A Blessed Trip 
 
My three weeks stay at the children’s home in Colombia was a blessed experience. I thank my heavenly Father for a place like that to provide for so many children. Even though they are not able to reach around to all the needs there, I admire Jaime and Rubiela to heed to God’s call and making the best of it to care for and raise children that so desperately need homes, persevering by faith, and trusting God for provisions. I felt blessed to be part of their answered prayers to get a new roof and ceiling on the kitchen and dormitory building.

My friend Rueben Yoder and I arrived in Pereira the fifth of February. We joined about twenty others from 8 different states over the course of three weeks. We were able to finish three projects and more that included a stairway from the dining area and dormitories to the laundry room and a wall along the sidewalks to the girl’s dormitory. We also had a wonderful time of fellowship. I was privileged to meet some of the people who were involved with the children’s home for quite a number of years.

It was especially a delight to spend time with the children, playing, working, and talking with them the best I could with my limited Spanish. They really liked to help one way or another and they were sometimes quite good at it. They need older godly people they can interact with in the play and work area to help shape them to be stable and godly adults.

I was also blessed to worship with them in the worship services they have of singing and preaching, Saturday evenings for the youth and Sunday mornings for everyone at the children’s home and for whoever wants to come.

It is always a highlight for the children when people come to serve and hard to part ways.

I would be glad to serve there sometime again. 

 

 

project closing in

a willing helper

preparing chickens for the market

a fun ride home from school

behind the fundacion

in the coffee region

                          

Reuben with two little friends



a delicious meal

me with some fine young men

ready for stucco



A Rich Experience In Colombia

Three of my friends and I who hail from Ohio had the privilege of serving at the Embraced by Jesus Children’s Home from February 13^th-22^nd to help with a remodeling project. We arrived just as the new roof and trusses on the kitchen building were being completed. Our work entailed block laying, mixing mortar by hand with shovels, and installing new tile on interior walls. Youth from Montana and Michigan completed our crew of hard working, fun loving, yet serious minded volunteers. The work was hard but very rewarding. We four from Ohio - James, Joe, Steve and I (Jared) praise God for this amazing time in Pereira,

Colombia.

More importantly then work were the dear children. With approximately 60 of them ranging from young babies to early twenties and all desiring love, attentions and relationships there was never a dull moment. They had in a very short time captured my heart. When a young boy with no mommy or daddy of his own climbs into my lap, wraps his arms around my neck and affectionately says, “amigo” he takes a little piece of my heart. Things like this were really the highlight of our stay for me. Even with a language barrier we were still able to develop friendships with many of the children that will hopefully draw us back to serve them many more times.

The Children’s Home is located in a beautiful, mountainous area that is part of the “coffee region.” The landscape consists of lush green hills covered with banana tree, coffee bushes and bamboo groves. All this plus being surrounded by distant mountains that tower into the clouds make the scenery awesome!



New roof being completed

Concrete being mixed by hand. This is hard work!

Steve laying block for a new retaining wall

A picture of me with most of the youngest children

Playing Volleyball

 Joe sharing love with some of the little girls

Not all memories were made at the Children’s Home.

Some great ones are from a day spent with the oldest

children at a coffee/amusement park. Here we are just

beginning a roller coaster ride.   

Some of the buildings at the home

 Coffee bushes and banana trees beside the Home’s driveway 

Bamboo grove

Jaime & Rubiela are the parents of the Children’s Home.

This amazing couple faithfully serve God and unselfishly

provide a loving home for the dear children.

"Let all the children come onto me'- Jesus

Embraced by Jesus Children's Home

I had the wonderful privilege to spend 7 days in Pereira, Colombia at the Embraced by Jesus Home. Words cannot explain the blessing that it was to meet Jaime and Rubiela and all the children. 

When we got there on Monday Feb 18th I was delighted with the warm weather as soon as we stepped out of the airport. Then we headed to the Children's home. We got there around 12:30am. It was a very long day for the ones that travel from PA. ( Naomi & Ivan Wipf and myself)

Our days were spent like this...

Drinking the best coffee in the world and doing lots of translating.

Anna Marie showed pics to the children a lot.They enjoyed that! 

Need a helping hand?? The children also loved to help the guys work.

Playing with dolls..All girls love that :)

Us ladies went to town for the day and ate Bandeja Paisa a delicious dish from Colombia. Rubiela(on the front left) walked us around the town and showed us where alot of the children came from. Was a blessing to know that and how our Lord Jesus has saved them from that world! 

Cake for 70 people! Everyone loved it!! Thanks Anna Marie for the great idea.

The guys making steps. Good job everyone!!

I could say more and more. I am VERY thankful that God gave me this wonderful opportunity to visit Colombia! I want to thank the children's staff for everything they did for us. Gracias!! Y Dios los bendiga a todos! Estare orando por ustedes! Los extra~o! 

A week at the home

 

One project I did was make cake for everyone.

They seldom have cake and it was challenging to bake in a gas oven

without a thermometer. Topped with whipped 7 min. frosting. 

 

Cake For dessert.

 

 

Naturally gifted Artists.

 

A Wonderful group of lively children!

 

I was very blessed spending time with these children. I learned a new appreciation for Jaime and Rubiela for their leadership and constant dedication to look after the physical and spiritual needs of these children. All come with needs for love and affection. Pray for them!