In the News!

By Merlin M. | Volunteer

Recently, Ciudad Refugio has been creating quite a stir in the local media here in Colombia.  We have been honored to have been featured on two different new media outlets in the past week. And earlier this summer, Pastor Douglas was asked to share at a BiteTalk here in Medellin about how to care for and best assist the poor all around us.

Please check out the links below to learn more:

Noticias Caracol

Ciudad Refugio was featured on the Noticias Caracol nightly news.  Program graduates were able to share of the impact of the ministry on their lives.  Also, the homeless shelter and bakery projects were featured as part of the news report. The report ended with our hopes for expansion with the new building project that we plan to begin in the upcoming months.

Q’hubo

Ciudad Refugio was featured in a newspaper article in Q’hubo on Thursday, August 22nd, titled:  “The angels of the homeless”.  The article shared of the history of the ministry and how it began with Pastors Douglas and Marilu sharing agua panela and bread on the street.  It also spoke of the testimony of volunteers such as Luis Tapasco, who is a program graduate and current leader for the men’s program.  Lastly, the article shared of how the foundation is home for many volunteers from all around the world and how everyone works and functions as one big family.

 

BiteTalk Medellin 

In July, Pastor Douglas was asked to share at a BiteTalk in Medellin.  This event was structured similarly to the more widely known Ted Talks.  Pastor Douglas spoke on the topic of how best to help the poor while balancing our good intentions and what is ultimately best for them long term.  He emphasized how the church must find the right formula to save souls but also save lives as well.  Three key points Pastor Douglas stressed upon was how the church can transform the lives of the needy around us by offering: relief for immediate needs, restoration, and development.  We should be a voice for those who don’t have a voice and treat them with dignity and respect.  And most of all, we must work to not build dependency but elevation from their current status.

 

We are truly grateful for every opportunity to share who we are and what we do.  We pray that each time we are featured that the name of Jesus will be lifted up and that lives are impacted for the Kingdom of God.

The Power of Restoration

By Yeyson M. and Merlin M. | Volunteers

Ciudad Refugio is honored to be able to share the testimony of Yeyson Marin, a recent graduate of our restoration program and a current volunteer at the foundation. After his graduation, Yeyson has chosen to serve and assist in various capacities such as with the homeless shelter and children’s ministry, to name a few. This is his story in his own words:

I grew up in a family without a father figure.  When my parents met and fell in love, my mother did not know that my father was a drug addict.  Their relationship had many struggles because of his addiction and he tried without success to complete many rehab programs.  Finally, when I was three and my older brother was five, my mother left my father.  At this time, she also became a believer and we even lived in a church for some time.  You could say that I was raised in a Christian home but in my heart, I was anything but. I had no relationship with Christ but would just go through the motions of what it meant to be a “Christian.”

When I was younger, I was considered a good kid.  I did well in school, went to church, and never got into trouble.  But when I turned 12 years old, I began to smoke cigarettes with some of my friends from school. This habit was a gateway that led me to try other things, like smoking marijuana.  For the next three years, I would use marijuana once or twice a month.  At 15 years old, I began to start using other stronger and more potent drugs.  This began a season of rebellion in my life.  I did not go to church because I was older and that meant more freedom and my mother also got remarried at this time.  I was angry with her for this and didn’t like my stepfather and would constantly fight with him. (Years later, our relationship has now been restored.)  One night, the tension was so bad we had to be physically separated, and from then on, I went to live with my grandparents. This further promoted the downward spiral in my life; living away from home afforded me much more freedom than I should have been given at this time.  I began to consume drugs all the time, day and night.  I also began to use “harder” and stronger drugs than before.  During this time, I also began to sell drugs.  I knew the suppliers and would sell the drugs at a cost to make a good profit.

I left school and served in public service for one year. (This is similar to a police force within Colombia and is mandatory service). During this time,  I was upholding the law while breaking it at the same time.  I would check people for drugs and if I found some, I would just keep it for myself to sell later on.  Also, being in an uniform I was never questioned or searched so I can move around and sell drugs freely without any interference.  This only propelled me deeper into my vices.  But some incidents caused me to question my chosen path.  Once, I had a blackout for three days.  I did not remember anything that happened but my friends told me that I was functioning but in a trance.  Another time, I had a bad reaction to the drugs I consumed and started having convulsions.  My family rushed me to the hospital and the doctor told them it was a miracle I was still alive.  The doctor even performed an EEG to see the extent of the damage the drugs had made on my brain.  But by the grace of God, the test showed that there was no visible damage in spite of my rampant drug use.  From that day onwards, I made a decision to stop the use of the hard drugs and would only consume less potent drugs. For me,  it was a small step in the right direction.

After completing my service for one year, I begin a job with a local public service company.  My life was great and I had everything I wanted.  I was making good money, had a great social life, all the friends and popularity I wanted.  However, my life took a turn for the worse because of my actions.  I was an influencer and with along with others, we started a strike among the workers that cost the company millions of pesos.  I was one of thirty people who were fired once the strike ended.  I sank into a season of depression after I lost my job.  For the next two months, I was living a chaotic and wild life.  I began to use all different types of drugs again and would party day and night.  But soon the money I had saved began to run out. And in a matter of months I was left with nothing-no money, no job, no girls,  and no friends. God had stripped me of everything and I came to the lowest point of my life.  With my head bowed, I was forced to go to my mother and ask for help. She knew of Ciudad Refugio and brought me to the foundation.

My first month in the program I hated everything.  I was so angry and rebellious and just wanted to leave.  I went for three days without sleeping because my roommate snored very loudly.  One night, I was just so frustrated I prayed with anger: “God, if you are there…Stop his snoring!”  And I kid you not, five seconds after I finished my prayer, the snoring stopped and I could sleep.  For the next couple of days, I would do the same angry prayer and God answered in the same way.  I was starting to learn that God really did understand and hear me.  A short while later, I had a sense to fast for a few days; I asked God to heal me from my issues with anger.  And the first day itself, I felt God heal my heart and I felt true happiness and almost against my own will, I began to smile.  I learned that God wanted to restore me and that when He breaks you; it’s not to punish you but to build you up according to His will.

Within the next nine months I began to have some real encounters with God.  I started to like worship and even hearing the preaching of the Word. By the grace of God, I was recently able to complete the restoration program and time of transition.  My dream is to talk about and serve Christ.  I want to share how the love of Christ saved and transformed a sinner like me.  I want to rescue others and offer them the hope that God only can provide.  Like one my favorite verses, Lamentations 3:39-40 says: “Why then should we, mere humans as we are, murmur and complain when punished for our sins? Let us examine ourselves instead, and let us repent and turn again to the Lord.” As for now, I don’t know what the future holds; I just know that God holds it.  I am very happy and content to be serving in the foundation and I’m waiting on God to reveal what His plan for me is!

To anyone who is in the same path that I was, I just want to share that God gives us two options for how to life our lives-His way or your own way.  God is a gentleman and lets you have freedom to choose.  But know that God will never follow you on the wrong path.  So follow the right way; the best way; God’s way.  God has a purpose for your life.  I now can see that everything I have gone through was so God could use me to reach others and offer them a living testimony of how God can restore and transform a life.  If He can do it for me, He can do it for you as well!

Una Experiencia de Aguapanela

Por Merlin M. | Voluntaria

Todos los miércoles por la noche es un momento especial para Ciudad Refugio porque, sin falta, es el día del Aguapanela. Para aquellos de ustedes que no lo conocen, Aguapanela es el ministerio donde creyentes locales y voluntarios de la iglesia salen cada semana (llueva o truene) para repartir pan y una dulce bebida caliente en las calles. En muchos sentidos, consideraría al Aguapanela como el motor del ministerio aquí. De hecho, Ciudad Refugio comenzó porque el Pastor Douglas fue obediente a la voz de Dios y salió a ministrar en las calles solo; y comenzó la obra de Dios, un alma a la vez. Afortunadamente, hoy en día no salimos solos sino en grupos. Mientras que el pastor Douglas era un hombre solo que iluminaba con la luz de Dios en una oscuridad total y absoluta, en estos días somos un ejército que trae la esperanza que solo Cristo puede ofrecer a las almas que viven y usan drogas en las calles.

Quería compartir mi perspectiva como trabajadora al interior de la fundación en cuanto a lo que significa servir con Aguapanela y para dar una idea de lo que encontramos. Antes de salir cada semana, el equiposiempre se reúne para orar juntos. Le pedimos a Dios que nos guíe y nos dirija a las personas que más lo necesitan y cada semana Él siempre responde nuestras oraciones. Luego, nos subimos a los vehículos para conducir al área donde ministramos. Esta semana pudimos meter a 13 personas en un miniván, sin desperdiciar ningún espacio. ¡Solo eso es un milagro en sí mismo!

La calle donde tiene lugar el ministerio del Aguapanela es oscura tanto en el sentido físico como espiritual. No hay luces en la calle para iluminar el camino. Hombres, mujeres y animales simplemente caminan sin rumbo, y muchos usan y venden drogas abiertamente. La mayoría son como zombis y no están en su sano juicio. No puedo explicarlo en mejores términos que decir que es como caminar directamente al mismo infierno; la desesperación y la desesperanza juntas en una pequeña calle. Debes tener cuidado donde pisas porque solo hay montones y montones de personas sentadas o de pie con sus cosas. Otros están caminando en un frenesí, pero sin ningún lugar a donde ir. Aquí hay una energía que solo he encontrado en esta calle. No lo había experimentado en ningún otro lugar.

Antes de comenzar a ministrar, todos se reúnen y oran una vez más. Entonces los voluntarios tienen dos opciones para lo que pueden hacer. Puede quedarse y pasar el pan y la bebida, o salir en grupos para hablar con la gente. Esta noche en particular, fui con un grupo de cuatro mujeres y enseguida vimos a una mujer a la cual llamaré Jo, sentada sola al borde de la calle. Nos acercamos a Jo y comenzamos una conversación con ella. Comenzamos simplemente presentándonos y compartiendo información sobre nuestras vidas. La clave aquí es establecer una conexión con la persona y no solo arrojarle un tratado y alejarse. Jo comenzó a abrirse poco a poco y compartió un pasado doloroso de abusos que la llevaron a comenzar a consumir drogas. Lo más desgarrador que compartió fue cómo deseaba morir a causa de la soledad que la abrumaba día tras día. Nuestro grupo compartió todo lo que pudimos sobre la esperanza que Cristo puede traer. Finalmente oramos con Jo, la abrazamos y le recordamos que no está sola. Por la gracia de Dios, pudimos pasar unos buenos 30-45 minutos con Jo y conversar realmente para construir una conexión con ella. La animamos a buscar ayuda cuando estuviera lista. Como todos los que conocemos en la calle, ella prometió venir a la fundación a la mañana siguiente porque quería una vida libre de drogas. (Alerta de información: Jo no ha venido… ¡todavía!)

El equipo tiene una regla estricta y ágil de que cuando se hayan distribuido todos los alimentos y no queden más, todos los voluntarios deben regresar a los vehículos y prepararse para partir. El grupo se reúne una vez más y ora por cada persona que nos encontramos. Compartimos los nombres de cada individuo y los presentamos en oración antes de regresar a casa. Como lo llama Rebekah desde la fundación: “Esperamos dejar gotas de gracia como parte del trabajo que hacemos”.

Aguapanela es el área de miniserio más difícil y cruda que he conocido. Pero cada vez que voy, recuerdo que mi vida debe ser una luz que brille en medio de la oscuridad. ¿Qué razón hay de encender una vela en una habitación que ya es brillante? Como dice la letra de la canción “Poderoso para salvar“: “En la tierra, Tu luz brillará…”. ¿Puedo animarte a brillar en la oscuridad, en las áreas de tu ciudad y pueblo donde muchos viven con dolor y desesperanza? Ofrece esperanza y simplemente con tus acciones demuestra el amor de Cristo. ¡Porque eso es lo que está más cerca del corazón de Dios y es lo que todos hemos sido llamados a hacer!

The Redemption of Carrots

By Merlin M. | Volunteer

Let me begin by asking you to bear with me while I bring this illustration to life and forgive me if it’s too cheesy. A fellow volunteer, Luise and I work in the Ciudad Refugio kitchen on Monday mornings helping to prep and clean vegetables for cooking. This past Monday, there was a shipment of donation carrots that needed to be cut and cleaned to be cooked into a soup.  And while elbows deep in the prep process, we started a discussion on how these carrots symbolized our lives in some many ways.

Those of you living overseas have never encountered vegetables in such a state as these carrots; and would never think to use them for human consumption. Some of you may use them for a compost pile instead.  Upon inspection, the carrots were offensive to all your senses: sight, touch, and smell. We didn’t dare try to taste them in the raw form. But carefully, we began the process to peel and cut away the broken and flawed parts and saw that underneath all the bad there was good.  It just needed to be redeemed.  It needed someone who cared enough to endure the hardship of finding it.  What others would just throw away as trash and worthless did have some value; but it needed someone with eyes and a heart to see beyond the exterior to the hidden worth.  And spoiler alert, these carrots were made in a delicious and nutritious soup that fed many!

In many ways, this illustration reminds me of our mission here at Ciudad Refugio.  The men and women who come into the restoration program are just like the carrots-rotten on the outside but with God given worth that needs to be discovered and uncovered.  While many simply walk past these people or consider them a hopeless cause; time and time we have witnessed how with an investment of time and effort these former addicts bloom and transform into who they were created to be.   But this alteration process requires individuals who are patient, disciplined, and willing to invest of themselves to bring about a transformation in the lives of others.  And at Ciudad Refugio, we are blessed to have wonderful leaders and volunteers that day in and day out show the love of God and shine His light so that the men and women in the restoration process can have hope.

But can I be honest, it’s not just the men and women in the restoration program that’s the “bad carrot.” At the end of the day, this illustration also represents my life before Christ.  You see I was broken, lost, rotten and hopeless without His transformative sacrifice and love in my heart.  But He gave of His own life and died on the cross for my sins so that I could be redeemed.  And because of His investment, my life became whole and transformed into something of worth; just like the carrots were made into a hearty soup. Like it says in Romans 5:8-10 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Would you take a moment to reflect on the love and grace of God that saved a “rotten carrot” like you and me? And if you get a chance, go eat a carrot; I hear it’s good for your eyes!

Intervención Divina|Un Recorrido de Restauración

By John F. | Staff, Recovery & Transition Program Graduate 

Crecí en un hogar en el cual yo era el más joven de tres hermanos. Tenía una madre cristiana y un padre alcohólico que no estuvo presente durante gran parte de mi infancia. Comencé a tomar alcohol cuando tenía 12 años; a mi madre no le gustó, pero mi padre lo permitió. Bebía mucho, y a la edad de 18 años probé cocaína por primera vez siendo amenazado por la pistola de mi jefe. Hasta esa noche, yo era el único de sus trabajadores que no consumía cocaína. Durante los siguientes dos años inhalé cocaína gratuitamente mientras trabajaba para él. Cuando mi esposa quedó embarazada, dejé mi trabajo y comencé un nuevo trabajo con personas que no estaban tan vinculadas a la comunidad de las drogas. Dejé de usar cocaína durante 5 años. Fueron los mejores momentos para nuestro matrimonio, pero con el tiempo, nuestro matrimonio comenzó a tener problemas y mi esposa me dejó. Dejé mi trabajo y mi nuevo trabajo estaba ubicado en uno de los barrios de mayor venta y tráfico de drogas en Medellín. Solo, deprimido y constantemente invitado a beber y usar drogas con viejos amigos, era solo cuestión de tiempo.

Mi vida en ese momento llegó a su punto más bajo. Ya no tenía el control de mi adicción, sino que mi adicción tenía el control total de mi vida. Comencé a pensar y luego tomé la decisión de suicidarme. Primero, compré suficiente cocaína para una sobredosis, pero no me quitó la vida. Así que, una noche, decidí saltar frente al tren del metro. Llamé a mi madre, a mi exesposa y a mis hijos para despedirme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abordé el tren en San Antonio y comencé a buscar dónde me bajaría y saltaría frente a un tren. Me senté junto a una anciana que me recordó a mi madre. La mujer estaba profundamente dormida. Cuando me senté a su lado, reconocí que estaba escuchando una canción de Alex Campos que hablaba de la amistad. Cuando comencé a escuchar, la mujer se despertó y me agarró del brazo y dijo: “Jesús te ama y quiere que te diga que lo que estás planeando hacer no debes hacerlo. Jesús te ama.” Tan pronto como se despertó, se volvió a dormir.

No mucho después, llegué a Ciudad Refugio. Después del encuentro en el tren, llamé a mi madre y le dije que hablara con su pastor para que me buscara un programa de restauración. El pastor había conocido recientemente a un joven que había completado con éxito el programa de recuperación de Ciudad de Refugio. Él hizo el contacto y nosotros fuimos a una entrevista.

Entrar a la fundación no fue una decisión fácil. Aunque estaba en el punto más bajo de mi vida, todavía estaba trabajando y tenía “libertad”. Pero tomé la decisión y fue lo mejor que he hecho.

Llevaba tres días en la fundación y no había dormido debido a mi ansiedad por la cocaína. Me reuní en la cuarta noche con mi mentor y oré para aceptar a Cristo. Luego encontré un rincón en una habitación donde podía orar y le dije a Dios: “por favor, si eres real y quieres que me quede, necesito dormir”.  Desde entonces no he perdido otra noche de sueño.

“Tú guardarás en completa paz a aquel cuyo pensamiento en ti persevera.”

Terminé mi programa de un año y ahora estoy trabajando en la fundación, ayudando a administrar la panadería de la fundación y un proyecto llamado “Manos que obran”. Estoy confiando en que Dios continuará restaurando a mi familia y mi futuro.