My Weekend in Manantiales Working with Displaced Children

Last week I was unplugged from wifi and completely immersed in the atmosphere around me. I was up on top of the mountains with a BEAUTIFUL view in a place called Manantiales. Manantiales is where displaced families go after they have been run out of their houses by gangs and violence down in the city of Medellin. These past 3 days have been refreshing and filled with so much love. I am so excited to share with you all how my first few days here have been. 

The first day we got there we immediately got asked to play soccer by the kids. We played for at least an hour maybe even longer. I never realized how much sports bring people together. The way these kids play was like nothing I have ever seen before. It was friendly competition. Not one person was angry or aggressive we were all just having fun and messing around. I loved getting to know the kids and it was so cool that the language barrier did not hold them back from trying to communicate with me. They were so accepting and loving toward me and actually taught me so much. It was so cool to see how much joy these kids had given their circumstances. It reminded me to carry the joy of the Lord regardless of the pain I am suffering. This first day we really just got to know these kids and connect with them. God has humbled me these past few days and has left me in awe of His love for us as His children.

The second day we started from the morning and got to spend all day with the kids. We sang worship songs with the kids in spanish and english and it was so powerful. I could tell how pleased God was that we were bringing community into that place simply by diving into their language. It was truly a beautiful moment that I enjoyed immensely. We then got to perform a play about forgiveness that showed that no matter what we do and no matter how many times we leave God behind He always wants us back. It reminded me of the times I had wandered away from God and How he always accepted me back and loved me harder. I love that God got to speak to the kids at the camp and I really believe the kids heard from Him. They all came up to the stage that day forgiving people who hurt them and to accept God’s forgiveness He has for them. It was beautiful. We got to pray over each child and hold them tight during this special time between them and the Lord. These kids encouraged me to be bold in hard times and step out in faith when I am struggling. We then got to have a barbeque with the kids that last night together and really just embrace our last moments together. It was so much fun. We ate delicious food and sang songs and just loved on each other. I did not want to leave them the next day. 

Finally, Saturday morning, our last day. I woke up not ready to leave my new friends. I got to spend the morning taking photos with my new friends Carmin, Sara and Lara. They are three girls who love the Lord so much. Their faith actually inspired me so much. The moment I saw them get down on their knees to pray in front of many other people I realized I wanted that kind of faith. The kind of faith that I do not care where I am or who is watching but when I need my heavenly Father I would just drop to my knees. This last day we got to smile and laugh and learn to speak each other’s language. This day we were inviting more kids from the community to hangout with us all day. They got to the auditorium and I passed by this little girl and said “hola” and that second she grabbed my hand and would not let go of me. Her name was Emili and she was 10 years old. She spoke spanish and we could only communicate a little bit but we did not need to say anything to each other she just wanted to be close to someone. She did my hair, we danced, we laughed, we goofed around making faces at each other and we just hugged and loved each other like we had known each other our whole lives. It is this kind of special moment that God brings two people together randomly to show a glimpse of how much He loves us. He loves us the second he laid eyes on us just as Emili and I had loved one another. At the end of the day she kissed me and said “ciao” and we went our separate ways. I do not know if I will ever see that beautiful girl again but what I do know is that I got to be a vessel of love in her life and if that is all God had intended for that moment then I am completely content with that. 

I am still processing all that had happened in those spectacular three days up at Manantiales but if that is just a glimpse of how the next eleven months is going to go I am thrilled to see what God is going to do. Check out these awesome photos I took below! Love Y’all, blessings and thanks for reading:)