Medellin - Home of the friendly Paisas, this beautiful city in the in a lush valley has been the setting to some of the most vicious drug violence on the planet. Although it is a lot safer today, less than 20 years ago this was where the notorious drug dealer Pablo Escobar based his operations. I stayed with my dad’s cousin Mark, who has an increadible soccer ministry here. Over 1500 kids are being reached with the gospel through this ministry! There are over 30 coaches that train and minister on soccer fields all throughout Medellin. In a city where gang violence and drugs are a major problem, it is really amazing to see how this ministry is changing the lives of kids and the city of Medellin.
The night I arrived in Medellin, I jumped on the back of one of the coaches motorcycles and we drove off to the field where the night’s training was to happen at 7 pm. I was in for quite the ride. I can’t believe the amount of motorcycles in Medellin. From a corner I counted 38 motorcycles go by in 45 seconds! And, of course, they have their own driving rules: if they fit through they can make it! Sidewalks, alleyways, front yards, they all count. Of all the places I’ve traveled, Colombia has the craziest drivers. Also, I think they have an ongoing contest on who can carry the most difficult amount of passengers/luggage. So far I think the family of four, a couple backpacks, and the family dog all on the 100cc bike wins it! Well, the training was in a poorer part of town and over 100 kids under 12 yrs old showed up! We gave the pre-training devotional and then divided the trianing into three sessions and played until 10:30pm!
The next morning I got the opportunity to share devos with 30 coaches at the awesome stadium they built. I shared my testimony and also from 1 Timothy where it talks about training ourselves in godliness. As athletes it’s good to have this verse to think about since sometimes we get caught up in training our body for the competition and forget that “while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promis for the present life and also the life to come.” 1 Tim 4:8.
Another night I went to a field with my dads cousin Mark, where there was another training session going on (there are about 16 locations throughout Medellin that these sport’s ministry sessions are happening!). I found out that this field used to be the garbage dump not only for trash but bodies would end up thrown there too. With a lot of work from Mark’s CDUC (Centro Deportivo Union Cristiana) this neighborhood has transformed the dump into a soccer field. Through these training sessions, over 300 kids hear the gospel here, get soccer training and are distracted from alternative choices like gangs and drugs that are poisoning the children of Medellin!
Bogota - I spent over a week in the capital city of Bogota where I lived from 6-11 years old. It has been really fun connecting with old family friends! I stayed with Ruth, a dear family friend and my dads old secretary. It has been crazy hearing some of her family’s stories. Her sister about 20 years ago lived out in the countryside. One day the guerillas came into their farm and told her husband that they wanted to see his farm. They took him and his father off a little ways and killed them, leaving her sister to raise their 3 boys on her own. The guerillas do this to grow drugs on their land and make sure they never come back. There are tons of stories like this and the capital city of Bogota is growing tremendously as it gets almost a half a million displaced people per yer.
Through Ruth I connected with some more old family friends about an hour outside of the capital of Bogota. Pablo and Sofi run a missionary school and were very excited to have me come visit. Pablo asked me to share with the students about growing up as a missionary kid as well as what my trip was about. I got to share with 30 soon to be missionaries about growing up on the mission field, soccer ministry and using your talents and what you love for the Lord. It was fun to share with this enthusiastic group preparing themselves to bring the gospel to Colombia and other places in South America.
It has been really fun handing out the bracelets you have helped me buy. On one side it says “Tienes un Amigo” (“You have a Friend”) and on the other, it has “John 15:13-15” (Greater love has no one than this,that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends…”) I've loved sharing a simple message about Jesus’ friendship towards us to the kids. It has been a lot of fun to have something to give to the kids and they have all loved this keepsake. If you would still like to donate towards the ministry material, there is still need for about $250.
Thanks for the donations already made and for the encouraging emails!
Blessings!
Nate
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