Wednesday - Villa Nueva (a squatters village in Linda Vista)

On Wednesday we visited a squatters village (which are in many was the poorest of the poor). Many of the people that live in areas like there's are there because during the 36+ tear civil war that ended in 1996 they fled the mountainous regions where the war was being fought to the city.  The city was significantly safer, but there was no place for them to go, so they just started building camps the the deep raveans or on the steep hillsides (just hoping the government was to busy with the war to get involved). And it worked now there are hundreds of thousands of people living in these areas.  I will let Cheryl and Chloe tell you some of the stories from their perspective. 

Cheryl. 

Today we traveled outside the city to a squatter's village, Linda Vista. What an amazing day! I personally loved today because it was a kid-filled day :)

The team was amazing to work with. We stayed up late the night prior, prepping for today, still not sure what to prepare for or expect. I was a bit stressed when we found out we probably wouldn't have enough craft supplies for all the kids, but we decided if Jesus could feed 5,000, he could stretch our supplies.

We walked to the first location, and began our day with about 180 kids. Nicholas was a pro at leading our team in the singing, and Kavin helped out with the guitar. At first, the kids weren't to sure about singing with us, but once we got out in the crowd and helped move their hands to the motions, they were ready to go! 

We followed the songs with a skit of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and then we did a craft with them (which, let's be honest, they were much better at then we were ;)). We finished our time there with another skit, the parable of the talents, and then headed to our second destination.

I have to admit, the 2nd school was my favorite, and definitely in the worst condition. Some of the kids recognized those of us from two years ago-pretty awesome! This was definitely the most chaotic setting. Parents were coming and going as we were trying to so the skits, but the kids soaked up the message regardless. Then we broke into groups and went into their classrooms to do the follow-up craft. I am thankful for my classroom!

We had a lunch break, then walked the around the village a bit, before walking down to the last location. This was definitely another favorite stop, but for other reasons. The kids here are 8th and 9th graders, and come on, they pretty much thought we were ridiculous :). Knowing it was an older aged group, we had talked about how we needed to really animate, do some singing competitions, bottom line- make fools out of ourselves :)....and it was AWESOME. Our teens stepped up, put themselves out there, and really captured the attention of these kids. I even had a hard time narrating I was so captured! On that note, all I can say is, I saw Jesus in our team today....I love that.

Love to you all, 

Cheryl 

Chloe:

Today we went to Linda Vista, a squatters village.  It was absolutely unimaginable for me what these people go through day by day. We went to 3 different schools today, singing songs, acting out skits, and doing a craft. I could definitely tell that these kids wanted us here. When we walked though the door to the schools, the kids' faces all lit up. I could see the joy in their eyes, and in the way that they tried so hard to communicate with us. But the real thing is, is that we don't need to communicate with these kids, to show them the love that they need. All they need is a smile or a hug, letting them know that we are here for them. Anyways that what I thought when it was happening. The truth to it is, it that we were there for us. Before I went to Linda Vista, I had a pretty good idea in my head of what this town and these people were going to be like. But I was wrong. Way wrong. We got to this town, and it completely opened my eyes to a whole new thought. These people living here in this squatters village have so much less then we can imagine. But in reality, they have more then every single one of us. They make the best of what they have with so little. This might not be everybody, but it is me. I have so many distractions at home, that I don't realize what I have aside from all of my distractions. I definitely do not take enough time each day to sit down and talk to God, or even think about him. No, not all of these people do that, but they have better relationships with just their neighbors, that I have with my best friends. Aside from that note, we met a man today, Garrison, who took us to all of the schools, and took us around the town a little bit. After today, during team time, we listened to a song called "Do Something." Garrison was the perfect example of everything that went on in the song. I encourage all of you to look that song up and really listen to the words. Garrison took action in this town, and even though he is successful enough to be able to live differently, he chooses to give up that life and go live with these people in need. I won't go into much detail about what he does, but it's a lot. He has a home where he takes in women and children and give them food and a roof. He takes in strangers that he's never met before, and cares for then until they aren't strong enough to care for themselves. He was amazing. He does so much more then that though. This day taught me to be so grateful for everything, and to make better relationships with my friends, family, and God. And to stop every once in a while from my distractions, and go see the world, and take action.

       -Chloe Pearson