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.

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