“Vision and Gift of Presence” Colombia 2024

We invite you to join us on a “Vision and Gift of Presence” mission trip to Colombia in late May 2024. Colombia is a country inhabited by warm and wonderful people often living in desperate circumstances. The trip will go to Bogota, Soacha and nearby areas where we will visit and work with various institutions and facilities which support individuals, families, and children. You will have the opportunity to develop friendships and build relationships with many of these people; truly a two-way blessing! You will visit schools, a community development center, and a basic skills training facility. You will participate in school and home visits which will allow you to see and understand the conditions from which these beautiful children come. The team will also visit a children’s home and an orphanage. The trip is intentionally designed to help participants begin to see needs existing in a variety of situations and environments. It is then for the Holy Spirit to direct and convict each participant individually.   

The Bogota metropolitan area has a population of over 11 million people. It’s located in the Andes range, about 8,700 feet above sea level. The area around Bogota is varied and beautiful. Bogota itself truly represents “A Tale of Two Cities”. On the one hand, Bogota is an exciting and vibrant city; on the other, poverty is not far away.  No matter, you will find the people warm and welcoming. Spanish is the principal language and the currency is the Colombian peso (COP).  

Trip Costs and Air Travel:

The total cost of the trip for one week, including airfare, is $2,500/person, which includes meals, lodging, and transportation while in Colombia.  We will fly from Bush International Airport in Houston (IAH) to Bogota (BOG). Currently, United Airlines is the preferred carrier. The flights will leave on Saturday May 25th, with a flight time of about 5 hours. The return flight will depart Bogota June 1st. You will need a passport!

Trip Objectives:

There are multiple objectives for this trip, largely dependent upon one’s previous experience on the mission field in Colombia:

1. Introduce new American missionaries to the foreign mission field. This is the “vision” part of the experience, where participants are introduced to new experiences, see and understand other people’s needs, and have the opportunity to interact with people from other countries and cultures. 

2. Allow veterans to renew their passion for Colombian missions and reestablish relationships with residents, staff, and associates living and working in Colombia.

3. Serve as ambassadors of the United States, but more importantly, of our Lord Jesus Christ to the people we meet. This is, in part, the “gift of presence” aspect, coming not as superiors but as humble equals seeking to help, not hurt.

4. Interact and work with Colombians from various churches and institutions to further the objective of aiding families, children, and at-risk youth to assimilate and become functioning members of Colombian society.

5. Establish and maintain relationships with various institutions, foundations, and churches.

6. A contingent of participants will also provide Christian apologetics training for students of Conviventia’s God is Love schools before they graduate from secondary school.   

While the trip is cosponsored and supported by Conviventia, we work closely with and will introduce you to these other foundations: 

Nina Maria 

Asociacion Hogar Nuevo Amanecer (New Dawn Home)

Lifeline Children’s Services.

This trip is open to participation by any interested person.  We would love for you to join us and hope you prayerfully consider this opportunity.

For additional information you may contact:

Dave Beach 

(618) 980-5965

limestoneridge.landcattle@gmail.com

Curt Marusik

(713) 320-6547

crmarusi@gmail.com

Extended Opportunity: For those interested, a second week is planned to visit the northern cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla.  Both cities located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Cartagena has a rich colonial history and is a tourist mecca. Barranquilla is a major port and industrial city.  This trip will focus on working with the Conviventia schools in both cities.  Ask either Dave or Curt for additional information.

Why Colombia?

We are often asked this question.  Here are some to the reasons among many others:

1. Colombia is the least evangelical country in the Western Hemisphere (estimated 10.7%).   

1. Due to a history of violence, unrest, active drug cartels and paramilitary activities, Colombia has the highest or second highest percentage of displaced peoples in the world (6.8 million people, over 13% of the total population).  This has only increased over the past several years with the influx of Venezuelan refugees.

1. It is the sex trafficking hub of the Western Hemisphere (accurately depicted in the recent movie – The Sound of Freedom.

1. The most strategic country in the Latin world.  As Colombia goes so goes all of Latin America.

1. Population of Colombia – 52,180,000. Size 2 X Texas, or Spain and France combined.

Conviventia – Pursuing Sustainable Transformation

We fight poverty at its root: breaking away from the poverty mindset. We work from the individual to the collective level to empower people to become agents of change and transform communities.

For us – Knowing Christ and Being on Mission

For the people of Colombia – Working to transform the lives of Colombia’s most vulnerable people. Four interdependent programs:

1. Education – (CDA schools focus on holistic development and Child protection across some of Colombia’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

2. Income Generation – vocational training centers provide life-changing employability and entrepreneurship opportunities to thousands of Colombians.

3. Family & Leadership – Working with both individuals and families.  Projects help people become agents of change in their community and focus on intervention and counselling to strengthen and heal family dynamics.

4. Humanitarian Aid – Projects consist of medical brigades to provide emergency assistance across Colombia, whether due to sudden disaster or an ongoing lack of access to health care or basic needs.