Go Beyond

Cartagena, Colombia en route to Houston, Texas

Located at the place where South America meets Central America, Colombia is a country steeped in history. Many of the names on the Colombian map are essentially the fingerprints of the European explorers who shaped the story of this nation. Colombia itself is named after Christopher Columbus, although the first European to actually set foot on Colombian soil was Alonso de Ojeda, a companion of the famed explorer. Sadly, in recent years, Colombia has become better known for its civil conflict and drug-related violence than for its rich history and the more recent Juan Valdéz, the iconic face of Colombian coffee. However, the country is taking intentional measures to provide greater security in order to encourage tourism. One ad that I saw said, “Colombia — the only risk is wanting to stay.” I like that kind of positive message and hope that the good people of Colombia can successfully wrestle their country back from the drug cartels that have ruined so many lives.

Colombia is a beautiful country and so are its people. I spent a good amount of my time in Colombia among the poor and those who are working hard to give the children of the poor a good education. CDA, the organization that I visited, is doing an amazing job of educating children, providing vocational training, and making micro-loans available to the poor so that they can generate income to support and sustain their families. Yesterday afternoon I met Marta, a woman who received a small loan from CDA three years ago. She used the funds to open a neighborhood store. Her business has grown significantly and she and her husband are now able to better provide for their young children. Marta told me that while she is grateful for the loan from CDA, she is especially thankful to the Lord for guiding her enterprise. Her story has also inspired others who have applied for micro-loans from CDA.

I am returning home refreshed, encouraged, and inspired. Once again, God has reminded me of the resiliency and resourcefulness of the poor. I met some really smart kids who have managed to excel in school despite having few resources and who study  in homes with dirt floors and no electricity. I met parents, grandparents, and single moms who are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep their kids in school and in church. They know all too well the dangers that can distract and destroy their kids. I also listened to the dreams of kids who are driven by sheer determination to succeed. They understand that the journey toward the realization of their dreams may take a little longer but that they can get there. It’s kids like these and the parents who believe in them that can change the face and future of Colombia — a beautiful country.

Barranquilla, Colombia

My Colombian-born friend Jorge Cardenas is no stranger to the Kingsland staff. Jorge is the pastor of Iglesia Sobre la Roca, located just down the street from Kingsland. Over the past several years we have formed a special bond with Pastor Jorge and his church family. And, for the past several years he has repeatedly asked me to join him on a trip to his native country to see how our churches can partner in the education of the poorest children. Finally, I am in Colombia with Jorge and delighted to have him show me the good work that is taking place here — work that is making a difference by empowering children and transforming families.

We arrived yesterday in Cartagena de Indias, a city founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, a Spanish conquistador. Located on the Caribbean coast, this city became the main Spanish port as well as the major gateway to South America. Today, visitors to the city are greeted by Las Murallas, a centuries-old 13-kilometer stretch of thick walls built to protect the city from its enemies. The Ciudad Antigua, or Cartagena’s old town, is located within Las Murallas and is a Unesco World Heritage site. The Ciudad Antigua is characterized by narrow cobbled streets, quaint balconies, and massive churches that cast their shadows across colonial plazas. It’s a beautiful place that stirs your imagination.

This morning we traveled a 120-kilometer stretch of the Via al Mar between Cartagena and Barranquilla. This well-maintained highway follows the coast between these two cities. Baranquilla, founded in 1629, is an industrial port and Colombia’s fourth largest city. I love what the Lonely Planet travel guide says about Barranquilla: “There are few tourist attractions and little reason to visit…” Those are the kind of places that appeal to me. And, I am even more interested in this city after our visit to the school operated by CDA — Corporación Dios es Amor — a Christian organization founded by a New Zealand missionary. They are providing the children of the poorest of the poor with the opportunity to get an education and to develop a Christian worldview. Jorge’s son, a former Houston ISD school principal, returned to Colombia and joined the CDA staff.

This morning we visited the families of three of the children enrolled in the school. I am very acquainted with poverty and therefore was not surprised by the horrible living conditions around the school in Barranquilla. But, what makes things different here is the hope that these parents have for their kids. I met one grandmother who is caring for her only granddaughter. Her home was the worst of those we visited. “It’s staying up by the grace of God,” she told us. And she was right! It’s only a matter of time before her tiny hovel crashes in around her. This grandmother started a little business selling chips and candy in order to pay the modest monthly tuition for her granddaughter who is an excellent student. Before we left I took their picture in front of a sheet metal door in their home painted with the words “Jehová es mi pastor; nada me faltará” — “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” This woman knows the meaning of those words. She trusts God daily to help her keep her granddaughter in school.

Our time at the school, in the surrounding slum neighborhoods, and with the faculty touched my heart. The teachers earn the equivalent of about $300 dollars per month to teach children in concrete block rooms with no fans or air-conditioning. They do it because they love God and they love the kids under their care. These kids will have a possibility of a better future because of the vision of a man from New Zealand (now deceased) and those who continue to carry out his legacy of caring for the poor with dignity and love. As we drove back to Cartagena this afternoon, all I could do was to think about and pray for the teachers and kids I met. I am seeking God about how our missions ministry can be an answer to their prayers.