“I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness; but I know I can’t turn back. It isn’t to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want — I don’t rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire.”
-Samwise Gamgee
I came into month 1 of the World Race excited to start this journey, live in a new country, meet new people, try new food, and help whoever I could with whatever I had to give. I had expectations, whether I realized it or not. I still want those things. I still want to see personal growth and figure out what kind of life the Lord is calling me into. But here, in the San Fransisco barrio of Cartagena, Colombia, I think I’m finally feeling the weight of the life that Jesus has already called me into as someone who has been redeemed by love.
This past month, my team and I have been working at the Alex Rocha Youth Center and living with the Rocha family. The Rochas and Alex’s foundation are a light in the midst of a community that is plagued with violence, abuse, drugs, alcohol, and poverty. The neighborhood itself is really unsafe — just the other day, there was a fight and someone was shot and killed a few blocks down from where we’re staying. Kids form gangs and fight for absolutely no reason. It’s common for girls to be abused by a male family member or neighbor, and for them to get pregnant in their teenage years, sometimes as young as 12 or 13. Fathers don’t have to stick around if they don’t want to and often times, kids grow up in a one parent home, getting older and continuing to live in the broken cycle they were shown by their older family members.
The frequency of how often we can leave the foundation and go out into the neighborhood is limited because of how unsafe it is, especially for the 7 of us who stick out with our white skin. We’ve been able to go to the courts to play sports with Alex and the kids, which has been great, even if I just tend to stay on the sidelines and let the girls give me braids and cornrows (which HURT). We’ve been able to help teach English classes and help during Bible studies on Sundays, and we’re helping build a second floor for the foundation. Mostly, though, we’ve been building relationships with the kids who live in the houses around the foundation.
These kids are just incredible. They are just so fun and full of life and always wanting to be held and spun around and high-fived. Some of my favorites: one little one we call Monkey, climbs all over us while his sister Sara (same spelling as my sister!) offers up soft smiles and gentle hugs. Scarlett and her cousin Pepe are always together and we got to pray with their abuela, Leonora, as she cried telling us about how she’s raising them because the parents decided they didn’t want to be in the picture. Another cutie, Michell, just rested in my arms as I carried her around and hummed “Into the West” by Annie Lennox because she was obviously muy cansada (very tired) and not willing to admit it and go home. Sometimes I sit on the stoop behind the white gate and let the kids strum my guitar as they say “Canta! Canta!” (“Sing! Sing!”). Jean Carlos had an attitude problem the first few days after we arrived but I saw the way he stared at my guitar, strumming away and actually keeping a beat. Now, I’m giving him lessons and I’m hoping the love of music will permeate his life, as well as the love of Jesus.
Overall, I love this neighborhood. There is brokenness, and pain, but there is so much life and music and laughter. Alex is beloved by the neighborhood and the work of his foundation is evident in the kids that show up for classes and to play baseball with him on the field. God is moving here. I’m feeling the urgency of this mission: to help this community see the life of freedom that Jesus brings and to love everyone I can in every way possible. The world, as it turns out, is very dark — but it is also good. Pray for this community, and for the Rocha family as they stay faithful to what the Lord has called them into.
The first week here was really hard because I think I tried to minimize the fact that I won’t be home for 11 months leading up to this, and now I’m feeling all the emotions I tried to push away. But I know that I have something to do for the Kingdom, and right now it lies ahead, not at home. We have a few weeks left here and then we’re off to Ecuador, and I’m excited for what’s next but more excited to get to spend what moments we have left here loving on this community.
Not to see Elves, nor mountains, nor dragons,
Natalie
