When the squad first arrived at Colombia, 11people were asked to volunteer to stay in Manantiales for a three-day teen camp. I volunteered and I am so thankful that I did. Manantiales is an area that is controlled by a gang and most of the people who live there have been run out of their original home by a gang through violence. Therefore, most of the people living in Manantiales are displaced and considered refugees in their own country. In Manantalis there are buildings on top of building and houses built side by side on this huge mountain.
Cuidaid hosts the camp and many of their other programs at a government-owned facility. We left for Manantiales on Thursday. It was about an hour-long ride up the mountain. When we arrived and unloaded a few of us could choose to sleep in the same room as the kids (which I did). After we had a chance to just hang out and get to know some of the kids before we had our first session. There was a cement soccer/basketball court and some of the kids asked us to play soccer. I was so excited! We all lined up shoulder to shoulder and the captains began to pick out their teams. Well, guess who was picked last, haha I guess I do not look like a soccer player. I was not upset though; I was just excited to play. So, we start to play and then they realized the gringa can keep up when them.
After playing we left to have our first session where they talked about identity and a lady shared her testimony and how Jesus showed her that her true identity was not in her past mistakes, but what Jesus has done for her and who he says she is now. Following, we had lunch it was Colombian spaghetti, rice and beans. Then we had some free time to play games or go swimming. I played soccer for a little and then I was so tired, I had to take a nap before our next session. In the next session we made a mask that represented someone we admire, such as a superhero. I intended to depict a proverbs 31 woman. When the session ended, free time began so we played ninja, soccer, and volleyball. Then we ended the day with dinner and more free time to hang out and play. Half of us from the group stayed up to practice 3 bilingual worship songs. We sang the majority of the song in Spanish and then a little in English.
Friday we had breakfast, followed by a little free time until our first session where we lead worship. After worship, Sydney, Kaelyn, Hannah C, Stacy, Hannah K, Em and myself acted out a skit called lighthouse. I played Jesus Christ, Sydney played a child of God, Kaelyn portrayed lust, Hannah C portrayed greed, Stacy and Hannah K portrayed partying, and Em portrayed depression. I have added the video below. After our host Rebeckah spoke about forgiveness and asked if anyone wanted to come to the front and ask or give forgiveness and about 15-20 kids came up to the front. It is crazy to think of all the people these kids would have to forgive, but they had open hearts. Our team came up and prayed for all the kids at the front. Following, I told a testimony about forgiveness. I spoke about forgiving both of my parents in different ways because of how Christ forgave me. Lastly, I spoke of the challenge of truly forgiving myself for my past.
Then we had some free time and another session. During the next session I left to help in the kitchen and cut up a bunch of chicken for lunch, so I am not sure what activity the kids did regarding forgiveness. After lunch, there was more free time/pool time until dinner. The free time was mostly kids swimming in a cold pool. Haha, they loved it though. Dinner was not until 8 this night and we had a Colombia barbeque and smores. During this cookout, I may or may not have signed some of the girl’s soccer jerseys because they thought I was a professional soccer player. Later that night I had the opportunity to pray over their feet, it was a sweet moment. We also had a photoshoot together the next morning before their soccer game.
Our last day, was Saturday and we had a regular program for the smaller kids in town. After breakfast, some of us went out to pick up kids from the community. Once everyone was there, they had fun singing with hand-motions. After worship, we acted out the skit for the younger kids. Then the ages split up for a bible story/activity. After the activity, they are free to play until they have a sandwich for lunch, which ends the program.
