Hey friends!
This past week of ministry included working in the kitchen, prayer walks, ciudad los ninos, youth group, Agua Panela, work projects, and my favorite, nursing home visits! It’s been a crazy week, but God is faithful and has placed so much joy before us.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ciudad Refugio these past few weeks here in Medellin. Most of you are probably wondering what all exactly this ministry does. Ciudad Refugio is a ministry which focuses on drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Besides that they also run a homeless shelter, youth group, kids ministry, local outreach, cafe, and three church services a week. There are so many people involved to make this incredible program possible, its truly transforming lives!
A six-story building in one of the poorest parts of Medellin is all they have to work with. The time and intentionality that went into this space absolutely blows my mind. The first level is used as a parking garage by morning, church by day, and homeless shelter by night. They have showers and sinks set up in the back for the homeless shelter, as well as an area to store sound equipment for church. Off to the side is the cafe. This is where many of the men and women who have completed the rehabilitation program come to work, as well as where we eat all of our meals as a team. The cafe provides some extra income for the foundation, as well as work experience for the program participants. As I worked in the kitchen this week, I was amazed at how crafty Ciudad Refugio is at using what they have. The grocery budget is tight, so they use locally donated foods, and whatever is leftover they eagerly give to the homeless. Its truly amazing.
The second and third levels of the building are for housing the men and women in the program. During the day the women work in the kitchen preparing meals for everyone in the program, while the men work on tasks such as packing cumin and other foods in which they sell to make money for the organization. The men and women are also involved in daily bible studies and numerous church services throughout the week.
The fourth floor is dedicated to the packing projects, as well as kids ministry. On this floor they pack cumin, granola bars, and other spices to sell, as well as tear apart old magazines and newspapers to recycle for extra cash. This is also where Sunday school and nursery takes place during the church services on Sunday. The fifth floor is where my team and I have been staying. Its a small, two bed apartment, and outside is a big rooftop terrace where we have team time, worship, and also where ciudad los ninos and youth group are held! Above us on the sixth floor is where our ministry host and her sweet daughter call home.
Many of the graduates from Ciudad Refugio’s rehabilitation program are absolutely on fire for Christ. This is shown firsthand by their eagerness to give back to the foundation and this broken community. The workers in this program invest everything they have in restoring this community, without expecting or getting anything in return.The selflessness that goes into this ministry is absolutely amazing. What an incredible model it is for my team and I, to get to do life in this Christ honoring community!
Ciudad Refugio
Packing Cumin
Kitchen Duty
Ciudad Los Niños on the Roof
