Day 6 (February 22, 2023):

We awoke this morning to news of a taxi strike across Colombia, and warnings that excruciating traffic jams (caused by taxi drivers deliberately clogging streets) would get in the way of us visiting a Compassion project on the outskirts of Cartagena.  We set out on our two tour buses in spite of the warnings, and thankfully, it turned out to be a non-issue.  Leaving the hotel at 8:30AM, we arrived at the Compassion project an hour later, to an enthusiastic group of children and an amazing programme that had been organized just for us.

The Bet-El Centro Cristiano grew out of a barrio that was ridden with drugs, violence and despair.  Over the last 29 years, largely with Compassion’s help, it has developed into a vibrant centre which has chosen to focus on music as a way of reaching the young people.  When they started to perform, we were instantly blown away by the ability and quality of the music.  From keyboard to drums to saxophones, they are quasi-professional.  

After enjoying their music, we broke into groups to meet with the child development program, and meet with the pastor and his team to learn more about the project.  Then we all met up again in the sanctuary, where everyone either learned a musical part for a song, or learned a traditional dance, all of which came together as a music/dance production.

At 3PM, we left for the hotel, arriving 3:45PM.  A walk on the beach was followed by a group dinner at the hotel.

Another very full day, but a very moving one.

Public art enroute to the Compassion project this morning.

A view of Castle San Felipe de Barajas from a distance, while enroute to the Compassion project.

Bet-El Centro Cristiano, also known as Compassion Colombia Project CO-062.

This seven-year-old wished us all ‘welcome’ in English!  We are all so impressed.

The young dancers at the church danced along to all the music.

These are some of the most advanced musicians at the project, ranging in age from 17-23.  Three of them have scholarships to attend a university in the USA this summer to complete a degree in music.

The pastor, introducing his amazing team.

A discussion with all the musicians helped us to understand how the Compassion project has helped them.

Hanging out with the kids in the child development program.

Our traditional dance performance. 

A typical street through the barrio.

Back at the Cartagena tourist zone, we did a walk on the beach.  Each rented e umbrella comes with its own roped off area.

 

This beach vendor had a steel can with a handle that he used as a BBQ.  Talk about creative entrepreneurship!  And note the variety of items the fellow below had in his box for sale to beach-goers.

The beach across the street from our hotel, at the end of the tourist strip.

A kite-surfer near our hotel.

Three peacocks on the hotel grounds.

Sunset was at 6:30 PM.

This is “Luha”, one of the Compassion Colombia staff who has been with us all week.  Hers is an incredible story!  She was a participant in a Compassion project near Cartagena as she grew up, and later joined Compassion Columbia.  She has worked her way up to a senior manager role in the organization and will receive her MBA in another two months!  We loved our conversations with Luha.