The Caribbean Coast - Cartagena

Great news! It hasn’t rain in January. It’s colder early in the morning but warm during the day. Besides I had the opportunity to go to the projects in the Caribbean Coast, specifically in Cartagena, Barranquilla and Cienaga. Also, I visited an orphan home in the mountain of the Sierra Nevada in Santa Marta.

What God is doing in Cartagena and Colombia is just overwhelming. The timing, the connections, the mind, and the hearts of the people are almost in unity. There are some challenges with the culture but is improving (I hope so).

However, the weather cold or hot, the lack of some things in the personal area and other small issues lost all relevance when you see how the Lord is working for the communities. It’s very easy to practice every day the “Motivated by Love, It’s All About the People, and Christians Serve” when you realize than it’s an honor and a privilege to serve Him.

I want to share what the city of Cartagena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartagena%2C_Colombia ) is doing. There is a local government decree which I want to translate for you (Only the first two articles), you will love it!:

Decree # 005

“Standards of Citizen’s Conduct and Coexistence”

The Honorable City Council of Cartagena exercising its constitutional and legal faculties decrees:

Article # 1:

Establish as a fundamental for the recovery of religious principles in the city of Cartagena, the practice of prayer and brotherly hug at the beginning of all daily activities in the local government entities, public and private companies, educational institutions, Police Stations, Military Stations, Assemblies and Stakeholders meetings, Malls, Radio Stations, Taxi Cabs Offices, Union Organizations, and in the family.

Article #2:

Establish the date of the Independence of Cartagena to practice of prayer for the city through massive events in public places with the organized participation of the various Christian denominations with presence in our city.

Also, I went to the schools and health center in Barranquilla and a pre-school in Cienaga. In Santa Marta, I had also a very unique experience in a farm bought by a Colombian family in San Antonio, TX to host orphans. They produce organic food and are in the process to be self sufficient.

I cannot choose which project impacted me the most. The project in Cartagena is a dream come true and a testimony of how things should be done for God in the middle of a very under privileged neighborhood. The city wants to use CDA’s model to be replicated and make it part of several programs around the city to fight poverty in the next four years.

In Barranquilla I was impressed on how a small church without resources built a school and the members took turns to teach because they didn’t have money to hire teachers.

In Cienaga, I saw one of the poorest areas I have ever seen. One of the biggest Banks in the country just visited the pre-school and they want to help us with the resources. Only God can do it.

Santa Marta is not a CDA project but what these families are doing in San Antonio, TX to keep the farm running and see the kids crossing the river bare foot every day to go to school just crunched my heart.

The testimonies and the lives transformed are so common that people kind of get used to it. I think I am the only one who gets excited every day and I want to keep it that way. It changes the perspective about our little desires and silly complains.

I am working on promoting the child sponsorship program and my goal is to cover 1,000 kids by the summer. I believe He will give me the ideas, contacts, anointing, help, support, etc. to accomplish it. It’s not easy for me but a piece of cake for Him.

Please keep me, CDA, and these communities in your prayers. So far, your prayers have given me the strength and the enthusiasm to start every day as the first one. Also, for the Child Sponsorship program “Toma mi Mano” (“Take my Hand”) to reach the small goal of 1,000 kids sponsored.

I encourage you to see the web albums from Cartagena and Barranquilla to see the pictures. They speak more than these words.

In His love.

Colombia’s Rating List

Food 10

What can I say? You have to come.

Ice Cream 15

I have to confess my sin. I am addicted! Pray for me.

Weather 10

Beautiful! I hope it last forever.

Traffic 1

I don’t want to talk about it.

Appointments 1

Nobody is on time. I’m sorry but I hated!