Month one is our all squad month, meaning the entire A squad is serving and staying at the same place for the entirety of the month. Normally we will be in the same country, but our three teams will work with different ministries. Our Ministry Host this month in Colombia is called Ciudiad de Refugio (City of Refuge). Pastor Douglas Calvano was inspired by teen challenge while reading the book “The Cross and the Switch Blade” by David Wilkerson, and decided to leave his business behind and move to Colombia. Ciuidad de Refugio is 90-95% sustainable and only 10% depended on outside funds, which is amazing. Pastor Douglas is a wonderful businessman and pastor.
Ciudiad de Refugio has a homeless ministry where about 70 men come to sleep in the garage of the foundation. Most of the men are Venezuelan refugees, because of the crisis happening in Venezuela. In the past, most of the homeless were men who struggled with drugs or alcoholism and come from the bronxs (which I will explain later in this blog). The opportunity to stay the night at the shelter is the first step toward a drug rehabilitation program that Ciudiad offers. There is a men and women program, both are separated in the building and they are not allowed to interact much.
The men’s program helps run a cafe attached to the foundation and they recycle used meat cardboard boxes both help add funds to supports the foundation. The women work in the kitchen where they cook for all the employees of Ciudiad, anyone in a program, and mission teams who are visiting (such as our squad). Women cook the meals and men wash the dishes. Most of the food is donated from stores or markets and the men go and pick up loads of unwanted/unused food.
Ciudiad has another ministry where they take agua panela y pan (hot sugar water and bread) to the Bronx. The Bronxs is area sectioned off area where police have pushed all the drugs and prostitution. This area is run by a gang. There are police that stand on the outskirts of the barricaded area so the people on drugs cannot leave. In this area drugs are not illegal. During aqua panela the volunteers walk around loving on people and passing out flyers for Ciudiad’s programs. Stay posted for a blog about my experience in this ministry.
Ciudiad offers a home school, there are less than 10 children in the homeschool, but it is growing. Ciudiad holds many bible programs for teens to young children thought out the week. Some of the programs are at the foundation and others are in Manantiales. Right now their are two teens who live in the foundation and two more are in the process of moving to the foundation within the next year. Moving to the foundation will offer more opportunity, including going to college and being in a safer environment.
Lately, Ciudiad is working on an Elderly program. Our squad has had the opportunity to visit an Elderly home and love on those who were left there. Unlike in the states, elderly homes are counter-cultural here. Colombia is a shame honor culture and to be left at an Elderly home is the same as being rejected and abandoned by your family here. They were so happy to see us and enjoy our company. All day they just sit in a circle and do nothing… Stay tuned because I will be writing a blog about this ministry.
Honestly, I could go on and on about the ministry here and how amazing the people in Colombia are, but I will leave you with this summary above. If you have any questions, please message me. Ciudiad de Refugio does more than I could ever fully explain and I have fallen in love with all of their ministry’s!
