Oh how I hope to never forget you. You have been my favorite month thus far. Once we got to our contacts Youth Center and met our contacts, I knew it was going to be a great month. We were warmly embraced by our contact, Alex Rocha. Some of his family were there as well. They helped us with our packs and then just sat around with us to get to know us some. I think even some of the neighborhood kids came over to greet us.
Everyday we have kids knocking on our door asking for us to come out and spend time with them. Well, that was until we had a fence built that was attached to the front of the foundation. The fence doesn’t stop the kids from trying to get our attention, but we do feel like we can’t go outside as much unless we are accompanied by a Colombian.
You see, we are located in what you would call back home in the states “the hood.” There are several gangs, and we recently learned that the gang in our neighborhood can’t cross the main street that is located less than a block from the foundation. There is a look-out hill about two blocks from where we stay. It is not uncommon to hear gun shots at some point during the day. Although this is our daily life, we feel very safe. We don’t leave the foundation much, and when we do, we are always accompanied by at least one other teammate and a local. God has definitely kept us safe.
I thought this month was going to look a little different than what it is. We were told we would be doing sports ministry, so we thought we would be playing soccer, basketball, and maybe even baseball everyday. We have played some sort of “game” maybe 4 times now and we only have 3 days of ministry left. However, we were also told that we would be teaching English classes, and that we have been doing about 4 times a week. We also got to help teach/lead Sunday school the past 3 Sunday’s. After the first week though I wasn’t so sure we were going to make it, but things got better, PTL! Ask me about this for more details.
A story about one of the times we had sports ministry: I have always loved baseball/softball. I played 9 seasons of softball over the span of 13 years growing up. I mostly played catcher and some outfield, but my last season I played third base. Anyways, during the first week here, we went to the baseball field and played baseball. I had so much fun. I mostly played short-stop. We didn’t have enough people for full teams, so when it was time for our team to bat, we also covered the catchers position, in which I didn’t mind covering.
This coming week I get to help some students with their math, which is another passion of mine. I enjoy the smaller groups of students because it is easier for me to connect. I’ll let you know how that goes at a later point.
We go to Ecuador in less than a week. Prayers for safety as we will have three travel days back to back (early Friday morning through Sunday night, border crossing on Sunday morning most likely). I still have no idea what ministry looks like or what city I will be in or any of the details. I do know that I will get to spend about a week with my mom and all the other parents who are coming on the Parent Vision Trip near the end of July, and that I am super excited about. I will post more details when I learn of them.
Financal Update for M-Squad: There is a deadline drawing near, July 1st. All participants on the Race who launched in January need to have raised all of their funds by then, otherwise they are in danger of having to leave the field early. If you are in a position where you can give financially, then please consider helping one of my fellow squadmates who are still in need of funds:
– Sara Torres www.saratorres.theworldrace.org (about $1000)
– Meg McCluskey www.megmccluskey.theworldrace.org (about $800)
– Katrina Nixon www.katrinanixon.theworldrace.org (about $3000)
– Karissa Rodriguez www.karissarodriguez.theworldrace.org (about $3000)
– Leah Nestor www.leahnestor.theworldrace.org (about $2,800)
– Missy Geizler www.missygeiszler.theworldrace.org (about $2,800)
– Amanda Bednar www.amandabednar.theworldrace.org (about $2,800)
– Katrina Palezuelos Rico www.katrinapalazuelosrico.theworldrace.org (about $3,300)
– Brenna Lucero www.brennalucero.theworldrace.org (about $400)
Thanks for all your prayers and financial support and making it possible for us to go out to share the good news with Central and South America. We are humbled and grateful for your prayers, and still very much need your prayers. Thanks again!
Blessings and Peace to all those who these words have fallen upon,
Misha
