This month we have been serving in Medellin and Manantiales with the City of Refuge foundation.
On Wednesdays, we serve in Medellin by evangelizing in the city, organizing donations that come into the foundation, cleaning the facility, and helping sell goods in the bakery.
Thursdays through Saturdays are ministry days, we travel up the mountain to Manantiales where we stay at a gated compound. Here, we serve the internally displaced refugees of Colombia who have been neglected by the government. We visit women’s homes to listen to their testimonies, help the foundation’s children’s program, and clean the compound to give back to those allowing us to use the space for ministry.
The children’s program is very impressive, it looks a little something like this: The kids arrive and we play with them for about an hour, then we head into an all group message time. Then the children break into groups based on their age so they can have a more personal conversation and learn how to apply it to their life.
Serving this community of refugees has been incredible. Their contagious joy and bursting hearts exemplify the love of Christ. I could not imagine being displaced in my own country, so I can’t tell you how these kids feel. But I do know the Lord’s heart for these people is modeled in Luke 15- when the Shepard leaves the 99 to find the one. These are His one, and I hope the impact we make this month will last a lifetime- until they can be called home to be with the Shepard again.
