh grade and this has been a very difficult year for me as the difficulties have followed me, my health problems have kept me out of the classrooms but this did not prevent me from obtaining the best ICFES in the grade! This mark reflects all the efforts that I made over the past five years since I have been in this school and has permitted me to be filled with dreams for the future.
Thank-you for helping me grow, for helping me and giving me the opportunity to know the ocean and other places that I would not have been able to see without your help. I hope that today, when I leave this school, that I have been able to leave a small impression somewhere, because you have made such a large impression in my life and in my heart.
As I complete my secondary school studies I am planning to study a professional career, which will allow me to be a better person for my family and society.
Thank-you for everything CDA.

Projects in Colombia

2008-12-11T09:05:00.004-05:00

Colombia is a country that struggles with violence and corruption. The violence involves drug cartels, FARQ (a Marxist rebel group), and other paramilitaries. In addition to money and arms, military groups need soldiers. They frequently attempt to force villagers in the rural parts of Colombia to give up children as young as 11 years-old to join them. The result is tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDP) huddled around the major cities of Colombia, desperately trying to keep their children away from these soldier-starved armies.

In the cauldron of an IDP zone, the effects of sin are often magnified. Many fathers abandon or abuse their families, mothers desperately cling to the next man that comes along (often for safety), and children join gangs.

It is in these IDP areas, where people live out impoverished lives (the picture shows a typical kitchen in one of the homes) governed by local militias who come out at night to impose their will with guns, that our partner CDA (Corporacion Dios es Amor) is operating (with funding from Word & Deed Holland, Word & Deed Canada and Word & Deed USA). Christian schools filled with sponsor children are integrated with medical clinics, vocational training, micro-loans projects (small loans for family run businesses) and many other supporting projects with the intent of transforming entire families and through them, entire communities. Since the golden thread of the Gospel runs through each of these projects, many also come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. Even in the darkest areas, the bright light of God’s amazing grace is at work. People whose faces were once deeply etched with despair are now filled with the joy of being reconciled with God through the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Child Sponsorship Program
Monthly Child Sponsorship $35 (in Canada), $32 (in US) per child

By sponsoring a child, you have the privilege of fundamentally changing a child's life. Children in the program have the opportunity to receive a Christian education, food, clothing and medical care. Most importantly, your sponsor child will hear and, by God's grace, respond to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a participant in this program you will receive a picture of the child with some background information including the conditions in which the child lives. You will be able to correspond with the child and will receive at least two letters or reports per year updating you on the progress of the child. Child Sponsorship programs are being run in Colombia, Guatemala and India as well as other countries.

Colombia – Girls’ Home at Tenjó (Budget: $105,000)

Most of the sponsored children live at home, often in difficult circumstances. Over time, CDA, our Christian partner organization in Colombia, has recognized that some of the young girls are victims of horrible abuse. These girls needed to be brought to a safe shelter. The home at Tenjó (pronounced Tenho), located in the countryside outside of Bogotá, was built to be such a shelter. There are 60 (30 supported by W&D North America and 30 by Woord en Daad Holland) young girls living there in a beautiful but simple set of structures. The large bedrooms house 15 girls each and each room has a “mother” sleeping in a slightly separated part of the room. Between each room is a large bathroom with showers etc. There is a large playroom with lots of books and toys. The girls range in age from 3 to 16 years of age.

Health Brigades – Bogotá, Colombia (Budget: $24,000)

In addition to medical clinics connected to the schools run by CDA for the sponsored children, mobile health clinics travel to various parts of the squatter zones on a revolving basis, enabling people who otherwise have no access to medical attention to get the care they need. Ten Health Brigade mobile clinics have been held in various impoverished areas of Bogotá. Tents are used to house doctors, dentists, hair dressers (trainees from the vocational school), and eye examiners. The first room that everyone must visit, is the one staffed by a chaplain who shares the Gospel with each patient.

By supporting this program, you can help demonstrate Christian love in action.

Helping Hands – Bogotá & Cartagena, Colombia
Budget: $37,000 for each location

In addition to bringing Christian education, uniforms, medical support and a nutritious meal each school day, Christian social workers from CDA regularly visit the homes of the sponsor children to help the parents deal with the difficult challenges they face. Often the mother is alone with the father having abandoned the family. If a family hits rock bottom with no food, no job and no where to turn, there is a program in place to provide the essentials they need for a period of 3 months. The name of this program is “Helping Hands”. The families receive food and some hygiene products while being required to attend classes at the Christian school in which they are taught basic financial and household management skills thoroughly immersed in a Christian worldview. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is presented to the parents and the need for a relationship with God through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus is explained to them. Challenges in the home are often made worse by violent behavior, promiscuity and abuse. These troubled people need the transforming work of the Holy Spirit – in truth, this is their only hope (as it is ours but in a different context).

Colombia – John Calvin Christian School in Barranquilla
Transforming a community
(School Building: $308,000 per year for 3 years)
(Medical Clinic: $50,000 one time and $175,000 running costs in 2009)

This integrated approach to transforming communities has been carried out in the IDP zones around Bogota, Cartagena and now, over the past two years, we have begun to work in an IDP zone on the outskirts of Barranquilla, the second-largest city in Colombia. In partnership with CDA and the Reformed Church of Barranquilla (led by Pastor Edgar), we hope to build a new Christian school, set up a medical clinic and, in a few years, to add vocational training and micro-loans projects. This is a very major initiative for Word & Deed North America (Holland is not involved in this project). We are very much in need of God’s gracious provision and direction. The goal for the new school is to raise $924,000 over the next three years ($308,000 each year). A medical clinic previously run by another organization, but closed for several years, will be renovated ($50,000 budget) and will have an estimated running cost of $175,000 in 2009. This amount will decrease to zero over three years, since the operating cost will be covered by patients who can afford to pay small fees for their treatment – an approach being used with great success in Cartagena and Bogotá.

Churches, business groups, schools and individuals have already contributed to this project. Can we count on you to join as well? May the Lord use this large initiative to save countless needy sinners in Barranquilla who will one day gather around the throne in heaven and sing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”

1 John 3:16-18
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Colombia Project Testimonials

2008-11-10T15:39:00.004-05:00

The Girls’ Home, Tenjó (Budget: $105,000)

Camilo Franco, Care taker and Gardener
When I arrived in Bogotá, my situation was very difficult. I was fleeing from the violence in the area of Puerto Boyaca and trying to protect my three boys. I was, what is called, a displaced person.
In 1991, I arrived at Altos de Cazuca, with the hope of finding a place to live together with my family. But things were very complicated. Neither my wife, nor I had a job or any income, so we faced many hardships having no where to live and exposing our children to many risks. After many struggles, we were able to get a job and rented a shack, which became our home. Thinking of providing education to our children was out of the question. We could barely make enough to eat; much less did we have enough to pay for a school. But one day, someone told us about a Christian School that was being run by a missionary. Then one Sunday we met the late Rev. Lindsay Christie (Missy Christie’s father) and he told us that we could send our children to study at that school. He invited us to help toward the school building by taking a brick for each child. On that year my children had the opportunity of entering the school and I am grateful to God, that today, one of them works for CDA.
In 2004, the entity was searching for a caretaker and gardener for the Children’s Home in Tenjo and my wife and I applied, since I had worked all my life in agriculture. We were approved and since then my wife and I live at the Children’s Home and work happily for the girls there, trying to take the best care possible of everything that has been given with so much love. Through CDA we came to know God and have experienced a complete change in our lives. Our commitment is to continue working toward the fulfilment of CDA´s mission with gratitude for the opportunities received.
Child Sponsorship
Lucero Alto School, Bototá, Colombia

Gladys Vargas Age: 32 years - Mother of a sponsor childFor me this school has been like a spiritual fortress in this area of town. The care and interest they have in each of our lives and families, has allowed me to overcome many situations and learn to trust in God in all circumstances. Besides, academically it is the best school. Our children develop their minds and acquire knowledge, and at the same time, are formed in values. We are Christians and as such, we are aware about the responsibility that we have in training our children in the path of God. Therefore having the support of the CDA School, is a wonderful blessing. My daughter’s name is Ma Luisa. She is only five years old, but it is so encouraging to see her develop so well at school. Last year she was the best student in her class. I wish that Leidy and Angie, my other daughters could also attend this school.
The role of the parents’ workshops has been very important, as we learn how to bring up our children properly.

School of Infant Development (Budget: $18,000)

Children entering the sponsorship program are often developmentally delayed due to malnourishment or diseases that haven’t been treated properly. The School of infant development project trains the caregivers for 300 children to properly care for them and to recognize and respond to the various diseases that affect young children in Colombia within a biblical framework. Catching problems early can make a world of difference lasting a lifetime.

Josefa Blanco.
I am 38 years old. I am married and have 4 children. I knew about CDA because my youngest daughter is studying there. I had the opportunity to attend the development classes, where I learned things that I did not know and received tools to help me with educating my children in a better way. For example, I learned that it is important to provide stimulation to the children beginning when they are still in their mother’s womb and also how everything that I do will affect their development. I know the importance of the first years of their life and how to establish a foundation for them to build on for the rest of their life. I am thankful for what I have learned in these workshops. I have had my eyes open with respect to my responsibilities but I also respect my abilities and all that I can do with my hands, even though I do not have many resources. I wish I had known this before! I am teaching my children everything that I am learning so that they can have better physical and social development and can interact appropriately without aggression.
Thanks to God and to CDA for giving me the opportunity to learn this knowledge and to share it with my family.

NOHEMI RODRIGUEZ (left in picture)
PRE-SCHOOL TEACHER CAZUCA
During 2007, I was given the privilege to participate in the School of Infant Development, with parents, pregnant mothers, single mothers and children aged 0-4 years. By interacting with them, listening to their experiences, watching them make decisions to improve the quality of life motivates one to look at ones own experiences and to spread the dream of CDA.

Some of the things that we have studied through the School are:

Physical development through gross and fine motor stimulation, understanding the importance of Play for children, development of habits of organization and hygiene, stimulation encouraging speech, how to be polite and courteous, social-emotional and spiritual development.

Some of these themes may seem trivial but for the families of Cazuca it is necessary to continually emphasize the importance of these themes for the formation of their children and families by doing repetitive actions that will be converted into habits that improve their children’s holistic development. Thereby influencing, in a safe way, good academic and social-emotional performance in all the classes; pre-school and elementary.

Each parent has committed to put into practice the themes discussed in each session.
Another goal we are striving for and one of the most important things is to see how more and more parents are interested in having a personal relationship with God and this is because they are coming to recognize the interest and love that God has in their lives and how he is wanting to help them be the best parents.

I give thanks to God for his faithfulness towards us. He is guiding our ways and giving us favour in the community.

Barranquilla, Colombia

2008-06-28T15:53:00.006-04:00

Transforming a Community - by Rick Postma

Pictures of a home in Barranquilla, Columbia

Our sin has resulted in a broken relationship with God, leading us to glorify ourselves rather than God. But sin also destroys our relationship with other people - we exploit them and abandon our responsibilities. In the cauldron of an IDP zone, the effects of sin are often magnified. Many fathers abandon or abuse their families, mothers desperately cling to the next man that comes along (often for safety), and children join gangs.

It is in these IDP areas, where people live out impoverished lives governed by local militias who come out at night to impose their will with guns, that our partner CDA (Corporacion Dios es Amor) is operating (with funding from Word & Deed Holland, Word & Deed Canada and Word & Deed USA). Christian schools filled with sponsor children are integrated with medical clinics, vocational training, micro-loans projects (small loans for family run businesses) and many other supporting projects with the intent of transforming entire families and through them, entire communities. Since the golden thread of the Gospel runs through each of these projects, many also come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. Even in the darkest areas, the bright light of God’s amazing grace is at work. People whose faces were once deeply etched with despair are now filled with the joy of being reconciled with God through the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This integrated approach to transforming communities has been carried out in the IDP zones around Bogotá, Cartagena and now, over the past two years, we have begun to work in an IDP zone on the outskirts of Barranquilla, the second-largest city in Colombia. In partnership with CDA and the Reformed Church of Barranquilla (led by Pastor Edgar), we hope to build a new Christian school, set up a medical clinic and, in a few years, to add vocational training and micro-loans projects.

Pastor Edgar, left, with elder

This is a very major initiative for Word & Deed North America (Holland is not involved in this project). We are very much in need of God’s gracious provision and direction. The goal for the new school is to raise $924,000 over the next three years ($308,000 each year). A medical clinic previously run by another organization, but closed for several years, will be renovated ($50,000 budget) and will have an estimated running cost of $175,000 in 2009. This amount will decrease to zero over three years, since the operating cost will be covered by patients who can afford to pay small fees for their treatment – an approach being used with great success in Cartagena and Bogotá.

Churches, business groups, schools and individuals have already contributed to this project. Can we count on you to join as well? May the Lord use this large initiative to save countless needy sinners in Barranquilla who will one day gather around the throne in heaven and sing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”

Rick Postma is director of public relations for Word & Deed Ministries.

Lighting the World on Fire

2008-03-28T20:55:00.015-04:00

With CDA in Colombia- By John Vangameren

I recently travelled to Colombia with Bernie Pennings to visit our project partner CDA and attend their 15^th anniversary fundraising dinner. This was not only my first trip to Colombia but also my first trip to a developing country. Filled with excitement and a dread of the unknown, I faithfully went forward. This world seemed as foreign to me as a rainforest to a penguin.

My first impressions of Bogotá were that it was no different than driving through Hamilton. The people were friendly, and like any metropolis, things were happening. The only difference I noted was the heavy military presence.

We arrived at the CDA office in Bogotá just in time for opening devotions. Energy filled the office as plans for CDA’s 15th anniversary were finalized. A fundraising dinner would launch a new national child sponsorship program, designed to give Colombians the opportunity to support their people. (This program is similar to our child sponsorship program.)

We received the week’s itinerary at the office, and it looked like an extremely busy one. We would visit CDA’s three schools, Santa Fé School in the city of Bogotá, El Pozon School in the city of Cartagena, and John Calvin School in Baranquilla (both Santa Fé School and El Pozon School are jointly funded with Woord en Daad in The Netherlands). We would tour the Santa Lucia Health Clinic; visit the Micro-Credit program, the Center of Practical Ministries (CPR), and the Children’s Home in Tenjo.

Before visiting the schools, we joined CDA counsellors on numerous home visits to the families of the school children. The idea is to keep in touch with the family, assess the home life of the student, address possible family needs and encourage the family as they face life’s challenges. Visits like this may also address deeper family problems, like physical or sexual abuse, requiring further action.

Our first home visit was to a single mother with three children. One of the children was a student at the Santa Fé School. The home consisted of a ten foot square room where the mother slept with her three children on one bed. Attached to this room was a small primitive kitchen with a sink and a few pots and pans. Food was scarce, but CDA provided when necessary. She tearfully expressed her thankfulness to God for all His provisions. Her home was clean. She stated, “Being poor does not mean being dirty!” This woman currently works at CDA repairing uniforms. When this contract runs out, she will return to her construction job.

Unfortunately, it is very common to see single mothers raising three or more children. Often these children are left unattended as their mother works. CDA provides nursery school services for these situations.

Just when I thought I had visited the worst of family living, we made home visits in Cerro de la Popa. This is an area where many of the children from El Pozon School live.Homes are made of whatever scraps of wood, metal and plastic the people can find. The houses are small with dirt floors and contain the bare necessities of survival. There is no running water and the septic system is the local canal. The pedestrian bridges I had to cross in order to get the homes were over the sewage canals. You can imagine my panic! I made it across without incident and silently praised the Lord for His guidance.

At all the home visits we heard expressions of thankfulness to God and CDA for giving hope both physically and spiritually to those who would otherwise be left hopeless.

At Santa Fé School all the school children greeted us warmly with big smiles, waves and “Hola!” Laughter and happiness filled the air from room to room. With all their hardships, these children were happy and content. It was somewhat hard to believe that these children lived in the homes that we had just visited.

After flying from Bogotá to Cartagena, we traveled to El Pozon School and again encountered big smiles, “Hola”, and enough energy to light the world on fire. Before visiting the classrooms, we toured the vocational training center (VTC) at the school. The VTC is available to adults who wish to learn new skills or refine old ones, enabling them to enter the work force or start their own business. Skills training includes arts & crafts, sewing, baking, and computers. CDA also runs a mobile VTC clinic. These VTC’s move from location to location based on the assessed needs of an area.

Afterwards, we toured the new high school. The addition, which is nearing completion, will increase enrollment from 700 to 1,200 students. Our child sponsorship program supports all students. For $35/month, you can sponsor a child, providing them with food, health care, Christian education and a hope for the future. With this new addition, El Pozon School will need 500 new child sponsors in the very near future.

After a 90 minute drive to Barranquilla, we arrived at John Calvin School. This time, an excited and motivated staff greeted us. I met the infamous CDA architect, Gabriel, who discussed proposed expansion plans for the school. Phase One would build a new wing on new property that has recently been purchased beside the school (cost approx. $250,000 US). Phase Two would tear down the existing tired building and rebuild to match the building in Phase One (cost approx. $250,000 US). The school would be able to function during the entire construction process. The capacity would be increased from 170 to 390 students. When this project is completed, sponsors will also be needed for new students.

The highlight of this trip was meeting my sponsor child, Fabian David. Although language was a barrier, through interpretation and body language, the excitement of the moment was quite evident. After exchanging a few words I presented him with a Toronto Maple Leaf’s t-shirt and some school supplies. Truly a moment to remember!

After a brain-rattling drive on a very bumpy road, we arrived at the Santa Lucia Health Clinic. The Health Clinic provides medical exams, dentistry, medications, and eye exams to the people living in the squatter neighbourhoods. The squatters have been forced from their rural homes by ongoing threats and violence from guerrilla forces, organized gangs, and drug lords.

The Santa Lucia Clinic is a travelling health clinic. Often, a church building or a person’s home is used as a temporary clinic. The clinic is currently working with a local pastor and church in the area to provide God’s Word with medical services.

We visited the Micro-Credit program in Cartagena. This program allows those who have gone through the vocational training program to apply for a micro-credit loan to purchase the equipment needed to start their business. We visited three businesses that benefited from this program. At one, a hair salon, a woman currently employed three people and seemed to be doing quite well. I was impressed to see her business vision and mission posted on the wall along with two Bible texts. This is a clear example of Word and deed working hand-in-hand. Overall, it was encouraging to see how the various programs at CDA not only educated and nurtured the children, but also provided means for parents to start providing for their families.

We visited the Center of Practical Ministries in Bogotá (CPR – a good acronym for Spiritual revival). The CPR is taught by CDA’s own chaplain and is used to train CDA staff how to use the Word of God practically, applying Christian principles in their daily work.

This trip has been a wonderful learning experience. Although it was an exhausting week, I now have a better understanding of the projects we are involved in and can better relate to the culture we are dealing with. I have learned the following:

1. Although it seems like we were only addressing the tip of the iceberg, we must keep in mind this is not our work, but God’s work. Word & Deed is honored and privileged to be a part of this work as tools in the Lord’s hand to fulfill His will.

2. Working with Christian indigenous partners such as CDA is a must. They understand the culture, language, history as well as the challenges of navigating the barriers often erected by petty bureaucrats. They are passionate about reaching out to the needy living around them. Last but not least, they are able to work for a fraction of what it would cost to send a team of people there from North America for an extended period of time to run the projects.

3. “Teaching them to fish” is also a must. The joy and thankfulness we saw on the faces of those who operate their own businesses was a pleasure to experience. The people are learning dignity, responsibility and realize it is the Lord blessing their labors, not man.

4. Seeing pictures and attending presentations is only part of the experience. Being there, hearing the sounds, smelling the surroundings, touching people and watching their expressions of joy and sorrow, makes it reality. Every Word & Deed supporter must experience this at least once! I encourage you to join one of our work teams when you have a chance.

5. CDA is truly an organization that treasures keeping the Word and Deed balanced in all aspects of their work. This is a godly organization that the Lord is using to fulfill His plan.

I am thankful for the opportunity to visit Colombia and our project partner CDA. May the Lord
continue to bless our partnership as we work together to improve the lives of needy people in the developing world, both materially and spiritually, in obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbor as ourself.

John Vangameren is currently Chairman of Word & Deed Canada. John and his wife, Jacquelyn, reside in the Niagara area and attend the Vineland Free Reformed Church.

CDA's Fifteenth Anniversary

2008-01-03T10:29:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to CDA on their fifteenth anniversary! May the Lord richly bless you and strengthen you as you continue bring both hope for this life and the life to come to many precious souls in Colombia.

From left to right: John Vangameren, Bernie Pennings, Guert Versteeg (Woord en Daad), Jan Plaisier (Woord en Daad), CDA Director, Missy Christie de Acosta, Carlos de Acosta, Jim Chynoweth

Hands of Healing and Hope

2007-12-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

Reaching Out in

Colombia

- by Jim Chynoweth

As a Christian organization, CDA Colombia is committed to sharing the love of God through meeting physical needs as well as sharing the saving message of the Gospel.

Although all of CDA’s projects target those marginalized by society, there are sometimes special circumstances where CDA is able to provide additional assistance. Through the Helping Hands program and the Health Brigades, CDA Colombia is able to extend hands of healing and hope to those living in poverty, sickness and despair.

The Helping Hands program assists 80 families each month, who as a result of unemployment, injuries, illness, a death in the family or forced displacement, cannot meet their basic needs. These families, carefully selected by CDA staff members, receive short-term assistance through the monthly delivery of groceries and other necessities such as clothes or school supplies. New beneficiary families are selected every three months as a way to prevent dependency on the program and to ensure that the current special needs of community members are being met.

Beyond just meeting physical needs, a key element to the Helping Ha nds program is the training that is included. For a family to be eligible to receive the monthly deliveries, they must commit to attending several workshops. The workshops are focused on topics relevant to the community, including Sexual Abuse, Inter-Family Violence, Children’s Rights, Participating in the Community, and Being Grateful (part of a focus on empowerment aimed at preventing attitudes of entitlement and dependency).

Furthermore, a strong effort is made to enroll the parents in CDA’s Vocational Training program to equip them with skills needed to get a job or increase their earnings. During each one of these workshops, the gospel message is clearly shared by a chaplain with the recognition that real life change begins with a change of the heart. Some of the families are also involved in individual counseling sessions and discipleship.

Isabel Rodriguez is one of those currently benefiting from the Helping Hands program. Earlier this year, her husband was attacked and robbed, leaving him seriously injured and incapacitated. Although he is slowly recovering, he is still unable to return to his job, which has put a great financial strain on his family. Isabel recently shared, “I am the mother of four children, three of whom study at the CDA school, and for me the Helping Hands project has been a great help. Since the attack on my husband we began receiving the monthly delivery of groceries through the CDA program, and little by little he has been recovering. We are asking God to help him fully recover his health, and I am so grateful for CDA and all the help we have received from them.”

One of the other great problems facing the marginalized communities in which CDA works is a lack of access to health care. To meet this need and share the love of God, CDA Health Brigades are held once a month. Once a vulnerable community has been selected, the first step taken to prepare for a brigade is to make contact with local community leaders and pastors. With their support and participation, the event is organized and promoted, culminating in the special Saturday event. CDA staff volunteer their time to bring health care and hope to those who need it. During each Health Brigade, a wide variety of services are offered to the community: doctors, dentists, oral hygienists, nurses, psychologists, social workers and chaplains. In addition, the Health Brigades offer vision screenings, a portable pharmacy, hair cuts (to help give people a sense of personal dignity), evangelization, prayer, and recreation. Attendees also receive training in community health, as well as information regarding their rights and how to improve their socio-economic status.

In keeping with CDA’s mission, evangelism plays a key role during every Brigade. Each individual who attends the Health Brigade hears a clear presentation of the Gospel, and all those who are interested are referred to local churches through the relationships formed with the pastors during the event preparation. This provides spiritual follow-up for those new believers or those interested in knowing more about God, as well as strengthening and encouraging the local churches.

Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us. This gives us as Christians the ongoing responsibility to reach out to them, to minister to their physical needs, and to give them the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Through programs like Helping Hands and Health Brigades, CDA is reaching out to the poor of Colombia.

All photos courtesy of CDA Education and CDA Health

Jim Chynoweth is a missionary serving with CDA in Bogotá, Colombia, as the International Communications Officer.

Building a Clinic in Colombia

2007-06-23T14:52:00.000-04:00

By John Langendoen

Fear of the unknown is often the biggest obstacle while contemplating a mission trip. It was no different for us when the call came to go to Colombia. Where will we stay? What will we eat? Will we have to get shots? Will we get sick? Is it safe? Our partners in Colombia answered these questions willingly, yet approaching the unknown would still have to be an act of faith.

Six team members came from Hamilton’s URC, five from the St. Thomas FRC, and one from the FRC in British Columbia. Our journey began on the cold morning of Saturday, February 10, 2007. We met in Mount Hope at 8:00 am. (except Gary from B.C., who met us in Colombia) and started for the Buffalo airport. After a long day of travel and security check points, we arrived in Bogotá, Colombia, at 11:00 pm. We saw God’s hand at work as we went through customs. We had so much luggage (about 120 lbs. each) that we anticipated being detained and searched. When we met with the customs officials, none of them spoke English and none of us understood Spanish. After a brief time, both sides were at a loss of what to do. Finally, out of sheer frustration and impatience with our helpless “No comprende”, they told us to “GO!” What a relief! We were able to take our precious cargo to the Girls Home in Tenjo, our workplace for the next two weeks.

When we arrived at the hostel where we would be living, we were treated to a very nice (five-star Colombian) home. So that was fear number one gone. They made us some sandwiches and coffee as we settled in. Fear number two, gone. We soon went to bed for a good night’s sleep. But at 4:00 am, horns started blaring, roosters began crowing, and dogs could be heard fighting and carrying on. Not everything can be perfect!

We spent the next few days getting used to the 8600 foot elevation. For most of us, it just caused shortness of breath. We spent time seeing some of the Corporacion Dios es Amor (CDA) facilities and the sites around Bogotá. I was amazed at the sight of so much wealth and so much poverty only a few blocks apart. It was very obvious that the rich have little love for the poor, and without a social safety net, the poor are left on their own to do the best they can. As we visited some of the girls’ families, we witnessed this reality first-hand. The living conditions of these mothers and the rest of the children (often the fathers are absent) were heartbreaking and left us with a sense of despair. This experience allowed us to see a little bit of what the girls at the home have gone through and to see the much needed work of CDA in bringing the light of the gospel to this dark land.

Our initial welcome had been on Sunday, when we were met with smiles and a program of song, all to the glory of God. What a contrast from the homes these girls came from. So on our third day, we were ready to work! Our mission was to build a medical center for the girls in order to help stop the spread of sickness and disease, and to spend time with the 46 girls living in the home. (Although there is room for 60 girls, some have returned to their families.) These girls are the first-fruits of this successful project run by CDA.

We asked where the tools were, and they said “right here.” We saw only five four-foot shovels and a few pick axes. By early afternoon it was apparent the we would have to go to Bogotá to get some power tools. But after a bit of confusion about how to build “Colombian-style”, we got going. In Colombia, labor is cheap and productivity is not most important. So we combined Colombian style with some Canadian “let’s get it done” and the work went fairly smoothly. The team members began to work together and we were all able to find a task we were well suited for. While the ten men of the team did construction, the two women spent their time reading Bible stories and making crafts with the girls. It was a pleasure spending time with the girls; they always wanted to be with us and would sometimes play hooky from their studies to spend time on the job site. We would have lunch with them, and many days we cut work short to make crafts and play games together. During soccer, Canada often had to bow to the skill of the much stronger Colombian team.

As time progressed, we were able to get most of the work done as well as some unplanned extras. We got to know the girls and staff quite well and were able to see the impact God is having in this country through our support through Word and Deed and the hard work of CDA. We were also able to see first-hand the effect child sponsorship is having on the children (and meet two sponsored children of team members). They are being trained to be bright lights in a dark land. To be able to write of our experience in Columbia in so few words would not do justice to all the work being done there – please learn more through the attached links.

Saying goodbye proved very difficult. It is also hard to believe that after only two weeks we could have such strong feelings for children who are not our own. Although goodbyes were sad, we were able to see God’s care for these children and that they are the future of this country.

The team did well, the work was done, and no one got sick or hurt. We let our light shine. All of our initial fears were laid to rest and replaced by the love of God through these children of Colombia. It is difficult to think that we served them when we came back feeling that we had been given so much.

Thanks be to God, and to him be all the glory.

John Langendoen is a Word & Deed Ambassador from Rehoboth URC in Ancaster and was one of the two team leaders for the Canadian Mission Team to Colombia

Girls' Home Tenjo, Colombia

2007-01-27T10:19:00.000-05:00

Breaking the Cycle of Abuse

By Rick Postma

Fear . . . always present, dominating, dark, oppressive. Don’t attract attention. Never complain. Tiptoe. Hide when that man attacks mom. Stifle sobs. Scramble to obey. Clench teeth to keep from crying out when he hurts me. But the nights . . . they are the worst of all.

For thousands of children in Colombia and many other places, the above sketch is a living reality, a seemingly endless nightmare.

Imagine yourself in their shoes. Try walking in them.

The statistics are chilling: in a country of 43 million people, seven boys and girls are murdered each day; two million are abused each year, with one million of those suffering severe consequences. More than 70 percent of all sexual abuse cases involve a child. In 78 percent of the cases involving children, the aggressor was a father or step-father. There are an estimated 30,000 children involved in the sex trade.

Studies indicate that abused children are highly likely to take on the role of abuser when they become adults. Sin gives birth to sin. How can this vicious cycle be broken?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride to the Girls’ Home in Tenjo is beautiful. Bernie Pennings and I, together with a translator and two guards, leave behind the hustle and bustle of Bogotá and enter a lush countryside. The sky is blue and the green mountains stand out in bold relief all around us. It is hard to believe that this is a violent country – everything looks so beautiful and peaceful. But we can’t daydream – we are expected for lunch and we are late.

The home for abused girls is set in beautiful surroundings and occupies five acres or so. We drive through the gates, check in with the security guard, and are welcomed enthusiastically by the 60 girls who have been given refuge here. They clap as we walk between two rows of them. Then they do a very nice presentation in which different girls take turns leading—a welcome message, Bible reading, and a number of songs. We address the girls and apologize for being late. We congratulate them on a fine presentation and then tell them a little about what it is like to live in Canada.

Lunch is tasty, and in the afternoon, we have a tour of the grounds. The buildings are simple yet elegant. They are built around a courtyard (flower garden) with outdoor hallways protected by overhangs. The outdoor hallways provide access to the many rooms, as well as the courtyard. The large bedrooms house 15 girls each and each room has a “mother” sleeping in a slightly separate part of the room. Between each room is a large bathroom. Books and toys fill a large playroom. Staff members include teachers, counsellors, cooks, a maintenance worker, and security.

Outside, there is a delightful assortment of animals and gardens. There are rabbits, goats, chickens, and even cows (two are pregnant, we are told). There is lots of room to play.

Our hearts are captured by these beautiful children. The girls follow us around, and several try to hold my hands at the same time. They are clearly looking for attention and affection. But behind each smile is a tragic story. How could anyone hurt these girls? May God have mercy on those who sinned against them.

A group of them teach me the Spanish names for everything we look at and then have a good time trying to correct my pronunciation. Maria, about 8 years old, stands out. She clings to one hand and won’t let anyone else cut in on her. She patiently pronounces each word in Spanish for me while studying my face and showing me exactly how form the new sounds with my mouth. I play keep away, soccer, and chase with the girls while Bernie speaks with the teachers. Kicking the ball high in the air is a big hit. We quickly grow both warm and tired and I learn two appropriate words—caliente (hot) and dormi (sleep).

Both Bernie and I are very impressed with the behaviour of the children. They are obedient, kind to one another, and very warm to visitors. What an amazing achievement, considering where they have come from. We are told, however, that most children experience ongoing nightmares and emotional trauma due to past abuse. Staff members also work with the families in the hope that the girls can be placed back in their homes (in the absence of the abuser). May God richly bless all that is being done to help them.

These precious girls are literally being saved from the gutter. Here, in a small way, the vicious cycle of abuse and fear is being broken. Here the girls hear about the Lord Jesus Christ, who was physically and emotionally abused for sinners. He can give them hope once again.

The sun is close to setting, and we have to leave, since it is unsafe to drive in the dark. Once more we enjoy the wonderful countryside on our way home. The contrast between the peaceful countryside surrounding us and the nightmares of abuse suffered by every little girl we left behind is stark. Thank God that those nightmares are being overcome through the ministry of the Girl’s Home and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rick Postma is director of public relations, mission teams and projects in Guatemala for Word & Deed in St. Thomas, Ontario.

2006-11-08T23:02:00.000-05:00

The sunset on the beach at Cartagena, Colombia. The beauty belies the suffering of tens of thousands of squatters just a few miles away living on top of a land fill site.

Finding Shelter at the Girls’ Home

2006-10-20T13:06:00.000-04:00

Maria Yeraldine Vergara Echeverri

Six year-old Yeraldine was born in the shanty areas of Medellín, Colombia. On entering the Girls’ Home, she escaped from physical, psychological and verbal aggression and abuse. From an early age she had to face violence both in the community where she lived and within her family.

Yeraldine has nine older brothers, some of whom have been enrolled at the National Institute of Family Welfare. Others are members of delinquency groups. She has suffered every type of mistreatment, mainly from her mother, who hit and kicked Yeraldine on her head. Yeraldine’s brother murdered their father because of his mistreatment of their mother. Yeraldine witnessed this horrible tragedy.

Yeraldine had no one to protect her. Due to all her family’s difficulties, she sought out drug traffickers and sex workers. She used to beg for money on the streets and take care of cars in order to buy food. Yeraldine usually stayed on the streets until 5:00 a.m. and then slept until 1 or 2 p.m.

Yeraldine’s aunt, Maria del Carmen Vergara, brought Yeraldine to Bogotá when she moved there recently to seek medical treatment for her son. Maria del Carmen works 11 hours a day sewing pants in a factory. Due to her schedule and little money, she needs Yeraldine to be under the care of the Girls’ Home.

Yeraldíne is very happy to be at the Girls’ Home. Already she has a group of friends with whom she shares and learns new things every day.

Maria del Carmen is asking for help for one year while she achieves economic stability and gains custody of her niece. She has already started the custody process.

Asking God for Help

2006-10-19T13:08:00.000-04:00

Karen Elizabeth Navarrete Navarrete

My name is Karen Elizabeth Navarrete Navarrete. I was born December 8, 1994, in Bogotá. My mother, Martha Isabel, has been living with Anselmo Rodríguez for nine years. He is the father of my younger brothers Luís, Laura, and Carlos.

Because Anselmo, my stepfather, sexually abused me since I was five years old, I am now at the Girls’ Home.

I remember that many times when I returned from school and was doing my homework he would ask my brothers to go to the store and then, when I was alone he began bothering me and touching me. I was so scared. He made me feel bad and dirty, but he threatened me each time that if I dared to tell anyone about what was going on, he would do something very bad to my brother.

Once, I got the courage to tell my mother, but she didn’t believe me. I thought that by telling her I would be safe, but that day she beat me and accused me of lying. Because of that, I decided to kill myself and jumped from a balcony. Fortunately I only got a bit bruised.

My behavior worsened. I was aggressive and would hit anyone who would do something that I did not like. Eventually I told everything to a psychologist who got involved in my case. He informed my mother about what was happening. She appeared to be in shock in front of the people from school, but then when we went home she beat me again. I then took some money from her money box and ran away to my grandmother’s house. I told her everything that was going on.

Thanks to my grandmother I am now living at CDA’s Girls’ Home, but it was very difficult to adapt to this place and to the people. When I arrived at the home I used to hit the girls and even the adults. I always tried to do things my way and went against all the rules. Because of all that had happened to me, I wanted to be alone and was not nice to my classmates and to the other girls. Sometimes I cry and feel very bad because all that happened to me for so many years comes back like to me a nightmare and causes me great pain.

I heard my mother is now living with Anselmo again; that makes me feel terribly sad and angry. She prefers him over me. So whenever I go home, I do not return to my mother but go to my grandmother’s house. Who knows if the police will ever get him.

Every day I ask God to heal the great wounds of my heart, to help me forgive, and to make me a better person. I understand I am here because God cares about me and wants to protect, restore, and transform my life into a new one according to His holy and perfect purpose.

Pastor Edgar - Barranquilla, Colombia

2006-05-23T11:01:00.000-04:00

My Journey to the Truth

by Edgar Enrique Palacio Mizrahi

From an early age, I was a religious person. As a fifth grade student at the Saint Joseph Conciliary Seminar Catholic School—where I received all my religious and academic education through high school—I signed up to receive special training to become a priest. Although my family is Jewish on my mother’s side, they enrolled me in a Catholic school because of my good grades. But I was always a dreamy and inquisitive kind of boy. I was in search of the truth, the real meaning of life, and why we are in this world. Therefore, I became part of the “Little Missionaries” group, visiting the elderly, taking them clothes and other needed items.

While still in high school, I joined a yoga group called “Ananda Marga.” We had a guru who trained us in different breathing exercises that allowed us to enter into profound meditation, becoming one with the cosmos. I became a vegetarian and believed in reincarnation. I read a lot of Hindu, Gnostic, and New Age literature, always in search of the truth and the real meaning of my existence. But this all resulted in profound depression and a deep spiritual emptiness. Because of this, I would listen to New Age music to supposedly increase my levels of consciousness and in that way become one with it all, with the cosmic energy.

After two years, almost without realizing what was happening, God began changing my heart. This was evident in the desire I had to read more and more of the Bible. I read it in an attempt to justify my New Age beliefs as a vegetarian and my Hindu beliefs in reincarnation (a type of syncretism). But suddenly the Bible texts I read became engraved in my heart and it became evident to me that the Bible was the truth I had been searching for all my life. Through it I understood who I was, where I came from, and where I was heading. This marvelous book told me about Jesus the Messiah, who was rejected by my people. My grandfather Samuel Mizrahi had taught me that Jesus was false and a deceiver, but I found out He is the God of Israel incarnated and the true Messiah. Of course, my Jewish family became furious.

I am glad to be serving my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ through the Presbyterian Reformed Church, of which I am pastor and founder. I confess Jesus Christ as the foundation of politics and education. That is why I founded the John Calvin School for children living in poverty and need. I am also part of the Dignity political movement, through which we want to confess Christ as the Sovereign King in all spheres and facets of our public and private lives.

In the same manner, I confess the Bible to be foundational for understanding any area of human thought, whether science or philosophy. In fact, I teach these subjects at two local universities: at the University of Atlantico I am in charge of medieval philosophy, logic, and mathematical philosophy; at Magdalena University I am in charge of ethics for engineering and science philosophy.

We must render all to Christ and serve Him diligently with fervent love. If we understand that our lives are brief and that death soon will reach our door, then we should realize that we have only a few years to show our Redeemer how much we love Him and how grateful we are for all He has done for us.

Edgar Enrique Palacio Mizrahi is pastor of Presbyterian Reformed Church, Barranquilla, Colombia, and president of the John Calvin Foundation.

John Calvin School in Barranquilla, Colombia

2006-02-20T10:08:00.000-05:00

The Road to Barranquilla

The rain lashes our windshield as we travel from Cartagena to Barranquilla, on the hot and humid coast of Colombia. Soldiers stay inside their checkpoint huts and simply wave us through. By the time we reach Barranquilla, the rain has stopped. The object of our visit is a small Reformed church that has contacted our partner CDA asking for help to run their Christian school.

Pastor Edgar

Pastor Edgar greets us very warmly. He is a Jew whose grandparents came from Crete. He teaches philosophy, mathematics and logic at the Barranquilla University (7,000 students) while pastoring his church. He speaks of a love for the writings of Herman Bavinck, Louis Berkhof, and Cornelius VanTil among many others. He is a warm and delightful brother. In response to our questions, he tells us that he teaches at the university from a clear biblical point of view. The students are fascinated by his unique perspective relative to the secular viewpoints taken by the other professors. The university has tried to remove him, but he has consistently been voted the best professor at the university by the students. Some of his students have become Christians, including one of the elders in his small church (35 people) who is now a professor of Chemical engineering. Sadly, we have heard since returning to Canada that he is now under death threat. Please join us in petitioning the Lord concerning the well-being of Pastor Edgar.

The Christian School

We uncover an amazing story of dedication. Four of the members of the church are using their incomes to support 15 volunteers who are teaching at John Calvin Christian School (no, that isn’t a spelling mistake). The school was started 4 years ago in the IDP (Internally Displaced People) zone on the outskirts of Barranquilla. Here refugees from the wars live in squalid conditions very similar to what we have seen in Cartagena and Bogota. Pastor Edgar and members of his church are using some primitive facilities to run a school with 150 children. Over 80% of the children come from the homes of the IDP. We are moved by the self-sacrifice of the staff and their supporters. The children are well-mannered and talk about how God has richly blessed them. Given the lack of funds, the facilities, materials and even the training of the teachers are inadequate. We are asked to partner with CDA as well as this local group of Christians in running this school. We are delighted to hear that they have also started a church at the school facility and that a number of parents of children attending the school have joined. Although the community they are reaching out to is a very dangerous one, and various local paramilitary members are discreetly pointed out to us, they are being recognized for their acts of love and have been asked to head a local community group (a big step, they tell us). Many people in the area are expressing an interest in the Gospel.

A New Project (Budget for 2006, in addition to sponsorship, $58,650 CDN / $48,450 US)

The Word & Deed Canada board has agreed to take on this new project. In the near future, we will be looking for 170 new child sponsors as well as money for capital improvements to the school facilities and purchase of rental properties. Our partner, CDA, will ensure that all standards are met. If the Lord blesses the work, we hope to implement a medical clinic because there are none in the area and we are told that many die for want of medical aid. We also hope to offer other services such as the Helping Hands ministry (see accompanying article) which are currently being offered in Bogota and Cartagena.

So far I’ve mentioned Word & Deed, CDA and the local church members in Barranquilla, but given God’s blessing, we need one more key person to join the team – YOU. Please give us a call.

Colombia - The child sponsorship program

2005-11-15T11:43:00.000-05:00

Bringing Hope to Altos de Cazuca

In the last article, we explored the historical and social background of the challenges being faced by Colombians today. Large squatter zones have sprouted on inhospitable hillsides and landfill sites as millions of internally displaced people (IDPs) huddle around Colombia’s major cities, driven there by the violence in the countryside. In this article, our tour focuses in one of the IDP zones on the outskirts of Bogotá, Altos de Cazuca.

Hang on tight! We are bouncing around in the back of a four-wheel drive jeep as we head up a steep rutted dirt road to Altos de Cazuca. The name of our Christian partner, CDA (translated as Corporation God is Love) is prominently displayed on the side of our vehicle. The local paramilitaries allow CDA into the area because they recognize that CDA is helping the community. Even so, it is dangerous. Certain protocols need to be followed – nods and hand signals.

The local paramilitary group controls Altos de Cazuca by fear and intimidation. During the day, paramilitary members merge into the general population. It is usually only at night that they come out and enforce their twilight curfew with guns, while brutally hunting down anyone who has spoken against them. Recently, the authorities determined that a worker in a small shoe store was a leader of the paramilitary. A large contingent of the Bogota police force soon arrived, surrounded the store, and arrested the man. This is a rare occurrence, since opening one’s mouth in the IDP areas is an invitation for an assassin’s bullet.

Soon we arrive at the front gate of the Altos de Cazuca School, which has 1,008 sponsored children enrolled. The school is surrounded by a high wall topped with barbed wire. Missy Christie de Acosta, one of the leaders of CDA, tells us the sad story of a 16-year-old student at the school who sang a beautiful song for her on her birthday a few months ago. A week later, having been seen talking to a girl that a young paramilitary gang member fancied, the 17-year-old gang member approached the home of the 16-year-old, asked him to step outside, and shot him in the head, killing him instantly. Just like that, a precious and promising young life is snuffed out. Even so, nothing is done about these crimes. Missy points out that Colombia has a very well-defined set of laws (too well-defined in many instances), but fails to enforce them, especially in these poor squatter areas.

Entering the school is like entering an oasis in the desert. The contrast is startling. Outside, one is met with the somber, almost lifeless, stares of people for whom curiosity is a long forgotten luxury. Inside, our ears are assaulted with the laughter of children. Oh happy sound! A number are playing in the courtyard and when they see us, they stop, point, and smile at us. Several years ago, you wouldn’t have heard much laughter. The children were hyperactive, disrespectful, and played in packs, looking fearfully at other groups. They were children who carried the burdens of adulthood. Today they are much calmer, respectful, and relaxed with each other. Back then, the main reason the children gave for being at the school was the warm meal they were served each day. Now they speak of the importance of studying God’s Word and the desire to serve Him.

As we walk through the school, which is perched on the hillside, we can see the mountains in the distance shrouded in fog. We are shown an addition to the school which is still under construction. New government restrictions mean that the school can no longer run in two shifts. Based on a government study, it has been determined that children are at risk when they are enrolled in the irregular shift since their key caregivers are often not available to look after them when they get home from school. The added facilities are needed to handle that issue, as well as further growth. The local education ministry can make life very difficult. One of the other CDA schools was recently shut down for three weeks because a relatively minor detail on a form was missed. Local officials like to flex their power and are usually oblivious to the real needs of the children.

We are invited to enter a number of classrooms and are greeted respectfully by the students. They all stand up and say in unison, “Buenos Dias!” Upon learning that they are studying math, we give them some math problems to solve and they happily compete to provide the answers. In each class we ask questions about the last Bible lesson they have had (they receive them daily). We are delighted to see that each class’s knowledge of the Bible corresponds quite closely to what we would expect of Christian school children in North America.

There are a number of accelerator classes. Some children enter the sponsorship program at an older age than others and understandably do not fit in well with children who are significantly younger than they are. Rather than allow the problem to ferment, the accelerator classes have been put in place to help these children catch up to their peer group.

One of the highlights of our day is the visit to the class for the mentally challenged. The teacher, along with one assistant, looks after 21 students—a big challenge. The teacher has special training to teach these children and has given up a job with double the salary to teach this class. She clearly loves the children and puts her all into it. We are impressed and thankful for the high calibre of talent that God has provided for the school.

We visit the kitchen. Every student in this school of 1,008 children receives at least one warm meal every school day. Some receive two. The children eat in their classrooms.

After some refreshing fruit drinks, we spend the remainder of the day doing personal interviews with some of the sponsored children. Repeatedly, we are told by the children how their lives have changed. “We go to church now.” “My parents don’t fight anymore.”

It is 5:00 pm and we need to be out of the area before dark. Our two security men herd us back to the jeep and we are treated to another jostling ride down the mountain. We safely leave the Altos de Cazuca district, having been enriched, encouraged, and challenged to match the passion and self-sacrifice of the teachers and administrators of this special school that is a beacon of light in an ocean of darkness.

Rick Postma is director of public relations for Word & Deed Ministries

Colombia - An Introduction

2005-11-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

A Tour de Force

Having been with Word & Deed for all of one week, my colleague Bernie Pennings and I went on a trip to Colombia and Ecuador. As an introduction to the work of Word & Deed, it was a tour de force. In order for me to understand Word & Deed and the work she does in Colombia through her partner, CDA, it was necessary for me to step back and take a bird’s eye view of the country and the various projects being run there. Since I’ve already been on the tour, allow me to show you around ….

A Tale of 2 Countries

Colombia – a land of soaring mountains, fertile plains, beautiful trees and flowers, a wide variety of fruit (making delicious fruit drinks!), an abundance of natural resources, and, in areas away from the coast, a wonderful moderate climate. Her people are handsome and known for their hard work. From the perspective of those of us who live with short hot summers and long cold winters, this sure seems attractive doesn’t it? But wait, we aren’t done yet. Colombia – a land of drug cartels (notorious for supplying cocaine to much of the world), mind-numbing violence, millions of internally displaced people (IDP’s), corruption and grinding poverty. Sin of such a grievous nature has entered the garden of Colombia that it completely outweighs all her positive attributes. Is today’s Colombia a good place to live? In a word, “No.”

Colombia – historical and social context

Colombia is located in the northern region of South America. She was liberated from Spain by Simon Bolivar and celebrates July 20, 1810, as her independence day. Since then, Colombia has gone through two major civil wars and, in the last 40 years, almost continuous fighting between the country’s official military and rebel military groups such as FARC and M-19, drug cartels (remember Pablo Escobar?) and paramilitary groups. The groups range from left-wing Marxists to the right wing Drug Cartels. In the end, however, it is all about money and power.

Many government officials have been assassinated or kidnapped. Countless people have been murdered. Large sections of Colombia have been under the dominance of one or other of them since, until recently, the government had a minimal presence outside of the major cities. On our trip, we heard first-hand how it works. A group of armed men burst into a village and round everyone up. They then present a list of demands and brutally murder a few of the villagers right in front of everyone. The by now thoroughly terrorized villagers are told that they will die the same way if they don’t comply immediately with every demand. The villagers are then compelled to provide food, shelter and, worst of all, to give up their teenage children to serve in the armed group. After some months or years, another armed group takes over the area and does the same thing. The added complication is that those who obeyed the previous armed group are considered enemies and are often murdered. The result is millions of people fleeing the countryside to live on the edges of the major cities of Colombia in very dangerous, squalid, squatter zones. These are the internally displaced people (IDP) of Colombia. They are the people who desperately need our help.

When we visited the IDP areas, located on the mountain sides, we had security with us at all times. The local paramilitary groups impose a dusk to dawn curfew. Anyone outside after that is in grave danger of being shot. People who have work and can’t get back in time, creep back to their houses in fear for their lives. One night during our visit, over 15 children were murdered in one of the IDP areas.

The men are a major problem in Colombian society. They are, by and large, carefree, careless and irresponsible. All the homes we visited were led by women. Most had been abandoned by their husband or by multiple husbands. When men were present, we could tell by their attitudes that they felt no responsibility at all for the well-being of their family. One of the key objectives of CDA is to reverse this trend through teaching biblical role models to the sponsored children and their parents.

Colombia employs a republican form of government similar to that of the United States. The current president, Uribe, has increased the security of Colombia by strongly attacking the rebel groups and pushing them to remote areas of the country. He has also worked to reduce rampant corruption but has only achieved limited success. During our visit to Cartagena, a city of 1.1 million people located on the northern coast of Colombia, we were told that the local hospitals have closed since corrupt politicians have stolen all the money.

An estimated 90% of the 42 million people in Colombia are Roman Catholic. The Roman Catholic Church has resisted the growth of Protestant churches and groups. Over 60% of the country is very poor, living in squalid conditions. By and large, the plight of the poor is ignored or even exploited by the remaining 40%.

A quick primer on Word & Deed

Mission: The mission of Word & Deed is to improve the lives of needy people in the developing world both materially and spiritually in obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Strategy: The strategy employed is twofold: 1) To communicate the predicament of the suffering in the developing world to the people of North America such that they are given the opportunity to offer support in proportion to the Lord’s convicting power. 2) To partner with Christian organizations in the developing world on a wide variety of projects including child sponsorship, Christian education, orphan care, disaster relief and vocational training, while providing reliable monitoring and timely updates to all supporters.

Word & Deed does not own “bricks and mortar” or directly employ workers in the developing world. Rather than build an empire, Word & Deed’s objective is to help the people of the developing world help themselves. It is a ministry of empowerment.

Word & Deed insists that the Gospel must be central to every ordinary project (emergency relief being the exception) and that there be a focus on empowering each needy person to eventually provide for themselves in recognition of the dignity they have as God’s image bearers, having been created both to work and to worship.

CDA – Our Christian Partner Organization in Colombia

Some of our readers will be familiar with Missy Christie de Acosta who has spoken at various events in North America in the past. Her father, a missionary from New Zealand, came to Colombia in the 1970’s. He began his ministry by bringing food for both the body and the soul to those lying in the streets of Bogota. He then started some small Christian schools in the poor and dangerous areas of Bogota. When he died in 1994, Missy Christie took over the work. Today, CDA (translated from Spanish as Corporation God is Love), runs 4 large Christian schools, a vocational school, numerous medical clinics, and a home for abused girls.

What impressed me most about CDA is her commitment to the Gospel. The Gospel is central in the Christian schools, the medical clinics (no one gets treated without hearing the Gospel) the various support programs for the adults as well as the vocational school. Many people, with beaming faces, spoke to me about how God had graciously given them hope for both this life and the life to come.

The Projects

A point that was driven home repeatedly to me was that those who are in material need are open to the Gospel. When they see love in action, many for the first time in their lives, they are open to hearing that there is a Saviour who died for needy sinners. Word and deed need to accompany each other. Sadly, these two have been separated in the social services offered in North America and the result has been the indifferent darkness of unbelief. In Colombia however, the window of opportunity is still open.

Child Sponsorship Program ($35 CDN / $28 US per month)

Over 540 children of the 3000 currently attending the 4 CDA schools in Colombia are sponsored by Word & Deed supporters in North America (the rest are sponsored by Woord & Daad Holland). Each child receives a Christian education, at least one warm meal each school day, at least one new uniform per year as well as medical and dental services. It should be noted that normally only one child is sponsored per home, so 3000 families are impacted by this ministry.

Sponsoring a child makes a world of difference in their life. In many cases, God graciously blesses the Bible lessons taught each day to the eternal benefit of the child. I spoke with a number of the children who testified of their desire to glorify God in their lives even though they face challenges we have a hard time even imagining. Can you imagine being pressured by your mother and older sister to be a prostitute? Most come from broken homes characterized by violence, sin and poverty and would not even hear the Gospel otherwise.

Parents of children in the sponsorship program are required to attend seminars at the school. The seminars, which always include a Gospel message, teach the parents about proper family life, good hygiene and more.

We expect to have 170 new children to sponsor in the near future. Sponsor a child and change a life.

Girls’ Home – Tenjo (Budget for 2006: $80,000 CDN / $67,000 US)

Most of the sponsored children live at home, often in difficult circumstances. Over time, CDA has recognized that some of the young girls are victims of horrible abuse. These girls needed to be brought to a safe shelter. The home at Tenjo (pronounced Tenho), located in the countryside outside of Bogota, was built to be such a shelter. There are 60 young girls living there in a beautiful but simple set of structures. The large bedrooms house 15 girls each and each room has a “mother” sleeping in a slightly separated part of the room. Between each room is a large bathroom with showers etc. There is a large playroom with lots of books and toys.

Behind each smiling face is a tragic story. The girls range in age from 3 to 16 years of age.

Word & Deed has committed to 50% of the overall budget needed to run the home while Woord & Daad Holland provides the other 50%.

Please consider supporting this crucial program.

Helping Hands – Bogota & Cartagena

Budget for 2006: $33,800 CDN / $28,000 US for each location

Sometimes the families of children attending the school reach a crisis point when they have no food and don’t know where else to turn. Well, they can turn to the Helping Hands ministry of CDA which, if they qualify, will supply food for up to 3 months. The parents are required to attend seminars which focus on helping them get back on their feet. Each seminar is centered on a theme from God’s Word. Many parents have come to faith through these and other seminars related to the child sponsorship program. The benefits of the program only start with the children. Through their witness in the home and the seminars the parents attend, the benefits, with God’s blessing, extend far beyond the children themselves.

Help provide emergency aid to families in need by supporting this program.

Health Brigades – Bogota (Budget: $22,000 CDN / $18,250 US)

In addition to medical clinics connected to the schools run by CDA for the sponsored children, mobile clinics are held in various parts of the IDP squatter zones on a revolving basis. The people are unable to get medical attention otherwise. Ten Health Brigade mobile clinics have been held in the various IDP areas of Bogota this past year with plans for twelve next year. Tents are used to house doctors, dentists, hair dressers (trainees from the vocational school), and eye examiners. The first booth everyone must attend, though (they have cards that must be marked), is the Gospel booth.

By supporting this program, you can help demonstrate Christian love in action.

School of Practical Ministries (Budget: $16,400 CDN / $13,650 US)

The purpose of this program is to train CDA staff (school teachers, health care workers) as well as volunteers to provide their services from a Christian worldview with a constant concern for both body and soul. Staff members attend classes on Saturday mornings once per month.

By supporting this ministry, you are helping to equip those who are our hands and feet in Colombia to use both Word and deed as they help the needy people of Colombia.