All We Hoped For and More!
By : Team Seattle | Short- Term Volunteers
Our time at Ciudad Refugio was incredible! For many people on our team this was our first mission trip and going in, we had very little idea of what to expect. We went in simply hoping to serve, to grow in our faith and to see God reveal himself to us in mighty ways. During our time at Ciudad Refugio we experienced all that we hoped for and more.
The guys on our team were able to live with the men in the program and participate along side them in their day to day activities. We helped with a work project each morning and went to Bible study in the afternoon. We spent a lot of time with the men with activities such as: playing chess or soccer, talking about our faith, hearing testimonies, and simply building genuine friendships. This experience was very rewarding and being able to encourage the men in the program in their faith was so fulfilling and helped us to grow in our own as well.
The women on our team were able to spend a lot of time with the women in the program. We helped in the kitchen in the mornings doing whatever was needed, which often times cleaning or helping with the food donations. We were able to go to Bible study with the women in the afternoon as well. Sometimes we went to Manantiales during the week to help with homework club or another women’s bible study. The friendships we developed with the women in the program and the kids in Manantiales are near and dear to our hearts. We will never forget all the incredible people we got to know and we will constantly keep them in our prayers.
As a team we helped each Saturday at the children’s program in Manantiales and the one in the foundation. We also had the opportunity to help with the youth group on Saturday nights. We always had a great time playing with the crazy kiddos during children’s ministry and later hanging out with the youth group. We were very sad to say goodbye to many of the youth because we became very close to them over the course of our two months at the foundation.
We highly recommend this ministry to anyone who wants to grow in their faith and do something outside of their comfort zone. Ciudad Refugio does so much good in Medellín and loves people so well. Everyone who works in the foundation has an incredible heart for Jesus and their immense faith brings a spirit of peace and comfort in the difficult and heavy moments of the ministry. People at Cuidad Refugio treated us like family and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve there. Overall, the meaningful, life bringing relationships we made in the foundation helped to make our short two months in Medellín a huge moment of change and growth in our lives.
God bless,
Team Seattle