Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Adventures during our long trip through South America

Ana* called us in panic: “The whole camp is underwater, everything is soaked, pray for the rain to stop and please come and help us!”



Ana is a young doctor who is a refugee from Venezuela, together with her 2 children, 3 sisters, 2 brothers-in-law and 5 nephews and nieces. They have now lived for 6 months in the city of Boa Vista in northern Brazil, where thousands of refugees have fled into UN camps.

But all the official camps were full when they arrived. The only option was to invade an old abandoned country club where they made some temporary shelters with tarps and sheets of plywood. Together with 400 other refugees, they took up this challenge—it was their only viable option.


Leading a refugee camp together with 4 Indian chiefs
It is a very mixed group, because in addition to a group of Venezuelans, there are also indigenous people from 4 different tribes that were among the first groups to flee Venezuela. Ana is a leader of the camp, together with the four tribal chiefs. Next to the entrance gates, in an attempt to maintain law and order, they posted a sign that says: “Welcome, but here drugs and alcohol are forbidden, and after 10:00 it should be quiet, etc.”

In contrast to the refugees in the regular UN camps, they don´t receive food, clothing or electricity…. They must fend for themselves.

During our time in Boa Vista we and our students have been able to help in two non-UN camps, through practical assistance and children’s programs. Both camps have a population of about 400 adults and 150 children.


Assisting in Ana´s camp was more complicated, as the refugees not only spoke Spanish, but also the four different tribal languages. Each of the 5 groups had taken possession of a separate part of the former country club. Using tents, tarps and discarded construction materials, each claimed their territory.

Ana’s family of 6 adults and 7 children slept on the floor of an improvised cabin that had only three walls made of tarps. The front was totally open. During the hot dry season with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), this worked reasonably well, but now the rainy season has started!

A tropical rainstorm
“All our clothes are soaked and there is a river gushing through our cabin!” Ana cried on the phone.


Together with our students we made an emergency plan, and within a few hours we were able to help. Equipped with hammers, shovels, cords, tarps and garbage bags, we went to work. The family had already raised the floor of their cabin with some sand, and quickly our handy students helped them stretch out a big blue tarp in front of the cabin to fend off the worst of the rain.


Two of the tribal groups hadn´t suffered too much from the rain, as they had been able to camp under the roof of the old structure. But most hadn´t been so lucky. One of the tribes had put up their hammocks without any tarps covering them from the rain. For them and some of the other worst-hit families, we were able to put up some tarps for protection. Of course, it was only a temporary solution, but it was touching to see how grateful they were for our effort. And when we came back a few days later to do a program for the children, we were received with open arms.


150 children in groups on the floor
A program for the children in an open space with no tables, no chairs and kids that speak 5 different languages—how do you do that? Well, it is always amazing to see the flexibility of our students😊.


Eight big tablecloths were bought for the kids to sit on, and when they arrived, each received a sticky label with their name and age. They were divided into 6 age groups, with the oldest kids divided into boy’s and girl’s groups. Then the program could begin!


Johan and I had already been teaching the students for a few weeks, and they had prepared a wonderful attractive program adapted for different age groups. It was great to see how easily the kids from 5 different ethnic backgrounds mixed. Time flew and before we knew it, three hours had passed.


The students were enthused and inspired:
“I didn’t know it could be so much fun! I always thought that a program for children consisted of loud singing and jumping around with a whole big group. But dividing the children in small groups is so much nicer—I even got to learn all the names of the children in my group!”


The YWAM base in Boa Vista is just starting. They have a strong commitment to work with tribal peoples and with refugees. It was a great privilege to be able to conduct a seminar there for a whole month.

170 students in our Children at Risk Seminar
We were also invited by the YWAM base in São Luis, a big city in the poor northeast of Brazil, to give a seminar. They have lots of contacts with local churches, and when they sent out the invitation, 170 students showed up to learn more about working with vulnerable children. It was wonderful to be able to teach such a big group of eager students on how to reach out to children and families who are the poorest of the poor.


After nine weeks on the road teaching in 5 different cities, we are finally back in Belo Horizonte for some quality time with our daughter Michele and her family before we travel to Peru next week for a seminar in Lima. The remainder of the year, we will be busy teaching in different cities around Brazil.

Next year: Children at Risk School in the Philippines
In the meantime, preparations are in full swing for the three-month Children at Risk School (taught in English) we will be giving in Cebu in the Philippines next year from April through June. Two years ago, we gave a two-week seminar there at the YWAM base.


If you know young people who would like to learn how to start a ministry for children in need, including the “why” and important issues for transformation, then please click here to receive more info and application forms. The cost of this school including room and board is US$1,500.00 for the three-month lecture phase.


Grateful
Thanks to those of you who have stood with us through all these years. Your prayers have carried us, your encouragement has motivated us, and your gifts have sustained us in our needs. We are so thankful that we can reach out together with you to needy children and their families. We remember you in our prayers and wish you God´s richest blessings,

Much love from Johan and Jeannette
*Ana’s name has been changed to protect her identity.


Prayer points
  • Let us pray for the millions of Venezuelans who have fled their country. Pray that the churches in neighboring countries will not look the other way but reach out with helping hands.
  • Pray for those two refugee camps in Boa Vista that are not under UN control, where there is great need.
  • Pray for Ana and her family. That her doctor’s certificate will be recognized in Brazil and that she and the adult members of her family will be able to find good jobs and housing.
  • Pray for the classes we will be giving throughout 2019 in Peru and Brazil.
  • Pray for preparations for the Children at Risk School next year in the Philippines.
  • Give thanks for sustained health.
  • Give thanks for the students we’ve been able to train and motivate for work with vulnerable children.
  • Please pray for my sister and her family. My brother-in-law passed away very recently.

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