I wanted to write a post about the trip just anyone who wants can read about it. So, I will try and keep it simple and on point. But here it goes.
GOD is incredible. The fact I even went on the the trip and the fact that I raised way more money than I needed for the trip is all thanks to God. I was very nervous going down there but my nerves very quickly went away. I flew from Detroit to Atlanta where I got on my flight for Bogota, Colombia. On that flight were three of my teammates; Eric, and the Sweetings, Kristin and James. Once I saw and met them, my nerves were gone and I got really excited. Once we landed in Colombia the Young Life staff and leaders there treated us so well. They picked us up at the airport and took us to the apartment that a family let us use for our time down there. When we got there we met the rest of our team; Thomas, Haylie, Morgan, and Russell. We also met several YL leaders there as well. They were all so excited that Gringos came to help them with their YL camp.
The first two days we were there we got to tour the city of Bogota. And I am pretty sure we saw every bit of the city. It felt like we walked like 20 miles each day. But Juan Pablo, Ivan, and Joaco and the other Colombian leaders were so excited to share with us their culture and city. And I did love the city. It kind of felt like Chicago or NYC. There were people every where. I was a little bit over whelmed but the beauty of it all helped keep me relaxed. One of the evenings we got to attend a meeting that all of their YL leaders were at. We prayed together for camp and for kids. That was one of my favorite parts of the trip. We did about five different prayers, and for each we would pair up with a new partner and pray together for the topic. Well, I do not know Spanish and many of the leaders do not know English. But through Christ, I understood their prayers, I understood their hearts for the kids. It is hard to explain but it was evident that Christ would not let a language barrier get in the way of his love!
While in Bogota, we experienced some pretty great things, but ask me about that another time. For the sake of not writing a book I want to skip ahead to when we got to the camp. Now for those of us who have been to a Young Life Camp in America, we immediately think of a multi-million dollar resort. Well in Colombia, they do not have that luxury. They rented out a small camp/vacation spot. It was nestled on the side of a mountain with a river below. It was beautiful, but from a Young Life program perspective, it was not ideal. There were no flat areas for games or soccer. Juan Pablo, the speaker for the camp, was at first very frustrated and concerned. But once the kids arrived we quickly realized that it was all good. God would not allow for something as silly as not flat space or bugs in a swimming pool to get in the way of teenagers hearing about his Son.
Pamela, one of the Colombian YL leaders who helped run the camp, shared with us Gringos the importance of us interacting with the campers. She said that many of the campers have never seen Americans before, but if they saw that we came all this way to serve and love them, it would have a huge impact. I was nervous about that, I wanted to be behind the scenes, but God did not want that. So when the kids arrived I was immediately put in front of the campers as one of the "Gringo Security guards". And during that first dinner I just went and sat at a table that had an open seat. Thankfully one of the campers, Nick, knew English. My experience at that dinner table helped calm the nerves. These campers were just like my Young Life kids back at Bowsher H.S in Toledo. They are kids searching for love and truth.
As the camp went on, we did a lot of fun activities. I got to white water raft, and we went on a cool creek hike. The kids did a lot of organized games and activities as well. But I kept seeing a common theme. Community. Unlike Young Life camps in America, it seemed like these kids wanted to always be together. They did not want free time to run off. They enjoyed each other. They danced and sang. They were always together. That blew my mind. That is a cultural difference from what I have experienced. But it was awesome to see.
During those four days at camp I got to know many of the campers, leaders, and staff pretty well. Most of the time there was a language barrier. I was always looking for someone who knew English to translate. But over and over again God was telling me "I will not language be a barrier to these relationships I want you to have." The kids shared all kinds of fun stories with me. They were very curious about America. Many of them have family here but have never came themselves. They shared about their worries for the future. They shared about their hobbies and favorite American music. And by the end, they shared with me how they were very appreciative that I was there. Two of the kids, who I hung out with the most but knew 0 English, even told me at the end "Gringo, friend." Which meant a lot to me.
Juan Pablo did an incredible job sharing the Gospel with the campers. Although his club talks were in Spanish, some how I knew what he was saying. In my heart, I knew exactly what he was communicating. After his talks he would ask me what I understood, and most of the time I was spot on. This is all Christ. It reminded me of how when Christ spoke to massive crowds with people of all nations and languages, they always understood what he had to say.
Finally, the last story I want to share is perhaps the most important and meaningful interaction I had there. To help run the program side of the camp (the funny skits) they invited two Young Life Staff/leaders from Venezuela, Kelvin and Pedro. These guys were about my age and were hilarious! But one morning I was wearing my Young Life Capernaum shirt. Capernaum is YL's ministry for kids with severe disabilities. It is very unique and one of the few ministries geared towards that population. Well Kelvin saw the shirt and got very excited. We quickly yelled for Karla, our translator for that conversation, to come over. Kelvin then shared with me that his brother has severe physical and mental disabilities. And that it is his dream and that he prays every day that YL Capernaum could be started in Venezuela so that his brother could experience the love of Christ. Anyone who has read my blog in the past knows that I feel the same way about the Ministry. I too want nothing more than to see Capernaum in every community. Our mutual love for those with disabilities bonded Kelvin and I together. Our friendship is deep and rooted in Christ because of that conversation. I even gave him my shirt in hopes that him wearing it in his home nation will get the conversation started.
So, I blabbed on a bit here. But simply put, my trip was incredible. I learned that teens are teens not matter their culture or country. That Young Life works so well around the world because Christ is center of our ministry. And finally I learned that Christ will not allow cultural or language barriers to get in the way of his love or relationships being formed in His name.
Thank you for reading!
-Opher, AKA the Loco Gringo.
Pamela, one of the Colombian YL leaders who helped run the camp, shared with us Gringos the importance of us interacting with the campers. She said that many of the campers have never seen Americans before, but if they saw that we came all this way to serve and love them, it would have a huge impact. I was nervous about that, I wanted to be behind the scenes, but God did not want that. So when the kids arrived I was immediately put in front of the campers as one of the "Gringo Security guards". And during that first dinner I just went and sat at a table that had an open seat. Thankfully one of the campers, Nick, knew English. My experience at that dinner table helped calm the nerves. These campers were just like my Young Life kids back at Bowsher H.S in Toledo. They are kids searching for love and truth.
As the camp went on, we did a lot of fun activities. I got to white water raft, and we went on a cool creek hike. The kids did a lot of organized games and activities as well. But I kept seeing a common theme. Community. Unlike Young Life camps in America, it seemed like these kids wanted to always be together. They did not want free time to run off. They enjoyed each other. They danced and sang. They were always together. That blew my mind. That is a cultural difference from what I have experienced. But it was awesome to see.
During those four days at camp I got to know many of the campers, leaders, and staff pretty well. Most of the time there was a language barrier. I was always looking for someone who knew English to translate. But over and over again God was telling me "I will not language be a barrier to these relationships I want you to have." The kids shared all kinds of fun stories with me. They were very curious about America. Many of them have family here but have never came themselves. They shared about their worries for the future. They shared about their hobbies and favorite American music. And by the end, they shared with me how they were very appreciative that I was there. Two of the kids, who I hung out with the most but knew 0 English, even told me at the end "Gringo, friend." Which meant a lot to me.
Juan Pablo did an incredible job sharing the Gospel with the campers. Although his club talks were in Spanish, some how I knew what he was saying. In my heart, I knew exactly what he was communicating. After his talks he would ask me what I understood, and most of the time I was spot on. This is all Christ. It reminded me of how when Christ spoke to massive crowds with people of all nations and languages, they always understood what he had to say.
Finally, the last story I want to share is perhaps the most important and meaningful interaction I had there. To help run the program side of the camp (the funny skits) they invited two Young Life Staff/leaders from Venezuela, Kelvin and Pedro. These guys were about my age and were hilarious! But one morning I was wearing my Young Life Capernaum shirt. Capernaum is YL's ministry for kids with severe disabilities. It is very unique and one of the few ministries geared towards that population. Well Kelvin saw the shirt and got very excited. We quickly yelled for Karla, our translator for that conversation, to come over. Kelvin then shared with me that his brother has severe physical and mental disabilities. And that it is his dream and that he prays every day that YL Capernaum could be started in Venezuela so that his brother could experience the love of Christ. Anyone who has read my blog in the past knows that I feel the same way about the Ministry. I too want nothing more than to see Capernaum in every community. Our mutual love for those with disabilities bonded Kelvin and I together. Our friendship is deep and rooted in Christ because of that conversation. I even gave him my shirt in hopes that him wearing it in his home nation will get the conversation started.
So, I blabbed on a bit here. But simply put, my trip was incredible. I learned that teens are teens not matter their culture or country. That Young Life works so well around the world because Christ is center of our ministry. And finally I learned that Christ will not allow cultural or language barriers to get in the way of his love or relationships being formed in His name.
Thank you for reading!
-Opher, AKA the Loco Gringo.
