Even though I still have a little less than 2 weeks left in Colombia, the month has gone by in a whirlwind. Currently my team and I are working with a ministry called Cosdecol in Bello, Colombia. We are located on the outskirts of Medellin. Their ministry focuses on Evangelism and Community Development through the medium of soccer. My days are typically filled with manual labor is the form of landscaping work (planting grass, clearing weeds, moving rocks, and leveling ground for a new parking area), playing guitar for praise and worship times, or helping with soccer school and daily practices. Our Host has an amazing vision and plan for this facility. I’m already trying to figure out how I can return to the place and we haven’t even left yet.
About 20 years ago, this city was known to many as the Homicide Capital of the world. Today, there is a peace over the city and that can partially be contributed to the role this ministry has had in the multiple sectors in and around Bello and Medellin. Their mission is to keep the children out of the hands of the drug cartels by giving them a safe space to be kids, to challenge themselves, and to ultimately teach them about God. There is still an insanely high percentage of children who have been left to grow up without a father, more than 70% in fact. The trainers of this Soccer Club have stepped up by doing their best to reverse the impact of their own childhoods and becoming the male role models these kids so desperately need. They start their week with a Monday morning trainer meeting that includes praise and worship, a devotional, and an in-depth prayer time where they take requests, break up into smaller groups, and take turns praying for each other and the world around them.
My team and I have been welcomed so graciously to the point it is overwhelming. God is moving like wildfire down here and it is evident in the Colombian people that surround us daily. We definitely stick out and attract stares as we walk around town. There is a language barrier that makes daily conversation a bit difficult, some of my team are nearly fluent and others are being thrown in the deep end, learning as they go. However, everyone is patient with us. They make sure that we understand and are included in services, practices, and everyday conversation. I’m struggling with figuring out the best ways to serve them, it’s not a competition, but as we were told at Launch, “If you come home and all you can think of is how hospitable and giving all your hosts and partners were, you did the race all wrong.” We pray daily to have our eyes opened to the opportunities of need that surround us.
So far this month I’ve learned that Freshman year Spanish doesn’t stay with you after 13 years, the Spanish you learn while working in a restaurant isn’t as applicable to everyday life as I had hoped, I am really bad at charades (the lack of ability to speak a lot of Spanish makes for some interesting gestures), and I am awful at soccer. However, this city has stolen my heart. I have met the sweetest kids. There is one little six year old boy, Simon, who is the most kind and generous soul. He’s my little buddy and doesn’t care that my soccer skills are seriously subpar. He’s just happy to have someone to play with him, to meet him where he is in life, and to learn right beside him. I think there is something special found in an adult bringing themselves down to a child’s level. A bond can be made at that point. He introduced me to his mom as one of his coaches the other day after practice. There’s not enough training to brace anyone for that moment. It’s easy to plan for missionary work with the mindset of helping others, what many don’t prepare for is what others are able to do in our own lives.
Thank you to all my supporters. You’ve helped in more ways than you or I will probably ever know. There is still time to donate. I have a little over $3,000 to raise to continue on the race with my team and be fully funded. Anything helps. There are still plenty of boxes to be adopted (choose a box to adopt, donate that number: Box 35 = $35).
All I ask is for you to prayerfully consider partnering with me on this journey of furthering God’s Kingdom. You can still subscribe to my blog by clicking subscribe above. Prayers are a perfect form of currency when it comes to this mission trip. My team and I need all the help we can get.
Sending my love and prayers,
Kelli
