Category Archives: Survey Trip
Medellín–A City Of Contrasts
A couple blocks can make a big difference.
It may be the difference in whether a child gets a good education or if he’s pushed into the workforce at 10 years old.
It may be the difference in whether an individual receives excellent medical care or is at the mercy of less-than-adequate public clinics.
It may be the difference in whether someone can expect to live a long and comfortable life or is fearful if they will make it through each day, violence surrounding them.
And, it may be the difference in whether people have access to the Gospel or are drastically separated from it.
We saw this difference today. We saw rich areas and poor areas. We saw people who were wrapped up in materialism (a common sight for us, coming from the US), and some that didn’t have even a tin shack to call home. We walked through elegant malls and cruised through neighborhoods that didn’t even have electricity.
Medellín is a very large city, with a metro population that is near 4 million people, and still growing! Another thing that you’ll notice is that the town is divided up into levels of status they have called “estratos.” They have a scale from 0-6, with 0 being the lowest (the homeless, perhaps), and 6 being the richest of the rich (community leaders and officials). Your “estrato” will determine much of what you do, who you spend time with, how you live life, and even how much you are charged for your water bill. It also determines your access to many community services.
Medellín is a land of contrasts for sure.
One major development they have made here to connect the city is their metro system. In a way, it is similar to the MARTA in Atlanta (for those of you that are familiar with it), but it has its differences. For one, they have two connecting MetroCable systems that take you up to remote parts of the city. Something like a glorified ski-lift. It only cost about 75 cents to go anywhere on the metro, including connections on the MetroCable. Not bad…
Here are a few photos we took throughout the day. As you look at these pictures let them break your heart for the need in Colombia. What more can we be doing to reach the lost?
Hundreds of people waiting for the Metro in Medellín
The cheap and extremely efficient MetroCable.
One of the poorer sections of town we glided over. This is probably an estrato 2. One thing you'll notice is that there are very few streets in these hills. There are walking paths, sometimes with enough room for a motorcycle and lots of steps. The army has guards walking up and down the streets that are there, mainly to intimidate the gangs, which have been extremely violent in past years.
There are many shopping centers here that could compete with the US's best malls, all stocked with the latest technology and (although this picture doesn't show it) lots of people. The ugly god of materialism has a throne here, too.
What a sad sight. The best bed these guys had was a flattened cardboard box. It was the middle of the day and they didn't care. What's the point of life?
Our hearts were broken today as we saw these things. There are a few evangelical works around this town, but nowhere near what is needed to give even half of these people access to the Gospel. The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few!
Pray for us tomorrow as we spend most of the day at a 3 different children’s rescue homes. Our evening will be spent with a Colombian man and his family whose sister is a member of our church in Georgia. How exciting!
Soggy Shoes In Medellín!
We made it to Colombia! Our flight landed at about 2:15 PM and we were met at the airport by Rick & Jackie Washburn. They have been missionaries here for well over 30 years and have been so kind as to let us stay in their home for a few days while we’re in this city.
Medellín is a beautiful city. They call it the city of eternal spring. It was 77 degrees today, with overcast skies. Absolutely gorgeous.
Then, it rained.
And rained.
And rained.
And…. rained.
For a good 2 hours there was a constant downpour that overflowed the local canal, which immediately flooded local parking lots.
This picture was taken from the apartment we’re staying in. Crazy.
After the hard rain, it stopped entirely and we were able to walk around the neighborhood downtown close to the Washburn’s apartment.
We have a busy schedule the next few days while we’re here. On Friday we will drive around the city and see the need in different areas. Rich areas, poor areas, business areas, commerce areas, etc… We’ll take the metro (similar to MARTA in Atlanta, GA), and cable cars up to the hills. We hope God will open our eyes to much of the need that is here.
Saturday we will be visiting the Open Arms Foundation pretty much all day. This is an organization that rescues kids out of abusive situations and off of the streets. Many of these, as young children, had been pushed into prostitution, drugs and so many other bad situations. This foundation rescues them from this and gives them the hope that Jesus offers.
Sunday I will be preaching a couple times. Once in a brand new work that the missionary has started, then again at another church that is pastored by a Colombian National.
Then Monday we’ll head to Bucaramanga. That should be interesting!
Thanks for your prayers! We need them.
“How Can You Leave Your Baby?!?!”
Please enjoy this guest post by my lovely bride, Aubrie.
“How Can You Leave Your Baby?!?!”
I think that I may have asked a nurse that same question 3 years ago in Peru. She said that there is always a part of you missing when your babies are not with you, but sometimes it is safer that way. She recently told me she left them behind again this year when she went to Haiti to help after the earthquake. She knew it would be dangerous, with dirty water, desperate people, disease, and sickness. She was able to help so many people on that trip and many came to know Christ as their Savior…
Another missionary wife took her small child with her on their survey trip and the baby barely made it home. He was about a year old. He became so ill with high fevers and infections. He was limp, lifeless, and almost dead. The doctors were foreign and were known to poison Christians. The mom just couldn’t leave her baby behind and it almost cost them his life.
Dear Amira,
We’re taking this trip to Colombia and leaving you with Mamaw because it’s the best we can do for you. Mommy and Daddy know that there can be dangers in unfamiliar places and they might not have all the things we have in the United States, like different medicine, vitamins, houses, soap, toys and many other things. So we need to find out what we’ll need to bring and where the safest areas to live are in Colombia, so that we can give you the very best life any Princess could ever have. God has called us to tell people about Jesus everywhere in the world, and Colombia has millions of people who have never heard about salvation. God has called our family to tell people in Colombia about Jesus and that is why we are going. We will be back very soon, and WE LOVE YOU! You are our most favorite beautiful princess!
Love,
-Mommy & Daddy-
Getting Back Up To Speed
Life has been zooming by at full speed! We’ve had quite a bit going on over the past few weeks, so here’s an ultra quick update:
1. Hopefully The First Of Many…
Lighthouse Baptist in Dawsonville, Georgia has been my home church since my sophomore year of college 6 years ago and my wife’s home church since 2008 when she moved down to Georgia. We were so honored to be a part of their missions conference this year and look forward to being sent out to start churches and reach the lost in Colombia, South America. This was our first time presenting our ministry in a missions conference! My wife gave her testimony, and I was able to present our ministry plans and preach. Thank you, Lighthouse family for loving us, supporting us and for the generous love offering. We love you guys!
2. More Elbow Room….
God opened up the doors for my little family to move just this past weekend. It was incredible to see how he worked out all the tiny details to get us a place with a little more room. We now have a place that I can use as an office during deputation as I call hundreds of pastors and churches around the nation. Thanks, Lord! Now we’ve got to get unpacked. I don’t know… the “Box Jungle” look is growing on me…. nope, nevermind.
3. Wait, How Old?…
They always say that time flies, but it’s never been so true as now. It’s hard to believe that Amira is already 10 months! That’s almost 1 year! And that’s almost 18! Yikes!! Ha…. Well, anyway, she is now pulling up to stand, crawling like a speed demon (a cute one, of course), drinking through a straw, singing and talking like a politician just before election day. 🙂 Love that little girl!
4. Ten Days & Counting….
Our long-awaited survey trip to Colombia is only 10 days away! We’ve seen the Lord provide in a phenomenal way and now have 100% of our support for the trip. Be praying for us as we visit the cities of Medellín, Bucaramanga and Bogotá. We’ll be visiting a couple existing missionary works, a children’s rescue home and a couple indigenous churches as well. We’ll also be in some areas where there is nothing to be found. It burdens our hearts that we cannot find any like-minded churches or missionaries in so many parts of this country. Will you pray that God works in our hearts and lives as he gives us clear direction as to his will? We are confident that Christ will be magnified.
Thanks for keeping up with us. Feel free to send us a message get in contact with us with any questions or comments you might have. God bless. Love you guys
The Vance Family 