Update from Colombia: By Missy Christie De Acosta

Paola and students

I have shared many conversations with the supporters of Word & Deed, those people young and old, who make the work of CDA possible. What I recall most is their expressions of love, kindness and genuine interest in our country, Colombia. From every trip, new ideas, encouragement and motivation have filled my heart. When I return to share my experiences with my staff, we feel we are not working alone, but are a part of a larger team that has come together with commitment and love to make a difference in a hurting world.

Such teamwork is what I believe God has blessed, allowing us to continue serving and to dream of reaching many more with hope and opportunities. This blessing is evident throughout the history of CDA, as schools continue to grow, plans for extending projects are accomplished, and we are constantly challenged with new opportunities for service and participation in the development of Colombia.

Every year we’ve seen good fruit come out of the seeds planted in the hearts of those we serve. Take the young girl Paola, who graduated from CDA’s school at Altos de Cazuca in 2005. Just last year, after completing her professional studies, she was hired by CDA as the Human Resource Manager. She now has the opportunity to give back to others some of what she received throughout her years of training. Such is only one example out of hundreds of lives which continue to be touched by the caring hearts of other human beings and the uniting of CDA and Word & Deed.

Continuing with good news, this past December we were also blessed that the Lord allowed us to complete the project in the city of Cartagena. Besides the nursery school, pre-school, elementary school, and health center, we now have a complete secondary school available for the children of the impoverished area of El Pozon. The local government has recognized CDA as a key factor in achieving the goal of fighting extreme poverty in their city. This secondary school will nurture 450 youngsters!

Construction work at the El Pozon school in Cartagena

The adventure of helping people generate income by establishing a micro-business in the sector known as LaBoquilla (in Cartagena) is slowly giving good results. This past holiday season, families were able to sell their products, thus bringing in food for their children and achieving an acceptable level of stability.

The children’s home (also knows as the Girls’ Home) sent back to their families 20 of the little girls that had been under our care for some years. This is the first time we have such a number of successful cases in one period. The need now is to follow up on these families, support them all in prayer, and prepare the way for the new little ones in need of protection. At this project, your generosity allowed the children to receive a brand new bus, making it possible for us to safely transport our little ones!

Moving on to Las Americas suburb (in the city of Barranquilla), the challenges continue as the need for the building of a school and medical center becomes greater every day. Throughout the last period, many efforts were made to get the government’s approval for the school’s construction. Praise God that we have advanced, having finally obtained official permission to take off with the building plans next fall. Challenges in the area of health remain, and the need is great, but we are certain it will all come through in the Lord’s perfect timing.

More blessings came our way through the efforts of Word & Deed, enabling us to repair the ambulance in Bogotá and purchase new equipment (funds also came from Word & Deed Holland for this project). Our patients at the different clinics now receive improved services and care.
The blessings, as you see, have been many, and each of them is multiplied by hundreds of lives. Yes, the work is much, but the joy is indescribable. Therefore, although the load at times gets heavy, each successful story and life touched are reminders that God is on the move and that we had better stay close and in tune with what He is doing. When He works, GREAT things happen! And that is what we expect – good things for Colombia.

As a family, the Lord has also blessed us, allowing each of us to discover his mercies and tender care, every step of the way. I am always amazed to see how the Lord works, even in circumstances that seem impossible. He is always teaching and leading the way, bringing goodness and joy, even in the midst of suffering. That is what we have experienced in the past and what we continue to see manifest every day of our life. His mercy and grace is the fuel that keeps us going and believing that He who has begun the good work will surely complete it.

At times, I wonder what our life would be if we had followed the counsel of several of our friends and family, and left Colombia in search of opportunities in another country. Although in my work I usually have to bring out the difficulties faced by the Colombian people, when I think of leaving, all I can see is everything else that is Colombia. The problems of poverty, violence, corruption, and abandonment trouble the lives of thousands, even millions. Yet there is its beauty, diversity, richness and life, represented in its people: men, woman and children who bravely confront life, who give even the little they have and appreciate that which is plain and simple. Colombia is a nation whose people always have a smile, even in the midst of lack and despair. A country for which it is worth working together. A country with fertile ground where many are still waiting to receive the good seed, the good news that will allow good fruit to come forth. That is Colombia – the place where the Lord has called us to and the place which we are proud to continue calling our home!Paola

To all of you, supporters of Word & Deed, thank you for being part of this great task. Thank you for each prayer and for all the love, that even from a distance, we can feel so closely. Missy Christie De Acosta is Executive President of CDA group.