Hola a todos. Como estan?
I want to start off with a confession... I'm an 'arepa' addict! These corn tortillas are common in Colombia and Venezuela. The ones with cheese are the best and when they are hot and goey they are to die for! I'm almost always willing to pay the 50 cents for an arepa when I see them on the grill as I walk down the street. Anyways, next topic... my mouth is watering.
The last few weeks I've been helping out a lot in the mini library they have at the YMCA. We've been sorting through, recycling and categorizing a ton of books. Today we finally finished! The kids use the library (mostly the encyclopedias) for their homework. I've also been in the office lately, filing documents in the children's folders.
Today was the 4th time I went to 'Centro de Escucha' (where we meet with homeless people). Usually I just help hand out the crackers and 'agua panela' (a hot drink made of honey and water) and talk. There usually is a workshop too of painting or drawing. In 2 weeks it's the one year anniversary of 'Centro de Escucha' and there's going to be a big celebration with food, drinks, presentations and some free services (like hair cuts, etc).
I also got to go on a mini tour with one of the social workers. She showed me the Club Piscina a few blocks from the YMCA. The 'Piscina' is a famous brothel in Bogota and is more expensive than the prostitutes you see on the street. Apparently, if the people there notice a car driving by more than once they will start to throw rocks at the car!
A couple days ago I had the priviledge of hearing one of the volunteer's testimony. The lady's name is Soraida. I've been working with her a lot in the library, with the little kids and in the sewing room. One day as we were sewing together I decided it'd be a good time to ask her some questions. Apparently, she used to be a substance-abusing prositute that would beat her kids. She lived in a brothel with her children. I'm not exactly sure why, but one day she took her kids to the YMCA. That happened about 2 years ago and now she's a Christian, doesn't do drugs, and sews and crochets purses for a living. She still has the fear of going back to drugs and her eldest daughter is in a bad situtation, but she is pushing forward. I asked her about her childhood and it explained a lot. She was abandoned by her parents at a really young age and left with her grandparents. Her grandparents, uncle, etc would beat her as well. To be honest, I wouldn't be at all surprised if she was sexually abused too.
However, God has changed her! I love seeing her work so hard and yet trust in God. Her life really is a testimony to God's love and power.
I hope you enjoyed another episode of 'the Life of Anna!'
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Working in "La Olla"
Buenas. How's it going? I'm doing really good... enjoying my practicum a lot so far.
For the month of June I'm volunteering at a YMCA here in Bogota... but as you'll see, it is not exactly a fancy swimming pool!
Everyday (Monday to Saturday) I leave the house at 6AM to get to work at 8AM. The area where I volunteer is called Santa Fe and is known for the transvestite prostitutes that are on every corner. I don't get home until 6PM.
My first day, I got to help a 12-year-old girl with her math homework. Her name is Camila and she has 8 siblings. The sad thing is that she has to do subtraction with borrowing and she has difficulty reading the numbers and counting. I made flashcards from 1 to 9 so she could tell me the number and show me the number with her fingers.
The next day I got to go to a park called Plaza Espana and give out hot chocolate and crackers to homeless people and talk with them. I met the sweetest old black man named Aspacio that is from another city called Cali. He used to work on a coffee farm near Cali, but there was an earthquake that destroyed the farm. He went looking for work and ended up on the streets of Bogota because he hasn't found work and drinks occasionally. I talked to him a little about God and he says he wants to know Him. He said he can't read without his glasses so I think I'll bring my Bible next Wednesday to read it to him. It was also really cool because before I could ask if I could pray for him he asked me.
In the afternoon I helped a 5-year-old boy make a hemp bracelet... good thing I practiced in class during the lecture phase... it got a little boring at times!
Today I got to do a home visit with a social worker. We walked to the neighbourhood La Favorita and went through an "Olla," which is a place where drugs are openly sold (apparently they hide the drugs under the tiles of the sidewalk). This neighbourhood has every type of problem: female prostitutes, consumption of drugs and alcohol, people living on the street, refugees from the countryside, gangs and "inclinatos." Inclinatos are buildings where many families live. Each family has only one room and they all share a bathroom. They pay per day and apparently a lot of abuse goes on inside.
The girl we visited lives in an inclinato, but is doing really good in school. However, her mother is a prostitute and they live in really poor conditions. One of the things that most concerns the social worker is that the girl is given a ride to a church where the pastor is probably an abuser. He is homosexual and only drives her and another boy to their homes. She doesn't return until 9 at night and is told not to go to any other church. We want her to go to a different church and the social worker had the idea of me leading some sort of group where they learn about God. Pray that the opportunity would come so I can meet the kids' spiritual needs.
Then for the rest of the morning I got to learn to sew by hand (including various types of stitches). In the afternoon I read books to the really young kids and helped wrap mini gift bags.
On the way home, I saw an Indigenous lady and her child begging for money. Since I didn't have any small change I sadly walked by. However, I thought about my friend Ericka. She is an American that is doing the school with me and is always thinking of how to bless others. So I imagined what she would do and decided to go buy an "arepa" (like a corn tortilla) and bring it to her. Sometimes it's easier to just walk by, but when you stop to help you are showing the love of God and blessing another.
Thanks for reading another update. Dios les bendiga.
For the month of June I'm volunteering at a YMCA here in Bogota... but as you'll see, it is not exactly a fancy swimming pool!
Everyday (Monday to Saturday) I leave the house at 6AM to get to work at 8AM. The area where I volunteer is called Santa Fe and is known for the transvestite prostitutes that are on every corner. I don't get home until 6PM.
My first day, I got to help a 12-year-old girl with her math homework. Her name is Camila and she has 8 siblings. The sad thing is that she has to do subtraction with borrowing and she has difficulty reading the numbers and counting. I made flashcards from 1 to 9 so she could tell me the number and show me the number with her fingers.
The next day I got to go to a park called Plaza Espana and give out hot chocolate and crackers to homeless people and talk with them. I met the sweetest old black man named Aspacio that is from another city called Cali. He used to work on a coffee farm near Cali, but there was an earthquake that destroyed the farm. He went looking for work and ended up on the streets of Bogota because he hasn't found work and drinks occasionally. I talked to him a little about God and he says he wants to know Him. He said he can't read without his glasses so I think I'll bring my Bible next Wednesday to read it to him. It was also really cool because before I could ask if I could pray for him he asked me.
In the afternoon I helped a 5-year-old boy make a hemp bracelet... good thing I practiced in class during the lecture phase... it got a little boring at times!
Today I got to do a home visit with a social worker. We walked to the neighbourhood La Favorita and went through an "Olla," which is a place where drugs are openly sold (apparently they hide the drugs under the tiles of the sidewalk). This neighbourhood has every type of problem: female prostitutes, consumption of drugs and alcohol, people living on the street, refugees from the countryside, gangs and "inclinatos." Inclinatos are buildings where many families live. Each family has only one room and they all share a bathroom. They pay per day and apparently a lot of abuse goes on inside.
The girl we visited lives in an inclinato, but is doing really good in school. However, her mother is a prostitute and they live in really poor conditions. One of the things that most concerns the social worker is that the girl is given a ride to a church where the pastor is probably an abuser. He is homosexual and only drives her and another boy to their homes. She doesn't return until 9 at night and is told not to go to any other church. We want her to go to a different church and the social worker had the idea of me leading some sort of group where they learn about God. Pray that the opportunity would come so I can meet the kids' spiritual needs.
Then for the rest of the morning I got to learn to sew by hand (including various types of stitches). In the afternoon I read books to the really young kids and helped wrap mini gift bags.
On the way home, I saw an Indigenous lady and her child begging for money. Since I didn't have any small change I sadly walked by. However, I thought about my friend Ericka. She is an American that is doing the school with me and is always thinking of how to bless others. So I imagined what she would do and decided to go buy an "arepa" (like a corn tortilla) and bring it to her. Sometimes it's easier to just walk by, but when you stop to help you are showing the love of God and blessing another.
Thanks for reading another update. Dios les bendiga.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Colombia Update
Hey Guys... ya, it's been a while, but I did write this newsletter a few weeks ago and in case you didn't get it I copied it onto here for you to read. Also check out Facebook for a few pictures my friends added.
Greetings from Colombia! A lot has happened since I last talked to many of you. So everyone is on the same page, I left for Colombia after I had been in Riobamba, Ecuador volunteering at the Ark Children’s Home and teaching English for 5 months. I’ve been in Bogotá for the past 7 weeks doing a Children At Risk school that’s run through Youth With A Mission.
So far we’ve been having classes Monday to Thursday and visiting different ministries that work with at-risk children Fridays and Satur
days. In the classroom setting I’ve learned about dysfunctional families, normal and abnormal child development, Biblical counseling, sexual abuse, formulating projects to help children and financing them.
In a more informal way, I’ve learned about the harsh realities that a lot of children here in Bogotá are exposed to. On Saturday, we helped at a club called “The Jungle.” It’s only in the beginning stages, but they already have a rock-climbing wall, a ball pit, a suspension bridge, a Nintendo Wii and a play house to provide a safe, fun environment for kids to hang out in and learn about Jesus.
Most of the kids that come are exposed to severe poverty and something called the Tolerance Zone: 6 square blocks of clubs and brothels where both male transvestite and female prostitutes work. It impacted me to see prostitute after prostitute waiting in a doorway or an empty garage for their next client. I also saw tons of homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk, begging or scrounging for food in the garbage.
At the beginning of the school, the director gave me a passage from Scripture that she felt was from the Lord. I would know what it meant. The passage was Isaiah 58. I had read Isaiah 58 when I was in Ecuador and it had really impacted me. In verse 6 and 7, it talks about loosing the chains of injustice, setting the oppressed free, sharing your food with the hungry, providing the poor wanderer with shelter and clothing the naked.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
Isaiah 58:6-7
I feel like this is God’s call on my life. When I return to Ecuador, I can see kids coming to my house for food, shelter, clothes, prayer, Biblical teaching and liberation. I can also see myself doing something similar in the Dominican Republic. Verse 11 was also very impacting. It says: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs.” Amen.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Bogota, Colombia!!!
I arrived in Bogota, Colombia on March 12th. Before flying out of Quito I had 2 good byes. First with my English students (we went out for a walk and then pizza) and with the Ark and all my friends were invited. It was really fun... with my "sister" (the girl where I lived), my street church friends, some child workers (pre street kids), the kids at the orphanage, the volunteers at the Ark and a lady I had met in Quito. We ate pizza and had cake and made a bon fire.
I ended up going to Quito a day early because one of the volunteer's fathers was returning home and didn't want to go on the bus alone. He paid for my stay at this Christian guest house, which was very nice. I walked around a bunch and discovered a McCafe, which was super nice and had really good frappaccinos!
The flight was nice and short and someone from the YWAM base came and picked me up so that was great. The school has been going really good so far. There are 8 students from the US, Canada (me), Venezuela and Colombia. Monday to Thursday we have quiet time, then devotionals, classes, work duties, intercession, and small groups. Every 2 weeks we have to do a book report and every week we have to do a journal about what we learned, etc. It's the same as my DTS (Discipleship Training School) that I did in the Dominican except the classes are focused on children at risk and there's more ministry time.
On Fridays and Saturdays we have ministry. Today I went to one of the schools called Luz y Vida (Light and Life). I helped in the kitchen washing dishes and preparing vegetables. The school was designed for kids that have trouble in normal schools. Today for devotionals the teacher had asked which kids had tried smoking and drinking and even though they were all under 13 most of them had!
This week was really good. First, we found tons of examples in the Bible of at risk children. I had always wondered why there were such ugly stories in the Bible that concerned children that include murder, rape, slavery, hunger and child sacrifice. God put them there so children can identify with them and find comfort in Him.
Then we learned about the family and how traits are passed down through generations and how relationships with our family deeply affect our development and behaviour.
Last, we learned about child development. We watched some movies about children in Colombia and Mexico that were based on reality. It opened my eyes to what they encounter and have to go through. I had always heard about glue sniffing, but never really understood it. Now after the movie, the book I'm reading and what one of my classmates told me about her outreach, I'm realizing how common sniffing glue is for street children. I also learned about how kids should develop and how they'll behave if they grow up in a healthy family and how kids grow up and act differently when they grow up in a family at risk. It is really interesting to apply this to the kids I know in Riobamba, Ecuador that are forced to sell stuff. For example, I can see how the death of one of the kids' fathers forces the kid to take on the role of the father and start working to provide for his family (even though he's only 11).
I ended up going to Quito a day early because one of the volunteer's fathers was returning home and didn't want to go on the bus alone. He paid for my stay at this Christian guest house, which was very nice. I walked around a bunch and discovered a McCafe, which was super nice and had really good frappaccinos!
The flight was nice and short and someone from the YWAM base came and picked me up so that was great. The school has been going really good so far. There are 8 students from the US, Canada (me), Venezuela and Colombia. Monday to Thursday we have quiet time, then devotionals, classes, work duties, intercession, and small groups. Every 2 weeks we have to do a book report and every week we have to do a journal about what we learned, etc. It's the same as my DTS (Discipleship Training School) that I did in the Dominican except the classes are focused on children at risk and there's more ministry time.
On Fridays and Saturdays we have ministry. Today I went to one of the schools called Luz y Vida (Light and Life). I helped in the kitchen washing dishes and preparing vegetables. The school was designed for kids that have trouble in normal schools. Today for devotionals the teacher had asked which kids had tried smoking and drinking and even though they were all under 13 most of them had!
This week was really good. First, we found tons of examples in the Bible of at risk children. I had always wondered why there were such ugly stories in the Bible that concerned children that include murder, rape, slavery, hunger and child sacrifice. God put them there so children can identify with them and find comfort in Him.
Then we learned about the family and how traits are passed down through generations and how relationships with our family deeply affect our development and behaviour.
Last, we learned about child development. We watched some movies about children in Colombia and Mexico that were based on reality. It opened my eyes to what they encounter and have to go through. I had always heard about glue sniffing, but never really understood it. Now after the movie, the book I'm reading and what one of my classmates told me about her outreach, I'm realizing how common sniffing glue is for street children. I also learned about how kids should develop and how they'll behave if they grow up in a healthy family and how kids grow up and act differently when they grow up in a family at risk. It is really interesting to apply this to the kids I know in Riobamba, Ecuador that are forced to sell stuff. For example, I can see how the death of one of the kids' fathers forces the kid to take on the role of the father and start working to provide for his family (even though he's only 11).
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Devil´s Nose, Sod and Guayaquil
Hey once again.
So I´m deciding to start 2 weeks ago when the 6 volunteers from the Ark and I went to the Nariz del Diablo (Devil´s Nose). It´s a few hour train ride from Riobamba that is apparently the most difficult track or rail because of the sharp switch backs. It was kind of boring, but the story behind the Devil´s Nose was kind of interesting. This railroad was very important because it connected the highlands to the coast. To make it 4,000 Jamaicans came over (apparently as workers and not slaves) to build it and 2,500 of them died in the construction of the track. The mountain is called the Devil´s Nose because they say the 2,500 souls are trapped inside. On the way back we stopped in a town called Alausi to walk around. We climbed up to a huge statue of Saint Peter, which had an amazing view of the city. They I bought some shoes in the market and a little lunch.
During last week I worked on sod everyday... meaning I ventured out of the orphanage to find random pieces of grass on the side of the road. Then I used a pick axe to cut out a square and haul it back to the Ark in a wheelbarrow. It was slow going, but there were some volunteers from Quito that decided to help which made it go a lot faster. We´re putting grass in this little courtyard for a play area for the toddlers so it´s not so windy and they can´t get into as much trouble! I also went to the hospital a few times to take some of the babies to get their treatment. A few had had pneumonia. On the way back we managed to fit 5 people with 5 babies in a taxi, not including the driver!
On Thursday, I went out with my English students for dinner... which ended up being at 9:00 (so typical). We met at 7 to go looking for a restaurant (meaning between 7 to 7:30). Then 2 girls got a phone call saying their niece or cousin was in the hospital so they told us to wait an hour. We walked around some more and ended up running into a few of my street church friends. Then at 8:30 we finally picked a restaurant and ordered pizza, limonade and a strawberries with whipped cream (yummy)! So we didn´t leave until like 10. I enjoyed though and will miss my students.
This last weekend I went to Guayaquil again (the coast) with 3 other volunteers. We walked around downtown again, went to Salinas (a beautiful beach with clear aqua blue water and waves), made some dinner for the people that lent us their living room to sleep in, and had a foosball competition one night by the water! After playing foosball for fun for a while we decided to let the winnners play until they lost. Well, me and one of the volunteers (Rebecca) ended up winning and winning and no one could beat us... so we ended up leaving undefeated!
Tomorrow is my going away party at the Ark because I´m leaving for Colombia on Friday! I still have to pack and get some stuff done before I go so I´m glad to have a little time to catch up.
Please pray that God will continue to provide for me. After the Children at Risk school in Bogota you are supposed to commit a year of working with children at risk. I would love to stay here in Ecuador and work with street children, but I will be praying to see where God wants me to go after the school.
So I´m deciding to start 2 weeks ago when the 6 volunteers from the Ark and I went to the Nariz del Diablo (Devil´s Nose). It´s a few hour train ride from Riobamba that is apparently the most difficult track or rail because of the sharp switch backs. It was kind of boring, but the story behind the Devil´s Nose was kind of interesting. This railroad was very important because it connected the highlands to the coast. To make it 4,000 Jamaicans came over (apparently as workers and not slaves) to build it and 2,500 of them died in the construction of the track. The mountain is called the Devil´s Nose because they say the 2,500 souls are trapped inside. On the way back we stopped in a town called Alausi to walk around. We climbed up to a huge statue of Saint Peter, which had an amazing view of the city. They I bought some shoes in the market and a little lunch.
During last week I worked on sod everyday... meaning I ventured out of the orphanage to find random pieces of grass on the side of the road. Then I used a pick axe to cut out a square and haul it back to the Ark in a wheelbarrow. It was slow going, but there were some volunteers from Quito that decided to help which made it go a lot faster. We´re putting grass in this little courtyard for a play area for the toddlers so it´s not so windy and they can´t get into as much trouble! I also went to the hospital a few times to take some of the babies to get their treatment. A few had had pneumonia. On the way back we managed to fit 5 people with 5 babies in a taxi, not including the driver!
On Thursday, I went out with my English students for dinner... which ended up being at 9:00 (so typical). We met at 7 to go looking for a restaurant (meaning between 7 to 7:30). Then 2 girls got a phone call saying their niece or cousin was in the hospital so they told us to wait an hour. We walked around some more and ended up running into a few of my street church friends. Then at 8:30 we finally picked a restaurant and ordered pizza, limonade and a strawberries with whipped cream (yummy)! So we didn´t leave until like 10. I enjoyed though and will miss my students.
This last weekend I went to Guayaquil again (the coast) with 3 other volunteers. We walked around downtown again, went to Salinas (a beautiful beach with clear aqua blue water and waves), made some dinner for the people that lent us their living room to sleep in, and had a foosball competition one night by the water! After playing foosball for fun for a while we decided to let the winnners play until they lost. Well, me and one of the volunteers (Rebecca) ended up winning and winning and no one could beat us... so we ended up leaving undefeated!
Tomorrow is my going away party at the Ark because I´m leaving for Colombia on Friday! I still have to pack and get some stuff done before I go so I´m glad to have a little time to catch up.
Please pray that God will continue to provide for me. After the Children at Risk school in Bogota you are supposed to commit a year of working with children at risk. I would love to stay here in Ecuador and work with street children, but I will be praying to see where God wants me to go after the school.
Friday, February 19, 2010
One of the first times I went to street church. This night we all shared what God was doing in our lives.
The first time I went to the Ranalli's and the first time I played Apples to Apples. Now I go see Jessica almost every week and spend the night.
On the streets of Riobamba on New Year's Eve. We were burning our "año viejo" which was a Skater guy.
Me sprayed with foam in Otavalo during Carnaval... I started it, but it was a fun fight against some strangers... 3 against one... no fair!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Guayaquil
By the lighthouse. Mercedes was Amy's friend that met up with us.
Up to the Lighthouse that sits on a hill. We had to climb many steps to get there and it was pouring rain most of the way.
On an old street with Amy. On our way to the Lighthouse.
Me and Paris at the Malecon. He's Christian's friend and was our tour guide during our trip to Guayaquil.
Downtown with Amy.
One of the many iguanas at the Iguana Park in downtown Guayaquil.
Me at the Iguana park. There were tons of them and I even touched one!
At the beach near Guayaquil. On the left is Paris. He's a pastor and works with children. Amy is a volunteer from the Ark that met Christian (on the right) in Peru. He works for Habitat for Humanity and hosts teams from the States.
At a sea side restaurant at a beach 2 hours from Guayaquil. I was eating some patacones or tostones (deep fried plantains).
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