Tyler and Adrienne work with children in a slum near Bogota, Colombia. The children that they work with, along with their families and their whole community of about 500 families, are about to be uprooted by the government. It looked for a while like they were going to be able to move their community intact, which would mean that the ministry could move with them, but now that won't be possible and they'll all be scattered.
Pray for the kids they teach, that they will be able to continue their education wherever they end up, that ministries will be present wherever they go so that they won't be relegated to life in the dumps or begging. Pray for their families, that they will be able to find somewhere to settle and some means of survival. Pray for the ministry, that it will know where to go next and will have peace and trust with regards to the kids that they have come to love, and will lose touch with. Also pray for the policy makers in the government, that they will quit band-aiding problems and shoving the marginalized farther and farther out from the cities in an effort to make it look like they are actually erradicating poverty.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
News From Colombia (via Adrienne)
Below is a letter from Adrienne Mickler. For those who don't know, a group of our members went down for a mission trip a couple of weeks ago. If anyone has stories or testimonies from that trip that they would like to post here, please email them to me at abbeyrenee@gmail.com.
Adrienne's letter:
"Greetings from the South!
~
In the hallway at the Other Way was a little plastic tub overflowing with warm water, soap, and happy two-year-old Heiner: a beautiful little boy. When he first arrived last year, he wore a stern look across his face, rarely laughed, and hated water. Now he plays hard, laughs often, and loves baths, which are a novelty for him because he is not often bathed at home. As I watched Heiner playing in the bath water, tears welled up in my eyes and I swallowed hard to maintain my composure. I realized how much I have grown to love him and how difficult it was for me to accept the way in which he lives. That moment took me by surprise. I see him every day. I see where he lives every day. But this day was different. I felt raw again. The way one should feel when confronted with the injustice in which this little boy is forced to live.
~
Mayerly: a tough six-year-old girl. As I watch her play in the park, our glances often meet and huge smiles take over both our faces. She glows with an indescribable contentedness when I finish cleaning her face, or washing her hair, or combing out her lice. It is as though the physical dirt on her body is representative of the manners in which she is calloused, used, and unable to express genuine joy. When clean, her innocence is finally permitted to surface and manifest itself in her smile and in her laughter. She clings to me and lies on my lap with unconditional trust and obvious need for love. When she holds my hand close to her chest or hugs me through metal bars of open windows, I realize that even though she wears a hard external shell, she is still a vulnerable little human being. She deserves so much more than dirt and disappointment. I often find myself wishing she were mine. I believe God is using her to teach me about real love; about His love.
~
I know I have mentioned this before but I cannot emphasize enough its' significance: there is a depth to life that can only be experienced through true sacrificial love. The romantic notion we often place in our minds of what love is, is a very surface level love. The reality is, if you love with your entirety in the same manner that Jesus loved, you will be used, you will be hurt, because real love makes you vulnerable and puts your life at risk. However, it is also the most valuable, rewarding way to live your life. Love pierces every nerve and penetrates to the very core of your being. It consumes your mind, heart, and soul. With real love comes this depth to life so profound it continues to affirm the existence of the divine, of God.
Give of yourself. Better said, give everything. Give your life: love people.
~
Note: The Colombian government continues to make attempts to "clean up" Bogotá. Tearing down Colombianita (the area where our kids live) and sending its inhabitants to the outskirts of the city is one of the ways in which they are doing so. The date when this is supposed to take place is theoretically April. Unfortunately, we have been told that we will have little to no warning as to when our kids will no longer live there. They will be scattered in the most dangerous sections of the south of Bogotá. In a selfish sense, this will probably be one of the most difficult things I will ever experience. I do not want to see them leave. I avoid thinking about what will become of them if they do, because the undeniable reality of the situation is too painful to broach. If the kids are moved out, we can no longer work with them as we do now. I do not know in what way to ask you to pray but I do ask that you pray. Pray for the kids.
~
Having what has been coined the "Texas Team" here was awesome! Personally, it was super refreshing to see so many familiar faces and be able to just soak in the love you guys emanated with your smiles and hugs. Thank you a hundred and one times!
I have finally found and gotten involved in a local church. (FUMC has spoiled me. :)) It took a while, but for the past month or two, I have consistently attended the same church and I find the people quite genuine. I have started teaching English to a group of people from the church, which allows me to get a bit more involved in the lives of individual members of the congregation. The youth pastor and his wife, as well as the head pastor have been more than welcoming. In fact, this past week I went bowling and ate dinner with them. It was a neat experience to be able to hang out and speak openly with leaders in a church. I guess I say all this to express how important being a part of a church body is and being an active part of one again has been uplifting.
I am returning to the United States on April 28th for my brother Drew's wedding. I am excited to spend some time with my family again, and of course to see Drew get married.
~
Thank you guys, again, for all the different ways you are continually supporting me. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
With love,
Adrienne
Adrienne's letter:
"Greetings from the South!
~
In the hallway at the Other Way was a little plastic tub overflowing with warm water, soap, and happy two-year-old Heiner: a beautiful little boy. When he first arrived last year, he wore a stern look across his face, rarely laughed, and hated water. Now he plays hard, laughs often, and loves baths, which are a novelty for him because he is not often bathed at home. As I watched Heiner playing in the bath water, tears welled up in my eyes and I swallowed hard to maintain my composure. I realized how much I have grown to love him and how difficult it was for me to accept the way in which he lives. That moment took me by surprise. I see him every day. I see where he lives every day. But this day was different. I felt raw again. The way one should feel when confronted with the injustice in which this little boy is forced to live.
~
Mayerly: a tough six-year-old girl. As I watch her play in the park, our glances often meet and huge smiles take over both our faces. She glows with an indescribable contentedness when I finish cleaning her face, or washing her hair, or combing out her lice. It is as though the physical dirt on her body is representative of the manners in which she is calloused, used, and unable to express genuine joy. When clean, her innocence is finally permitted to surface and manifest itself in her smile and in her laughter. She clings to me and lies on my lap with unconditional trust and obvious need for love. When she holds my hand close to her chest or hugs me through metal bars of open windows, I realize that even though she wears a hard external shell, she is still a vulnerable little human being. She deserves so much more than dirt and disappointment. I often find myself wishing she were mine. I believe God is using her to teach me about real love; about His love.
~
I know I have mentioned this before but I cannot emphasize enough its' significance: there is a depth to life that can only be experienced through true sacrificial love. The romantic notion we often place in our minds of what love is, is a very surface level love. The reality is, if you love with your entirety in the same manner that Jesus loved, you will be used, you will be hurt, because real love makes you vulnerable and puts your life at risk. However, it is also the most valuable, rewarding way to live your life. Love pierces every nerve and penetrates to the very core of your being. It consumes your mind, heart, and soul. With real love comes this depth to life so profound it continues to affirm the existence of the divine, of God.
Give of yourself. Better said, give everything. Give your life: love people.
~
Note: The Colombian government continues to make attempts to "clean up" Bogotá. Tearing down Colombianita (the area where our kids live) and sending its inhabitants to the outskirts of the city is one of the ways in which they are doing so. The date when this is supposed to take place is theoretically April. Unfortunately, we have been told that we will have little to no warning as to when our kids will no longer live there. They will be scattered in the most dangerous sections of the south of Bogotá. In a selfish sense, this will probably be one of the most difficult things I will ever experience. I do not want to see them leave. I avoid thinking about what will become of them if they do, because the undeniable reality of the situation is too painful to broach. If the kids are moved out, we can no longer work with them as we do now. I do not know in what way to ask you to pray but I do ask that you pray. Pray for the kids.
~
Having what has been coined the "Texas Team" here was awesome! Personally, it was super refreshing to see so many familiar faces and be able to just soak in the love you guys emanated with your smiles and hugs. Thank you a hundred and one times!
I have finally found and gotten involved in a local church. (FUMC has spoiled me. :)) It took a while, but for the past month or two, I have consistently attended the same church and I find the people quite genuine. I have started teaching English to a group of people from the church, which allows me to get a bit more involved in the lives of individual members of the congregation. The youth pastor and his wife, as well as the head pastor have been more than welcoming. In fact, this past week I went bowling and ate dinner with them. It was a neat experience to be able to hang out and speak openly with leaders in a church. I guess I say all this to express how important being a part of a church body is and being an active part of one again has been uplifting.
I am returning to the United States on April 28th for my brother Drew's wedding. I am excited to spend some time with my family again, and of course to see Drew get married.
~
Thank you guys, again, for all the different ways you are continually supporting me. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
With love,
Adrienne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)