World Vision Visit, Cali, Colombia – May 15, 2011

This day was my only reason for going to Cali, Colombia and I was really excited about the visit and even nervous.  Since 2002 I have been sponsoring a child through World Vision and I was finally going to get to meet her and her family.  World Vision office staff in Canada and in Colombia have been working on the details of the visit for several months and finally it was about to happen.

Laura is my sponsored child and she is now 13.  She lives in a rural village just south of Cali, Colombia.  I was picked up at the hotel by the World Vision driver and staff member and a translator – Jhon (yes, that’s spelled correctly), Rosalba and Antonio.  We drove for about an hour to another smaller village where we went to the World Vision office and spent about half an hour meeting the staff, going over paper work, taking pictures, etc.   Everyone seemed thrilled about my visit and they made me feel very special.

We left the office and made the final journey to Laura’s village.  Another of the WV staff members was with us now and I’m so sorry but I can’t remember her name. (Isn’t that awful!?!   I really do need to write these blogs in a more timely manner.)  We stopped at the school just after 11 and went in to meet Laura there.  This was the last day of school and they were getting out early because the next week is a holiday for them, Easter Week or Semana Santa. 

Laura looked exactly like her last picture.  She is a beautiful young lady and was all smiles.  I think I was more nervous that she was.  With the help of the translator I saw the school, which only held a few rooms, and talked to a couple of Laura’s teachers.  They both said she was an excellent student and I believe them.  The classrooms looked like typical school rooms with individual desks and chairs and chalk boards at the front.  The rooms had walls and doors and also large windows along the length of the room on both sides and these were open to let the air in.  There was a covered cement area on our side of the building and that’s where most people were gathered, including the teachers who were all gathering their marking to take home.  I guess that part of a teacher’s job doesn’t change anywhere.

Laura joined us in the truck and we drove to her place.  Her home is at the top of a hill so we had to park at the bottom just off the road, which seemed to be hard for the driver I guess because the road and the gateway were so narrow and the road was gravel and rather wet so the sharp turn angling upwards was difficult.  He made it though and we all climbed up the hill to the home where the rest of the family was waiting for us.  I had been told that I was only going to meet Laura and her grandmother and it wasn’t going to be at their home but in fact I met everyone.  They were all smiling and very welcoming and there were lots of hugs as introductions were made.   They are a very warm and beautiful family and made me feel right at home.

Julio and Lucretia are Laura’s grandparents.  Julio built the home they live in and it was a beautiful home with a wonderful location and view.   Alexandra is Laura’s mother and she was very emotional throughout the day.  She had taken the day off work just to be home when I arrived.  She was very quiet but obviously very grateful for my support over the years and for my visit.  Brian is Laura’s little brother and he is six.  He was still in school when I first arrived so I think he was a bit overwhelmed by all the people at the start.  By the end he was enjoying himself and loved having his picture taken and looking at it after.   Laura’s aunt was also there and her two children.  I don’t remember being introduced to any of them so I can’t give you their names.  For the first while I thought the aunt was Laura’s mother and the little boy was her brother so I was rather confused.   They apparently live nearby and just came by for the visit.    Laura’s best friend, Jenifer, also came over for a while during my visit.

The home has a covered patio all along the front surrounded by a white picket fence.  There were several chairs on the patio and this is where we first stopped for some pictures and to talk.  When you stepped inside the house there was a large living room with cushioned couches and chairs and a TV.  It looked to be a very comfortable family room.  To the right there was a room with a curtain over the door and I believe that was Julio and Lucretia’s bedroom.  There was a white sheer curtain pulled back on the passageway between the living room and the dining room.  The dining room table and chairs would probably have sat eight for dinner.  To the right of the dining area was the kitchen area with sink, stove, fridge and cupboards.  To the left of the dining area was another bedroom with curtains in the door and windows.  There was a single and double bed in there and that was Alexandra’s, Laura’s and Brian’s room.  There were framed pictures of the children on the wall of that room and I think those were just about the only pictures I saw. 

Outside the back door there was another cooking area and Lucretia was cooking lunch out there.  The fireplace was three or four bricks high and the same wide.  Three sides were enclosed but not sealed so the air could get in between the bricks.  The fourth side was open and that’s where they put in the fuel.  It was small branches at the time and the unburned end was sticking out on the cooking area.  As needed, Lucretia would push the sticks in further to keep a hot fire going.  The pot she had sitting on the bricks was well blackened and I imagine it had cooked every kind of meal.  Today it was cooking a soup and the broth smelled delicious.  This area was also covered so Lucretia did not have to cook in the rain.   

The whole area around the house is fenced off and then other fences line the larger fields.  The dog or dogs were kept in the dog house while I was there because I guess they get really friendly.  There were chickens around the yard.  In the immediate yard there were also many fruit trees: papaya, lemon, lime, orange?  I don’t remember all of them but Julio looks after the trees and takes the fruit to market when it’s picked.  Lucretia wanted to send some lemons back with me but I wasn’t sure I’d get to use them.  I finally agreed I’d take a few and make some lemonade but in the end we both forgot about them so hopefully they enjoyed some lemonade instead.

The home was nothing new or modern but it was very comfortable.  The furniture was sparse and very old fashioned by North American standards but it worked just the same.  The house was immaculately clean and I certainly could have lived there.  I’m not sure I would have mastered the outdoor stove technique but otherwise it was just fine.  And of course they had a cell phone so they did have access to the outside world.  I never actually saw or asked about bathroom facilities but I assume there was some kind of toilet nearby, perhaps in one of the smaller nearby buildings.  I might have a little difficulty getting used to that arrangement.

At one point we took a walk outside and went further up behind the house to see more of the countryside.  The area is beautiful and very fertile.  The rolling hillsides are very green and lush looking.  It’s rainy season now so I’m not sure if it’s always this green.  The soil itself is very red and looks like a very loose loam.  Sugar cane is a major crop here and there is a sugar cane processing plant nearby where some of the locals work.  Fields are distinguishable by the trees that normally line the way.  There are numerous streams or rivers nearby and right now a number of them are flooded but not too seriously.  Throughout the landscape are small homes similar to Julio’s.    

It started to rain while we were out walking so we quickly made it back to the house and got Lucretia’s clean floor all dirty.  And as I write that I have to say that I don’t really know whether the floor was a dirt floor or a concrete floor.  If it was dirt, it was well packed and really clean.  I’m thinking it was something other than dirt because I remember thinking we shouldn’t be walking on it with our wet feet.  I probably wouldn’t have thought that if it was dirt.  Anyway, as in all homes when people get together, we seemed to congregate in the kitchen area and it was very comfortable there with everyone in one room – 8 family members, 1 friend, 4 World Vision staff members and me.  You certainly wouldn’t get that many people around my kitchen table or in my kitchen!

Lunch was delicious and reminded me of many of the lunches we had in Peru and Ecuador which are of course right next to Colombia.  The soup was delicious and it was very filling.  I can’t remember what the root stock is but it’s always delicious and then spices, potatoes, vegetables and chicken pieces are added.  The only strange thing about it is that they add the whole chicken piece bones and all.  It certainly makes it easier to cook and prepare but it makes it a bit hard to eat with a spoon.  The chicken is always very tender though so it’s worth the hassle of eating it out of a broth.  Along with that we had a plate of rice and salad and both of those were also very tasty.  I was definitely full when finished and I seemed to be the last one finished.  Only the World Visions staff, Julio and I actually sat at the table and ate the meal.  Some of the children had already eaten earlier and some were eating later I guess.  There was lots of room at the table but only the six of us ate at that time.   

I think it was after Brian got back from school and before lunch time that we exchanged gifts.  I wasn’t sure what to take but was thinking of school supplies and books.  I asked World Vision Colombia what would be most appropriate for Laura and the family and said I was open to anything: school supplies, food, clothes, live chickens or whatever.  They replied and said that the family wanted clothes and gave me sizes for Lucretia, Alexandra, Laura and Brian.  I thought I was only meeting Lucretia and Laura but decided to buy for all four since they had given me all the details.  I did the shopping in Panama City before I flew out, at the huge department store at the corner (as described in a different blog).  Luckily the young clerk had some ideas on what to buy because I certainly didn’t have much of a clue.

Anyway, I presented their gifts and I think they were pleased with them.  Only Brian seemed rather bored with the whole thing but then what six year really wants to get more clothes as a present.  Besides, they had told me size 8 for him so everything was way too big.  They didn’t take any time to model the clothes so I hope they fit.  And if they don’t fit I hope they feel free to trade them or sell them so they can get something else.  I felt bad that I didn’t have anything for Julio so I just gave him a big hug and everyone thought that was pretty funny.  Of course I also didn’t have anything for the aunt or cousins or friend but they seemed to understand.  Laura gave me a hand-made card and picture frame, which I’m now trying to protect in my backpack so I can put her picture in it when I get home.  Hopefully it survives the trip okay.

 

After lunch we went to hear a band practice.  World Vision organizes this and helps to provide the instruments and the band leader and then three different groups from three different communities practice and perform.  Laura is not in the program but would like to be.  However, I’m not sure she will ever be in the band because some of them have been playing for several years and she has never had the chance to try an instrument so probably wouldn’t be at the same level as the other people.  They were late starting so we sat around and waited for a while.  They all have to walk to practice so with the rain they were a bit slower in arriving.  We listened to several songs and they were pretty good.  They definitely needed more work but that’s what practice is for.  I think they were going to be playing for one of the events during next week’s Semana Santa.

The World Vision staff member suddenly asked me to say a few words to the group so it was kind of a spontaneous talk about how much music means to me and how singing or playing the piano always takes my mind off other things.  I congratulated them for being there and encouraged them to continue with their music as I believed music was very beneficial and it would be something they would have with them forever.   The staff member wanted me to sing something for them but I didn’t.  I wasn’t sure I could do that but now I wish I had.  I’m sure they would have been a very understanding and accepting group but I was there to hear them play not to have them listen to me sing.  At the end the staff member asked the group if one of them wanted to say anything about what the band meant to them and one of the guys stood up and gave a short talk about how he used to be very frustrated and angry and was getting into trouble but now the music calms him down and he has learned to deal better with other things in his life.  It was a good talk on one of the benefits of the program.

Following that we went back to Laura’s house to say our goodbyes and head back to Cali.  Once again there were lots of smiles and hugs from everyone.  I should also mention that when we left for the concert Brian started crying but I didn’t know why.  He was apparently upset because he couldn’t go because we didn’t have any more room in the truck.  So eventually we took just about everyone with the adults in the truck cab and the kids and Julio in the back.  Julio is of course the oldest one in the whole group but he was up and in the back of the truck with no trouble at all.  According to World Vision he is around 80 years old but it’s hard to believe as he seems much younger.

We arrived at Laura’s school about 11 a.m. and probably arrived at her home around 11:30.  We went to the band practice at 3:00 p.m. but it was running late so by the time we got back and said our goodbyes and departed for Cali it was probably 4:30 p.m.  What I thought was going to be a short meeting turned out to be a full-day event and it was wonderful.

I don’t know what else I can say about the visit except that it was truly wonderful and the family made me feel very welcome.  I wish now that I had said so much more while I was there.  In fact I’m not even sure what I did say and what I didn’t, and working through a translator always makes it even more complicated.  The family treated me as someone very special and they were all dressed for the occasion.  I can’t forget Julio when we left for the band practice.  He went to get his hat and it was a beautiful white or light straw Panama-style hat and he looked quite dapper in it.   Julio was the most talkative of the family and kept a lot of the conversation going.  He also said grace and a lengthy prayer as we were leaving.  I have to confess that I didn’t get much of it because Julio was on my right (the good ear) and the translator was to my left (the bad ear) so I didn’t hear much of the translation.  I do think I got the gist of it though and it was clear to see why Julio is the rock that holds the family together.   Lucretia is just as dedicated to the home and family but definitely much quieter.  Alexandra is your typical working mom who is grateful for all the help and support she gets, and the children are beautiful children, very well mannered and obviously eager to learn.  Laura is learning English and if there is any way I can help her do that I will certainly do so.  I’m quite sure she will learn English long before I learn Spanish.

Laura is a real gem.  She is so grown up now and so different than the little four-year old I first started sponsoring years ago.  She is very slim and beautiful and has a lovely smile.  She had her hair braided in many tiny braids and all twisted up at the back of her head.  When I asked how long it took to braid her hair she said all day and that her aunt did it.  Laura thought it was funny that I didn’t realize that it wasn’t all her hair but just extensions.  She was very friendly throughout the visit and often tried to speak English to me.   When she didn’t know the English she was very comfortable working through the translator.  Throughout the day she was actually more outgoing than me or her mother or her grandmother.  When I asked her what she wanted to be she said police or lawyer and I think she would be great at either job.  I always send her a card and letter and some small gift at Christmas so I asked what she’d really like since I was always just guessing.  She said a computer.  I’m not sure I can manage that but I’ll definitely have to come up with something special for her the next time I write.   

It was a great day despite the rain and the visit is something I will always remember.  World Vision figures the project in this area will likely be completed within a year or two so that will mean Laura no longer needs a sponsor and I will lose touch with her.  I’m glad I took the time to go visit her while on this trip but now I will certainly miss her more when we’re no longer corresponding.  Oh well, I guess that’s the secret of success with World Vision.  If they can support a community long enough to get it on its feet and be self sufficient then they have done their job well.  From what I saw, I think the community and the people in it are well on their way to independence and that is to be celebrated.  Maybe I’ll touch base with Laura again later when she becomes a great lawyer or even President of Colombia.  You never know.