Recently, local resident and business woman Charlotte Parrack experienced a trip of a lifetime, visiting the orphans of Bogata, Columbia, ministering to them with needed items and love. Charlotte wrote the following about her trip:
“I recently had the opportunity to accompany by brother on a mission trip to Bogota, Colombia who has been working with the orphans there for about 5 years now. There are over 1 million orphans in the country of Colombia, and the government has only given him permission so far to work with 8 different orphanages. Many of them are in areas of unrest and not safe for him to visit. Colombia has been in a Civil War since the 60’s with insurgents and gorillas, along with the drug trade, so there are numerous military, police and private security everywhere we went as protection.
When I first arrived after taking the red-eye, we hit the ground running and I went 44 hours with no sleep. The wonderful Colombian coffee kept me going! I don’t know what my expectations were, as I had heard him tell me numerous stories over the years, but you cannot fully understand until you experience it for yourself. I was completely blown away, almost shell-shocked as I went through the week.
There was a girl’s orphanage where they were sleeping on the wooden slats with no mattresses, so David purchased mattresses for them. Another had mattresses, but no linens or blankets so he took care of that as well. A refrigerator was purchased for one boy’s orphanage that didn’t have one. Every orphan received a new pair of shoes, wrapped in a gift sack with candy. They all cried, with many telling us they have never received a present in their entire lives.
We bought them shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene products (of which they don’t have any and are forced to use rags washing them out nightly) and underwear. The children are a loving bunch of kids, sharing everything they own with each other. When eating with them, they want to share their food and it offends them if you don’t take a bite from their utensil. Often, the fork or spoon is passed around the table!
Upon arriving at one orphanage, I found myself surrounded by about 20 girls all talking at the same time. Not knowing their language, I reverted to silliness to make them laugh as there were several of them crying. I played hand clapping games with them, sang to them, and made silly faces and danced… anything to get them to laugh or smile. When leaving, they all pulled on my clothes begging me not to leave and asking when I would return. Tears were falling on the adult faces as much as the orphan children and I was by far more blessed by the experience than they.
It is overwhelming to think about the 14 million orphans in the world going hungry or without bare necessities, but just like the little boy throwing star fish back into the ocean from the beach, we can only walk forward in faith helping those we can. The needs are many. I share this with you in hopes that you, too, will be touched. If you would like to go on a mission trip, go to http://www.orphanministries.com for more information. Good parents are needed to financially assist a child, adoptive parents are badly needed, and of course financial aid is needed.
With over 50 verses in the Bible telling us to care for the orphan children, you know it has to be important to God, and so I hope to return to Colombia again, being better prepared emotionally and physically for the challenge.”