Rewind to six years ago. I was 16 years old. I knew God had given me a heart for the church and missions. I searched online, and my dad and I were soon off to Venezuela for my first global mission trip.
Back to present day, I find myself encountering Venezuelans every day, two countries over in Ecuador.
If you keep up with news at all, you have probably heard about the turmoil plaguing the country. To sum it up if you have not, Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy collapsed after the price of oil dropped, inflation made basic necessities impossible to afford, communism now reigns, people are starving, running out of water and don’t have electricity and around 3 million Venezuelans have fled their country.
To be honest, after meeting the displaced Venezuelans around me, summing up such pain like I just did seems cruel. Relaying words will never do justice for what they’ve been through.
*Before I continue, I have a plea. Do not allow this blog to solely spur you on to political discussions. About communism, socialism, America’s political involvement and stake with Venezuela’s oil, whatever. None of those things are bad to discuss, but I ask you use discernment for what is godless chatter verses what is bearing awareness, compassion and prayer.
So what is happening?
I will only relay what I have seen and heard from Venezuelans, and is more specific to Ecuador.
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Millions have fled into various South American countries, primarily Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
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The receiving countries don’t know what to do with the influx of these refugees
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Many families have been split. I’ve met mothers who are in Ecuador, but husbands and children haven’t been able to leave Venezuela. Some family members found work in Colombia, but others found it in Ecuador, so they had to separate. The separation stories could go on…
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The encampments set up by the Ecuadorian government soon became hubs for human and drug trafficking. *Situations like that of Venezuela are dreams come true for sex traffickers. Vulnerable people are more vulnerable to deceit, manipulation and kidnapping
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They have fled with nothing
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Visas are extremely expensive and hard to receive without the proper documents, therefore, formal jobs are nearly impossible to obtain
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Almost every street corner or bus has an individual or family begging or selling little snacks
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Crime has increased
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Children are going without education
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For housing, many retreat to either the infested encampments or band together and pack in to a small apartment
Everyday I pass by a family with three boys under the age of five. The mom, Mia, usually begs from that area, and while I didn’t have any cash on me this one particular night, I did have some glow-up rings my Uncle Mark had donated. I gave them to the boys, and you would have thought it was Christmas morning with ponies given as presents. It occurred to me then what it must be like to have a childhood ripped away and to be a parent with no means to fix it.
Since that night, my team and I are daily greeted with smiles, the boys running to us with arms wide open and cheers of “mi amigas!” We then usually have the gift and privilege of buying the family empanadas and churros (the boys’ favorites).
As this relationship grew, I was able to put together enough Spanish to invite them to a feeding program my team and I help with. The program, Pan de Vida, has a day specifically for Venezuelans because of how many there are.
Mia and her youngest son, Jose, joined us. We dropped them off in the already long line outside and then went inside to help. As the Venezuelans came through the gates, some displayed grateful smiles but most wore faces of defeat and weariness.
Because of the limited food and capacity available, Pan de Vida sometimes isn’t able to let everyone in. We had yet to see Mia and Jose come through.
Then, after about 20 minutes of beneficiaries filing in, we saw Mia and Jose enter. The gate was locked right behind them as they were the last ones allowed in.
Oh how we praised God for an answered prayer we didn’t even pray!
Nearly 200 people gathered in the church room for a message, worship and a special seminar (past seminars have had lawyers informing about their rights as refugees in Ecuador, the visa process, etc.).
These Venezuelans are first and foremost fed spiritually and then physically, something truly reflective of Jesus.
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things…Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied,” (Mark 6:34,39-42)
So right now, loving the Venezuelans looks like praying, feeding, inviting, smiling, and, most of all, listening. Listening to their stories, pain, and loss, and not having one word of solution for them. The only truth to give is, “God is hurting with you. He loves you. He is with you. You are not alone in this.”
As I’ve spoken with Ecuadorians about Venezuelans, I’m reminded of how some Americans speak of Mexicans: “They bring crime, take our jobs…”
I don’t make this connection to say the situations are same, but the way the people are being talked about is, and it was just something I noticed.
The majority of Venezuelans I’ve met are incredible people that just want to feed their family and have somewhere to sleep. I have also met some that do dishonorable things. And with those who do, I think Jesus would want us to respond with grace, justice and understanding.
For example, at Pan de Vida, one man was not allowed in because of issues he has caused in the past. He got angry and physical, but was still not allowed in. The employees gracefully and sternly stood their ground, and as things calmed down, the employee the man got physical with stepped outside the gate to give the man food and display the mercy and love of Jesus.
Who knows what this guy’s story was, but that’s the point. He has a story. He has experiences much different from mine and therefore sees the world and the people in it through a very different lens.
If I were displaced, hungry, came from a lying and corrupted government, was without my family…I can’t even imagine the lens I would have.
I’m also reminded of Proverbs 30:8-9, “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Understanding does not come naturally for us. It is something we are dependent on the Lord for.
I apologize if this blog seems a little all over the place. This month has my mind diving in a million different directions and emotions.
But here is where I can conclude: It goes against everything inside me – my identity in Christ and the Holy Spirit – not to do something for these Venezuelans. Even if it’s simply buying a churro or listening to a story.
As Christians, we are called to have compassion as Jesus had compassion.
P.S. If you would like to donate to Pan de Vida, or even give a few dollars towards empanadas for my bus family, please let me know! Right now, Pan de Vida is only able to hold two Venezuelan feeding days per month due to lack of funding. Also, if you have further questions about what is going on in Venezuela, please ask!
