Merry Christmas

Our family would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas along with a  happy,healthy New Year. We have been blessed to work this past year in Bocachica. We have seen the Lord use our ministry here on the island. We have established closer friendships with the community, been involved in the local church and have opened our hearts and homes to those whom we serve. Thank you all who play a role in us being here. We appreciate everyone of you. We hope you all have a wonderful day remembering the gift the Lord gave to us all!

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14 (NKJ)

 

 

With love from our family to yours,

The Ariels

A Sorrowful Day

"Bar-ba-row" that is what they called him, but his name is Elias David. He was 18 years old and lived with his aunt. His parents haven't cared for him since he was young, his dad is a drug addict and his mother works in another country. He worked with us here at the house on a number of occasions, and we talked with a lot about life and what he should do with it. He didn't go to school because he was kicked out two years ago for stabbing someone.
 Today his life was cut short as a result of revenge from the family of the person he stabbed.

 It is sad that the violence of revenge doesn't solve the problem, now, of course, the other family wants revenge. To stop the cycle someone will have to forgive. Pray the Lord can work in the lives of these people to reconcile them to each other.

 When we woke this morning we didn't expect Elias to be dead, we thought there would be more time. He was young and so there would be time for him to get his life straightened out. If you have people in your life that need your help, or you need to reconcile with- don't wait! We don't know the number of our days.

courtesy of Anne Allweier

The influence of the past

courtesy Amos Archer

We work with African descendants from the Spanish colonization of Latin America. I wanted to share further the connection of reality and the way it can form how we spiritually see the world. Our worldview is formed by our physical reality in some cases. The physical slavery of the Africans here formed the culture that still thrives today. Not because they are still enslaved, but because they still are viewed as inferior and not fully accepted into society. The result is, in general, in most African communities in Colombia is to live life for the day. They work enough to make it for the day, many that come here notice and are concerned about their lack of concern for the future. Americans especially are taught to know where you want to be in five years. Have a retirement plan.
 The view of a slave is that this life is a punishment, so get through the day and get what you can get. This is the view of the culture of the African communities. Considering that most of the communities are separated from the main public square they haven't changed in 200 years.
 You may say that seems to be a stretch, but if you ever are here in Bocachica when there is a death you will see the tradition still alive. Death here is sorrowful for the old people, but the young people here sit outside the houses and have a party for about a week. They get benches and tables , play cards and dominoes, and have snacks. Why do they party, because the one who died is free. He has gone to a better place. Life is seen as something you have to bear until you can get out. A friend of mine asked a boy if he was Christian and going to heaven and he said - of course. My friend asked how he knew. The boy said that every funeral he has been to they always say he (the dead person) is in a better place now. So of course he will be there to. Actually, although not practiced anymore, they used to cry and mourn when a baby was born because of it's destiny.
 As a result of slavery and the isolation from society, the reality of life has informed the culture, and now in dealing with the problems of the culture it is hard to change the what they have been familiar with for so long. It has penetrated even to the politics of the island so that they are easily pleased through corrupt government. If they have enough for today, it's OK. The big corporations here are destroying the environment for the fish and as a result the fishermen here don't have enough fish to make a living. The government has a contract with the corporations to train and work with affected communities so that they will have other options of employment when the fish are gone. When the business comes to "work" they pay off the community and its leaders with cheap gifts like bikes, canoes, food, and other things that are short lived. The people, however, love the gifts and are satisfied and demand nothing more. The people here don't know what they want for the future of the community, so the opportunity is being wasted.
 Being satisfied for the day is good, but at the same time they need responsible dialogue with the powers that be (Government or Corporations) to be able to have something for tomorrow. The gospel message speaks about being content, but it is also concerned with justice. If the gospel can renew their minds, perhaps Bocachicians will be able to demand what is right despite the history of injustice to them.

Reality impacts our spiritually

I want to do a few short blog posts about the development of culture and the affect it has on communities. These are simple observations, but have an impact on approaching other people. Knowledge of another person is important when trying to get to know them, not the history only, but the context. There are generalities that are seen when dealing with people groups, they are not absolute truths about the person, but could be the lens they see through.
 There is a Catholic article that shared an experience of a local priest trying to get the people of his Latin American congregation centered on God. They were involved in saint worship to the point of idolatry, even having alters set up to the saints to worship at. I don't want to discuss the nuances of the Catholic theology, but the cultural indications that were discovered. The priests eventually realized that they were not fighting the idol worship but a political mentality. To put it simply, the people were responding to God in the same way they respond to the reality they lived in. The way the people viewed the government influenced the way they viewed God. For example, they understood that God was sovereign, and this equates in reality to the governments claim to sovereignty.
 The governments of many Latin American countries have a history of corruption and elusiveness. Here in Bocachica it is very true. If you need the government to do something, good luck. Here they say that you need a contact. So to get what you need from the Sovereign you need good contacts. That is the reason for such a strong focus on Padrino programs, they are your connection to get the necessary items, sometimes even food and clothes. If you borrow money, you ask your boss not the bank. Not because the sovereign (the government or municipality) is bad, but it is too far away, takes too long, really it is unreachable even if the sovereign has your best interest in mind. You can see how this translates spiritually, God is good but unreachable in most cases, so you need good contacts, padrinos, an intermediary. When approaching this worldview (versus for example the American worldview), to change the culture for the better may involve redirecting these cultural norms that have existed for a long time, generations.

 This brings up the idea of the influence of powers and principalities. Sometimes the brokenness of society isn't answered with telling them to work hard, get a good education, or become like the worldview that I exist in. It would require restructuring the whole political system of a country to be like your country. The authorities have to be restructured to make the sovereign more approachable, and this may be the powers we struggle against to help the poor. The answer isn't making all countries the same per say, but changing the problems to allow the growth of a new culture that doesn't degrade or take advantage of the weaker part of society. If you are going on a short term mission trip, it is hard to learn the depth of the culture in a week. Helping is important, but for long term changes, it will take greater time and possibly confronting the powers and principalities that exist in the form of political injustice. Once there is room for change, the people have to be retrained to follow a direction they have never experienced. Next time we encounter a group that is different then our people group, we may need to take into account the context of their political history to know why they don't see things the same way we do. When we share, we need to be sure to give truth, and not our cultural preference attached that could become an additional burden to them even though it would make us feel more comfortable.

Churches- Eeny meeny miney moe

The other day my family was getting ready for church. While they walked off down the hill and I guarded the house, I thought about views on what church is. Do you ever think why or what made you go to the church you are at? How did you come to the conclusion this church was right for you and your family? Nate and I were talking this week about an article he had read, summarized, it said that maybe the reason why so many youth walk away from the church is because after their time in church from going to children's church and youth group is over, there is no other adult program for them. Most of the church and service activities are geared for the older majority of the church. So returning from college or just getting married, there is no program for them as a young adult. The author of the article said that perhaps there shouldn't be any programs so that expectation isn't there from the congregants that don't fit into a program, a commentator replied that their church thought the answer would be more young adult programs so that they would be included. In North Carolina there are so many churches that if you don't like your church, you can drive down the next block and you have another one to choose from. But, what if you only had one or two to chose from? What would your thoughts be about church? I certainly want to worship the Lord, and church is a public witness to those around us that we are Christians. With only a few to choose from here on the island I learned to look at church in a whole new light. What happens if we take what the church can do for me out of the picture and thought only about worshiping Him. Not what the church can offer our family, but how we can serve with the community in Bocachica. I have grown to love the church here on the island. I have seen the love the pastor has for the people of the church. I am in awe of how much the members spend time in church weekly. I notice the leaders have a strong desire to make this island better. I have noticed with only having limited choices for church I am more active in my desire to be part of the change. By the way this picture is not our church...it just shows the contrast. .

To the young in love....it gets better!

This month there are 2 young couples from our church in North Carolina who are getting married. I also just heard that a young man from our church got engaged recently. At times I feel like time stands still back home with us living here, but this is proof that time indeed goes on. I am thankful for the love these couples have for their mates. I am thankful for the blessing they will be to the ones after them as they walk through marriage and become the next generation to be looked up to.

To you young folks: Your enthusiasm for the next stage of life is refreshing. The butterflies you feel when your loved one brushes past you; when he holds your hand and makes you feel as if you are the only one in the world who matters to him; I love those feelings! The newness...the desire to do everything possible together. The joy of looking forward to spending days and nights with your loved one is exciting. That love, I remember: but the best thing about that love is that it only gets better. I have been blessed with 15 years of marriage and I can say with an honest heart that my husband has never been more attractive or more amazing in my eyes. I catch myself staring at him and thank the Lord that there is a man who I know better than anyone with whom I get to grow old. I look back over the 15 years we have spent together and I know my love for him tomorrow will be more. I love the fact that Nate knows how to make me feel loved and secure; how I can make him laugh over the silliest things; but it's that familiarity which is the best part of our relationship. The desire we both have to share our every thought with each other...it's not getting duller as the years goes on, it's getting more rich! So my dear friends who are entering into this season, enjoy every moment! Know that this excitement and love will turn into appreciation, zeal, respect, and dedication. It is a bond that will keep your love growing. I am thankful for that!

Top photo: David and Elisa Cobb Wed 11/16/2013 Bottom photo: Jordan Southern and Sarah Costello to be wed 11/30/2013

2 years have come and gone...(poof)

October 30th marked two years since our family moved to Bocachica. I can remember that day like it was yesterday: leaving the house my kids grew up in; the living room full of friends who would accompany us to the airport to say their goodbyes. It is a day I will not forget. I think back over these two years and can see how much the Lord has shown me; how much I have had to call on Him. I can see how my family has grown, how much my children have learned, and how many more people we now have a love for as a result of working here. We are blessed to be here, and thankful for your role in our lives here. With out your love, prayers, and support this work we are doing here would not be possible. Thank you all for all that you do!

So I was thinking of all the things I miss from the United States and what things I love about Colombia. I thought I would share my list with you all. (They are not in any order) :) 

Things I miss from the States:

1) My church! Antioch has a special place in my heart!

2) Green grass.

3) Grocery stores--ones that have strict rules on how your meat is handled. You would be scared to eat meat here...not all stores have sneeze guards over their meat...anyone can touch it with bare hands....I won't go on!!! :) I miss that and also the variety of products you have in America!

4) The seasons! The weather is normally in the 90's daily...don't get me wrong; it's better than the cold...but at times every day feels like Groundhog's Day!

5) The City Park- What a treasure you guys have in Burlington. Once the ability to visit often is gone, you realize what a gift it is.

6) Hot water! Yes...it has been 2 years since I have had a hot shower.

7) Driving...The views you see while driving, and getting lost in your thoughts. I miss it!

8) The dishwasher....With 9 people in my family we seem to always be doing dishes. 

9) My kitchen table. I remember 4 or so years ago Nate bought me a nice, solid, wood table; one large enough to seat 9 people...no crack in middle, where, if the kids dumped their milk it would collect and spoil in the crack. We saved up for that table. I think my heart enjoyed it that much more because we waited for the perfect one. Well, I again am waiting and saving... I miss not having a table where we can all sit as a family and eat a meal. I know when I get another one it will be that much richer to me due to waiting on it. :)

10) Quietness. There are days I miss the still calm days in NC. where the only noise in my neighborhood was the squeals of my kids playing in the back yard.

Good things to miss. It is good to leave things you are familiar with to give you that extra appreciation of what was once there.

Now...on to the things I love about Colombia. (once again in no specific order)

1) The fruit! Americans: you are missing out on some good tropical fruits. 

2) Our church here! I have been blessed to see how our church calls those who live here to live for Him. The longer I am here the more I see the hearts of the people in our church and their desire for this island to be all that it CAN be!

3) Patacones and Queso...(fried plantains and cheese)  This is my favorite food in the city. I love them!!..and I am very thankful they are cheap! :)

4) For all of you who have visited me here...you will agree Colombia has awesome Coke-a-Cola! Oh yes...given to you in an ice cold bottle and made with cane sugar...it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

5) Arroyo! I think it is the prettiest beach I have ever seen and it is only a 15-minute walk from my house. The best part is normally when we go we are the only ones there; just our family. Our get away on the island!

6) The people. I have been blessed to meet some special people here! I could not imagine them not in my life. I will forever thank the Lord for these friendships!

7) Not having to wear socks or tie-up shoes. Yup; flip-flops are the way to go!

8) Luis and Adriana and family. They are missionaries from Bogota who live right behind us. They are a family of four. Their kids, Juan and Paula, get along so well with our children, and Luis and Adriana have been such good friends to us: ones we can look up to, have mature conversations about the Lord with, and work with together in this community.

9) Pan de Bono: It is a roll made out of yuka flour and grated inside is a salty, olive-like cheese that my taste buds love. And it's gluten free so my husband can enjoy bread once again.

10) Colombia has a laid back approach to things...not the same hustle and bustle as we once had living in the States. Living on an island not having any place to go makes you relax a bit...I must say I kind of like that.

So you see, while I have things I miss from back home, God gave us different things to enjoy. 

Please, if you could take time to pray for us for our next two years living here on the island we would be grateful:

That all we do here in Bocachica would glorify the Lord.

For our water filter project. That as we help those with the need for clean water, we can share the Word with the families, and that seed would be planted.

For our English classes: That the children would come with the desire to learn and the dedication to practice. 

Pray for our kids, that they would continue to stay in good health and that their schooling would continue to go well. 

For our projects around the house: That the honey-do-list would get smaller...vs. longer! :)

Information on how to support us: We are thankful to all who have supported us! If you would like to help our family and the work we do here in Bocachica, please send support checks to Antioch Community Church.  All giving is tax deducible. Giving can be mailed to Antioch Community Church, 1600 Power Line Rd. Elon, NC. 27244. Please write COLOMBIA in the memo line.

To all of our friends, thank you for you love, support and prayers for us. We of course miss you all so much! We think of you and pray for you often.

Love,
The Ariels

My thoughts on Bogota

This past month our family needed to travel to Bogota to renew our visas. However, before I even left the house my mind was preoccupied with how cold the temperatures would be. Once there I realized  there is more to Bogota than just the cold.

So here are my thoughts on Bogota:

1. Oh yes....it is VERY cold. I have lived in 90+ degrees for two years now. When I explain this to friends and family members I wonder if they think my body adjusting to the heat is an exaggeration, But when I say we live in 90+ degrees, that is all day everyday without air conditioning. My body has definitely gotten acclimated to the heat.  I went from 90 degrees to 66! Yikes. We wore on average 4 shirts, pants and 2 pairs of socks daily. I realized that flip flops with 3 young boys is the only way to go...I forgot the work that is involved for a mom when your kids wear sneakers. Oh, the amounts of times I had to stop and tie shoes. :)

2. With the cold weather I along with my girls enjoyed singing a Christmas carol or two...It felt like December to us.

3. I found out that my kids who have walked everywhere for the past two years have land legs.The buses are very full and travel very fast and with it's jerkiness and many stops my kids cried with sea sickness. Needless to say we seemed to have adequate room....I think my kids hanging their heads out the windows gave the other passengers an idea of what was to come.

4. I learned that having a passport for your 7 kids, with which we can leave the U.S.A with all 7 kids and live in another country with a visas issued from the Colombian government to all 7 kids...there can still be doubt with the Colombian government that these 7 kids in fact are all ours. This leaves Nate traveling back to Bogota this week with 7 birth certificates that will be translated by the government and legalized to say that yes in fact we do have 7 kids.

5. People here in South America are just like Americans; they become preoccupied when a large family walks by, they use their finger and mouth the numbers to count our kids. Their actions are so obvious they could just ask the number...

6. I have realized when you live on an island with out vehicles you notice big city traffic at night.

7. Having grown up in Vermont for 22 years I find myself always enjoying the mountains. The beauty is breathe taking. It was a treat for our family to see green grass and clean streets!

8. We were blessed from the church in Bogota named Tu Presencia. They were more than hospitable; every aspect they could think to help us with they did. I am reminded over and over how if I did not listen to the call of being a missionary I would miss out on these wonderful relationships, these gifts with which the Lord has blessed our family with.

9. I have come to the conclusion that a time away does the family good. Now this wasn't really a vacation. We were always on the go, but at night sleeping in one room as a family sharing stories and enjoying one another's company was refreshing. Not having to cook, do chores, and entertain visitors was needed even if it was just for a short time.

With love,

The Ariels

A response to a week in Bocachica

   Rob Mancuso wrote a reflection on their trip here last week click on the this link to read the whole post. He has a good summary at the end, but read the whole post!

   "For me, each trip has a “lesson” or point that God really drills home and makes abundantly clear in my mind and soul.  The lesson for this trip was how important relationships are to God and how much He truly cares about how we love each other.  God laid John 13:35 on my heart right before home group, where Jesus says, 'By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.'"


 

September visitors

 This past week was is a good example of unity for us, we had five very different churches come together to work and serve in various ways here in Bocachica. Very different people with different skills joined in with the community here to build up the body of Christ. It was a great time of fun, work, and edification.
 The highlights for us were reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones. Like we always say it is more vacation than work when a group comes. They say a "team" is coming, but that word sounds cheap and insufficient considering the reality of the people who came. I can not relate in a post all the details of all the personalities present. The week was challenging and rewarding, both work and pleasure. All the work on the state side that made it possible, Nathan and Julie Heafner working to organize all the details. All the gifts from people that made the right hand not know what the left hand was doing, we can't thank everyone involved because we do not know all those who contributed to the work.


 Despite the usual tropical affects of new stomach bacteria and insect bites and plants that cause strange rashes, everyone survived in good spirits. I can't give a full report of all that was done considering we had folks working simultaneously and I don't even know what all was done, I went in between the guys working on electrical and carpentry. We had a few nights of group updates and fellowship to see what everyone had accomplished. I think a vision was cast before some because I heard of plans for next time, how to more efficiently use the time, and how to advance in better ways. This is encouraging because it is evident to me that it isn't dependent on us to meet the goals, they are equal laborers.
I can share a few pictures, but this is a peek at little of what was done, and by no means exhaustive:

Bob and Nathan doing the electrical of one of the widow's houses in the village.

Picture of the guys with one of the widow's who got a new door from Ja Doss and Payton Doss

Damaris and Rob working in El Shadday with the computers.

Ja and Charlene Snead with Eulis the translator visiting a house in the community.
Thank you to everyone involved in all the aspects it took to make this happen.

Chocolate and more

I love this quote from a while back, and thought of it when we received all the gifts from the Antioch Church back home. One of the highlights of the many things we got is chocolate. So for enjoyment:
    Posted by
The Fire and the Rose: A theology of chocolate

 

A Theology of Chocolate

1. Chocolate is a gift of God. Like rainbows, manna, tobacco, beer, and coffee, chocolate is an expression of divine favor toward humanity. “Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (Jas. 1:17).

2. Chocolate is an event of human freedom accompanied by God (concursus dei) within the covenant of grace. Chocolate is not part of the original creation. The raw elements are found in nature, but human action had to bring these together in order to produce the glorious bar of chocolate that we now enjoy. While human autonomy often leads to the destruction and perversion of nature, chocolate is a testament to the divine accompanying of human action within the covenant of grace between God and humanity.

3. Chocolate is a christologically grounded reality. The Christ-event is an event which reconciled the world to God (2 Cor. 5:19). According to Ephesians, this event “has broken down the dividing wall” between Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:14); according to Galatians, all of us are now “one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28); according to 2 Corinthians, “everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17). Chocolate is a manifestation of this reconciliation. Chocolate unites people from around the world in appreciation of its artistic and God-given taste; it carries on its own “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18) by resurrecting dead taste faculties and offering nougat-filled glimpses into the grace of God.

4. Chocolate is a concrete manifestation of the coming eschatological kingdom. In the coming kingdom, the Lord will reveal the new heavens and new earth in which “death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). Chocolate is a taste of the coming regnum dei. In anticipation of what God will accomplish for all, here and now chocolate “wipes every tear from their eyes.” Chocolate is thus a proleptic realization of the New Jerusalem, which “has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel” (Rev. 21:11). In its own small way, chocolate ushers us into the presence of the eschatological community, where we will gather around the messianic banquet table and feast together as the one people of God.

   by David W. Congdon

Friends~family

  "I believe that we ought so to love and trust God in our lives, and in all good things that He sends us, that when the time comes (but not before!) we may go to Him with love, trust, and joy. But, to put it plainly, for a man in his wife's arms to be hankering after the other world is, in mild terms, a piece of bad taste, and not God's will. We ought to find and love God in what He actually gives us; if it pleases Him to allow us to enjoy some overwhelming earthly happiness, we mustn't try to be more pious than God himself and allow our happiness to be corrupted by presumption and arrogance, and by unbridled religious fantasy which is never satisfied with what God gives. God will see fit to it that the man who finds Him in his earthly happiness and thanks Him for it does not lack reminder that earthly things are transient, that it is good for him to attune his heart to what is eternal, and that sooner or later there will be times when he can say with all sincerity, 'I wish I were home.' But everything has its time, and the main thing is that  we keep step with God, and do not keep pressing on a few steps ahead- nor keep dawdling a step behind."*
 This was written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer when he was incarcerated by the Germans during World War Two. In the context of this passage he was talking about the longing he had for family that he had been separated from, and distance in relationships over time. It was also Christmas time when he was writing this to his friend Eberhard.  Bonhoeffer uses the verse from Ecc. 3:15 as comfort: "God seeks again what is past." God holds time, and the relationships we have, I was reminded of this today when thinking of this past week.
  Today is Tara and I's 15 year anniversary of marriage, and we are together with our family which is a blessing. On the other hand our family had friends that we have known for a year leave, and we will probably not see them for a long time. It is an emotional time for our family to see friends leave, but this verse is a comfort to know that God holds all those experiences (in some translations God seeks what has been driven away). This, I think, will especially get truer as we get older and our memory start to gray these vivid times that we are in now.
 It was exciting to get to know Tine, Patrick, and Dani, missionaries from Germany, this past year. We got to know their strengths and weaknesses and they truly became like family. We heard about their young heart's dreams, shared in their growing up, and enjoyed their energy and help. So after a year, a bond is forged due to their separation from the familiar of their family and friends, and our family had adopted more family. We got to see them grow in the Lord as well as a result of the closeness.
 The truth and greatness of God holding these relationships is that we can live and enjoy to the fullest right now even if it short or long term. Not to rush them on or linger behind; "so that when we are seized by a longing for the past- and this may happen when we least expect it- we may be sure that it is only one of the many 'hours' that God is always holding ready for us."*
  We are going to live to the fullest here in what the Lord has given us. A bit of sadness for the Germans leaving, joy for 15 years for marriage, and excitement for our church coming from Antioch in a couple of weeks; not wishing for any part of this pass to quickly.
 Thank you to all who pray and support us here, and all those people from around the world who's lives have intersected with our family.
 
 *Dietrich Bonhoeffer,  Letters & Papers From Prison, pp.168-169

English Class Video

El Shadday English Classes

Pic Update

Our new business partner! Friends of ours will be using Tootoy to carry water up the hill.

The road project is still moving forward. The surveyor came last week to take the measurement so they can make us formal plans to present so we can raise the funds to put in the new road.

 Hannah Barbeito has been working at El Shadday, and also helping washing sand for the filters. She is also the big sister to our girls, and they do a lot together.

When Snoot Photography was here we helped with a presentation of their previous work for the locals to view. The use the pictures to teach the people, and present the gospel.

 A lone crab showed up in the kitchen scaring Mom, the girls and Hannah, however, took the opportunity to enjoy a mid-day snack of fresh crab legs.

Damaris on far right, with visiting friends from Chile on far left

 

 

Damaris is busy working at El Shadday with about 450 kids. She is  setting up things for them in the area of psychology. They need someone to counsel, evaluate teachers and kids, deal with the emotional issues, and complete the paperwork for the program. This is the first time they have ever had someone to work in this area. Most of the work is the first time it has ever been done, but she is the perfect person for the job because she did the same job in Chile at a school there.

 

 

 

 

Our apartment

Well folks, our apartment is "livable" but not finished. However, God has brought guests galore! :)

 Damaris, from Chile, a psychologist working at El Shadday, is living with us until the middle of Oct. We also picked up Hannah this week at the airport. She will be living with us until Oct. 1st working with us on our water filter project and assisting the teachers at El Shadday and helping with Louis and Adrianna's youth programs. We also have a team of 6 people from Snoot Photography in Medellin, Colombia camping out on our deck. They are doing video documentation about life on the island. Showing the need for change with trash and sanitation, the lack of clean drinking and bathing water and even showing the workmanship and hardships for those here on the island. They are helping us promote our water filter project by putting together a video for us. 

So here is a photo update to show you what "home" looks like for those living and visiting us. It is a joy to our family to have Damaris and Hannah live with us and to open our house to those who have the desire to help in this community. May God use us all for His glory!

Enjoy the photos!

Exciting news from Bocachica!

Exciting news from Bocachica! We are blessed to have Hannah Barbeito spend her summer break from teaching to work along side us in the community.  We asked her to share somethings about herself and here is what she has to say:

"My name is Hannah Barbeito. I live in the countryside of south central Pennsylvania.  I get to spend lots of time with friends and family! I love listening to music, enjoying the outdoors and anything fun, creative or adventurous! I work at a local Christian School as an assistant kindergarten teacher and In my spare time I enjoy doing community service."

Please join us in praying for her as she prepares to come.

In Christ,
The Ariels

English Students

Here is a video of our English students!

Breaking Curfew

 The other night I was late coming home from a meeting with Luis our neighbor. Late being 12:30 at night. Our wives were waiting for us as we came in like teens sneaking in after breaking curfew. They wouldn't have worried had we gone anywhere else, but we had gone to meet with a fellow here on the island that is a bit exceptional. We have been working on a project to upgrade the road here that runs from Luis' mission foundation behind our house to the clinic at the bottom of the hill. Due to the poor conditions of the existing road we could eliminate a lot of work if we had a bulldozer to roughly define it so we can put a permanent finish like concrete on it.
 There are not any kind of machines like this in the village, but a very wealthy guy near Playa Mamon is building a tourist destination. By wealthy I mean they have the area heavily guarded with dogs and men with automatic machine guns. Luis had talked to the head construction engineer, and we had a meeting with him before about the use of the bulldozer. When we entered the first time, we waited at the gate with the armed escort, after he called the engineer we were met at the door and he asked us if we study the Bible. Odd question, but considering he knew we worked with religious organizations I guess it is to be expected. We replied yes, and he asked if we knew a lot, and I answered it depends on who you ask. I asked why, do have a question, and he said he has lots of questions. We proceeded to a cabana and talked about various aspects of Christianity in general. After about an hour or so we ended the conversation and he concluded with he will ask the owner to be sure we could use the bulldozer when we needed it.
 I must say this is the first experience of conversing over spiritual matters meanwhile being interrupted by the guy with a machine gun who had questions for the engineer concerning work details. The reason for the amount of security is due primarily to the owners amount of wealth, I can't imagine living with that kind of fear that would require that kind of protection. The fellows with the guns aren't young clean cut military men, these guys look like they are experienced. It is hard to describe what that looks like, but you know what I mean. The owner doesn't have an entirely good reputation about the source of income either.
 So on our second meeting when we went at 6:30 pm and didn't return till 12:30, the ladies here at the house had their imagination help them with the possibilities of what  could have happened. There were no problems, the engineer had more questions, and it took more time to answer them. Sometimes when a man is lost he doesn't like to ask directions, this fellow may have the same problem. He knows a lot about the bible, but after asking the questions, he really doesn't want an answer. He has an answer that isn't satisfactory, but really can't receive a new solution either. As a result we have the use of the bulldozer to repair the road; our wives are happy again, as long as that never happens again. The Lord still has work to do on the engineer with all the questions.

Courtesy of Geoff Gentry

 

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.