Walking With the Poor - Notes From the Field

MISSION AWARENESS TRIP TO COLOMBIA

July 30- Aug. 5, 2006

'My personal interest in Colombia'

I believe it was January of 1959 when my mother took me to the old airport in Kansas City for my first experience of flying and my first experience as a missionary teacher with the Christian Brothers in Cartagena, out on the Atlantic coast of Colombia. I immediately fell in love with the country and its people.

Life went on in God’s loving plan. Two lovely Colombian children entered my family when we legally adopted them, Gina Carolina at 5 months and Luz Miriam at 9 years old. Both are grown and married now. Gina works and prays for her husband Jason, who is currently serving with the U.S. Navy in Iraq. Luz Miriam lives with her husband, Brian, and daughter, Bailey, in Chicago. In the process of these adoptions and in the process of establishing the early footings for CFCA in Colombia, deep relationships were forged with these people. What a joy it is to be back in Colombia and to be able to bring along another group of wonderful CFCA members.

A shy little Colombian girl by the name of Florelia was the very first child to be sponsored in CFCA, by sponsors Bob and Cristina Hentzen. Today, the main CFCA centers are located in Bogota, Medellín (Antioquia and Madre Paula), Quibdo, Cali and Cartagena. I am thrilled to return to Colombia with this second group of sponsors on a mission awareness trip.

Colombia is a large and beautiful country, with superb mountain ranges, rolling, verdant hills and coastlines on both the Atlantic and Pacific. For many years, Colombia has struggled amid an atmosphere of unofficial civil war which involves government authorities, several powerful insurgency groups, drug cartels and paramilitary groups.

High above Bogota

We begin this day in the very high subprojects (Violetas 3,600 meters). Many of the 400 sponsored children up here have cheeks made rosy by the cold, wind and mountain sun. Some of the children walk up to one-and-a-half hours to go to school. The CFCA center has become “the place to be” for the children and teens. The young staff demonstrates a very loving and creative relationship with the children. Before leaving Violetas, we were able to accompany sponsor Joe on a visit to the home of his two sponsored children, Omar and Andrea. The father has a serious disability in both legs. He runs a small store in the front room of the house.

I was privileged to accompany Jerry in visiting the family of his sponsored girl, Francy. Mom, Dad and three lovely daughters make up this fine family. With the gifts which he had made or thoughtfully purchased, Jerry created an atmosphere of Christmas morning in this humble family. Today, Aug. 1, is the father’s first day of work after more than six months of unemployment. They are behind on several rent payments, as well as electric bills.

Pedregal and Fe y Alegria

At subproject Pedregal, Cecil’s sponsored boy, Yorman (age 12), played an original composition for us on the keyboard. We were later able to visit Yorman’s family. This became a touching family and neighborhood happening. Yorman’s seven-year-old sister, Hasleydy, charmed everyone, as did the grandfather’s stories of how he built this house and how things used to be.

At the present time, the Fe y Alegria (Faith and Happiness) School houses the CFCA program with 706 sponsored children and teens. Around 200 are enrolled in this school, 500 live in surrounding neighborhoods and attend different schools. In the afternoons and on Saturdays, the school facility comes alive with child-, teen- and parent-centered activities—a well-built and attractive facility.

Each morning and evening of a trip, we try to offer time for reflection and prayer. We are privileged to hear inspiring testimonies of sponsored children, youth, families and staff. Sponsors play an essential role in these gatherings.

Major Seminary—Cartagena

We are blessed with 23 sponsors of major seminarians in Cartagena. The bishop of Cartagena wanted to express his gratitude for the help to his seminarians. He personally led our Eucharistic celebration this afternoon in the lovely chapel of the seminary, located in Turbaco.

I will sign off for now and try to be in touch again regarding the August trips to Guatemala and Nicaragua. Thank you for traveling with us in solidarity and prayer.

God’s blessing.

Bob Hentzen
Cartagena, Colombia
Aug. 4, 2006