Photo update

Here are some pictures of recent work with the local kids. Our neighbor, Louis, behind us is from Bogota, and works with kids in our area.




Kids after a study at the Louis' house

Saturday morning sports

 

 



































A friend of our blessed us with some fish from his latest catch, they normally go out 4 days and nights. This is our families favorite type, it looks like a lot but we ate this for lunch.

The kids liked the rainbow and the lightning storm in the same day

 We are also working on a guest house for visitors, it is one bedroom one bath.

This week we will be getting windows, and be doing the floor.








We also took pictures of our street to present to the community and local organizations. Our barrio is collectively working together to try and make the street more usable.

Question: What do you think this picture is?

here are before and after shots of our outdoor living area
Before:

After:

Answer to the above shot: Electrical wiring to a house from the main line on the pole. This was taken on the street, and that is a street light attached to the barbed wire for light at night.

Thanks for keeping up with us!
love the Ariels

 



Quick Update!

Hello all-

 We have updated the blog a bit, and added a donate button for the filters. There is also a designated page for the filters if you want more information on them. We also have a links for other folks who are partnered with us. If you would like to partner with us here in Bocachica let us know and we can add you to the links.

                   The cost for the filter with training is $50.00 USD

If you have any questions let us know!

Thanks for all your support everyone.

The sun was warm but the wind was chill. 
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.
                                                          Robert Frost





  I think of home and how temperamental the weather can be. I read the posts on facebook and smile and think of how those things we do not have to experience we actually miss. Our temperature here seems to stay at a constant 88 degrees and the signs of spring for us are the fruits that come in and out of season. 

This month we have completed the first phase of electrical for the mission El Shadday. A large project that has not only blessed them to have electrical up to code but in return has blessed us with new relationships with those who work there, and chance to teach the local electrician how to properly install the wires. Through this process God has also opened a place where we can hold our weekly English classes.


We are building a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom guest house. We would love to have the opportunity for family and friends come to visit us. 

brick for the latrine.

April 21st we celebrated Patrick's 4th birthday! He is such a sweet natured child! We are very thankful for him! We celebrated his birthday by going to the "Walled City" in Cartagena and looked at all the cannons and artillery. He loved every minute of it!

The girls have been busy cooking up a storm. There is no bakery for cakes here on the island. The girls have expanded their business to vanilla, carrot, pumpkin, and coffee cakes to go with their famous banana bread. They are enjoying this ministry and enjoying getting to know those in the community more through their love of cooking. Many from the community also enjoy cooking with us. 

Our English classes keep growing. We are excited for those who join us in learning a second language. It is a great skill that can be learned and in the future help those who want better paying jobs.


On April 22nd we had the privilege of going to another wedding here on the island. It is always a blessing to see 2 become 1 in the eyes of the Lord. 

The men work to get the filter out of the mold.

Luis Medina and family are thankful for their water filter. Sponsored
by a church bible study in Germany.

If you would like to support us monthly, support the water filter project, or give a one time donation, send donations to:

Antioch Community Church

P.O. Box 40 Elon, NC. 27244

Write Colombia in the memo line.

We are blessed to serve the Lord here in Bocachica. Thank you all for your prayers and support. 

Blessings to you all!

Love the Ariels

Have you heard about our water filter project? We want provide clean drinking water to those here on the island. You can help sponsor a family at low cost. These bio-sand filters are energy free, long lasting, with little or no maintenance.  With sponsorship, filters include classes for all family members to understand proper hygiene and sanitation. Skills and understanding can change the future of Bocachica. Would you like to help? 

Email us at Ariel.family.mission@gmail.com 
for more information on how to help.

Interview with Danier

This week I wanted to do something different for an update; I think this may be a monthly tradition so that you all can get to know more of the people here. Some of you may remember some of these people from your previous visits.

I would like you to meet Danier. I met him while I was working at the mission and since moving to our house he is one of our daily visitors. Danier is a 13 year old boy who moved to Bocachica three years ago. He was shuffled from his Dad's house now to live with his mom and sister in a 1 room house. His nickname here on the island is Michael Jackson. He knows his dance routines by heart and loves the attention he gets when he portrays him. Danier is known for his loud, goofy personality. But here in my house, he is just the opposite. He is kind, respectful, and loves to be helpful. Don't get me wrong, he still loves to be crazy, but if ever I correct him, he stops whatever he is doing and listens to what we say. I see such potential in him.

Danier's life is a difficult one. His mom is deaf. She works long hours doing massages and hair braids at the beach in Bocagrande. He goes to school at 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., then afterward roams the streets of Bocachica. 

Danier and his sister Dory.

 I asked him what are  some of the things he enjoys most about living on the island.  "I think Bocachica is a paradise. Animals can walk free here; we are close to other islands. This island is full of history and the background of slavery is something I enjoy learning about."  He also mentioned that he enjoys the fruit that is available for grabs on the trees. Danier mentioned some of his hopes and dreams for the future of Bocachica would be that people could have cars here on the island. And that children here would learn to have more respect, but he said he thinks they can only get that by having more education.

I wanted to know what are some things he would like to see change on the island and things that may be difficult for him living on the island.  He said the men here who fish work hard and many times they come home with nothing after a day of work. Also those who work a trade here on the island (like jewelry making) don't get enough money and that makes life hard here. For him personally he said he doesn't like that there are drugs on the island. He said if he is out walking late at night people will try and offer him drugs and he just has to ignore them.

Danier mentioned during my interview that he would like to be a police officer when he gets done with his schooling. Not just your normal police officer, but one who specializes in rescuing and emergency situations.

I ended my interview with the question of how my church, family and friends could pray for him. He asked for prayer for his safety. He would like God to protect him during the night.

Thanks for your time reading about a friend of our family.
If you think of him please lift him up in prayer.
Blessings,
The Ariels

Happy Resurrection!

   This time of the year may be my most favorite, I know we need incarnation as part of salvation, but something since my childhood has captured me every time about this season. In New England there used to be a sense of energy this time of year. The dark and snow finally melting away. This is the time when the animals all cooped up in the barn all winter long get to finally come out. I remember even our old milk cow would jump and buck the first time she came out the door. The sheep seemed to skip with all four feet off the ground! The freedom, sun, new green grass all seemed to excite everything! The parallels to Easter are noticeable. Well there is the food also, usually bagels for Easter breakfast with all the toppings bacon, cream cheese, olives, jellies, ham, and more.  Our swollen eyes with sleep still sticking in corners saw the colored eggs all the little ones had painted and dyed looking glorious on the table. We walk slowly our to the front yard to sing and watch the sun rise. Greeting everyone with, "He is Risen" and the replies, "He is Risen indeed."

 The focus is on Christ's action, He has ended the darkness. Conquered death and in the covenant of communion we are unified and remember this. The glory of the world echoes the glory of the Lord. Passion week, the week of suffering is culminated in triumph! He is Risen!

 This year in Bocachica, the earth is still waiting, we are waiting expectantly, creation is anxious. Look at the cereza trees, there are a few little cherries the little boys pick. The ciruelas are green and hard and shriveled. Some of the bushes are sprouting premature leaves. They know it is coming, we heard the little sprinkling of rain on the tin roof the other morning, there are thick clouds now. The fisherman say for sure though the rain comes in Semana Santa. The vegetation will become alive, the ciruelas will fatten and ripen, and new life will be seen across the island. This time we will be at the beach with colored eggs, and fruit, greeting each other with, " He is Risen", and replying, "He is Risen indeed!
   May the Lord Bless you, and may you, "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever." (2 Peter 3:18)

Photo journal of Bocachica

I was thinking of posting a special newsletter for my nieces Josephine (10) and Meredith (8) on what life looks like here on the island. Once I started taking photos, I thought I would share it with you as well.

Please pray for Yoryani. She is a woman who Antioch made a latrine for in January. She was cooking on the carbone cooker and the pan dumped hot oil all over both legs. She has 3rd degree burns down both legs and both feet. Please join me in praying for her. She is in a lot of pain and the Doctor has to scrape the dead skin off daily.

This is the carbone cookers they use to cook with. Most people here on the island don't have stoves. They normally fry everything.

A boy trying to help the family buy selling this mornings catch.

And some even have play station.

Don't let their poverty fool you. Some find it necessary to have Direct T.V.

This is what it looks like to go fishing. A small wooden boat in the open ocean.

This is where we get our boat taxi's to bring us to Cartagena, about 20 minutes away by boat. However, sometimes you have to wait for a hour + for the boat to fill up before it will bring you.

There are no grocery stores here on the island. Just small Mom and Pop type stores. Nate and I call this Wal-Mart. :) Normally once a week Nate and I walk 1/2 mile to this store for a date. We share a coke and enjoy some time talking on the way home.

We share the streets with all types of animals. Cows, chickens, goats, donkeys and of course pigs.

This is the church we go to weekly. The bottom is the church the top is the pastor's house.

Making fried plantianes for breakfast.

Women here work all day making simple shell necklaces that will be sold for .50 cents each.

People waiting for their breakfast to be cooked. Normally fried plantains, meat and juice.

One of the most common things kids play with on the island.

This is how we transport our water in Lattas.

Our garbage truck

The kids here use brooms for horses

A wrap up of our week with Antioch Community Church and friends!

We have been blessed by Antioch Community Church putting together a team of 14 individuals to come down for 8 days. Not only did they provide physical labor and help the community by building 2 latrines and 2 floors, but they provided our family with unconditional love. Words do not adequately express our hearts; but never -the- less we will remember their love towards us.   The actual face to face contact was so meaningful, especially after months of only having contact through Facebook and emails. We also send a big "Thank You" to family and friends who sent items included in the bins of necessary supplies and tools, as well as the comfort foods from home.

Rob Mancuso's photo: The team mixing concrete.

Proyecto Libertad photo: Team putting the top on the latrine.

What is the value of short term missions or missionaries in general? It is brothers and sisters physically working, disciplining, and enjoying time with one another. The value is concrete. God in Christ chose to become human alongside us, and this action in eternity gives us value. We imitate this when we go to others in this same manner. We participate with Christ by coming close physically with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and at the same time preach Christ--in a personal manner--to those who don't know Him.

To the team from Antioch: Thank you for the time and money you sacrificed to come here; for blessing the community of Bocachica; and for sharing the gospel with those who don't know it, or are not mature in it. It gives us joy to be part of this work.

To all of our friends and family: Thank you for your encouragement, for your support, and for your prayers. We leave you with this prayer; notice that it is both for us as individuals and also for us as the church, but it is an Action of God toward us! (I know it is a re-run for those of you who were here.)

Ephesians 1: 15-23:

¹⁵ Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding^[c] being enlightened;

that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

²² And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

God bless you all,

With love,

Nate, Tara, Valerie, Alicia, Jaiden, Kristen, Nathanael, Patrick and Vincent