Comments From Volunteers  

I served at Formando Vidas for about two weeks in and had a great experience.  They were very flexible and open to working with me for the times and dates that fit my schedule. Upon arrival in Bogota I was met at the airport and brought back to the house where I was welcomed as a part of the team.  In the short time that I was there, I experienced not only four different areas of the ministry, but I got a good feeling for what it was like working and fellowshipping within the team.  One of the things that stands out about my experience with Formando Vidas is the excellent fruit that is seen all over the ministry.  I loved working with people who have been there for years.  It was also very neat working with people from all over the world.  If you are looking for a great short-term experience with children at risk, Formando Vidas is top-notch.

Jessica Lathrop

Fergus Falls, MN USA June 2009

We highly recommend this ministry as a place for any team to come and see what serving the least of these is all about. The spiritual covering is the best we have ever seen. The culture from the top down is that of being like Jesus in all areas from administration to the feet on the street.

Ministry Team

First United Methodist Church, Carrollton, Texas March 2008

Hi my name is Pamela Handsor. I went to Bogota in June of 2001 with my colleague Kathy Murphy from the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii. We are teachers and came to give a seminar on the Biblical curriculum we work with in Hawaii. I am forwarding a piece from my newsletter that I sent out to my supporters about my time in Colombia. I really did love my time there and hope to visit again someday! Thanks for allowing me to share.

God is awesome and words can hardly describe my experiences in Bogota. It was amazing to see the 'good' that the Christians (YWAM Colombia) are doing there for the street kids of Colombia!

We went there to train and equip the teachers with more of God's Biblical principles and they enjoyed and soaked the truth up like dry sponges. Yet in the same breath I would say they taught us as much or more of God's love and character through their living examples of Jesus for the children. What I saw and loved was seeing ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the lives of the little ones in Jesus' name. They were loving the “unlovable"!

Now, I went there thinking of my safety and praying lots that God would bring me back unharmed, without really expecting these two weeks to have a huge impact in my life… but let me tell you somehow God put a love for Colombian street kids in my heart and it was hard to leave them. I don't know what that could mean for the future other than I do know he wants me and you to pray for them and ask for God's grace and goodness to meet the needs they have daily.

God's blessings to you.

Pamela Handsor

pamsnooze@hotmail.com

Kona, Hawaii

Colombia was for me a country full of tensions: social, economic, political, and powerful heritage: much positive, some disturbing. But the greatest tension for me was the street children's craving for love matched by only a few people giving so much. The children had me hooked! - Whilst feeling inadequate to meet any need, their smiles, interest and generosity was far richer reward than I deserved. Colombia needs God to work many miracles - the miracle of His father-love is plain to see in workers and children alike.

Becky Davies

beckygracedavies@yahoo.com

Cheltenham, England, Volunteer

April and June 1999

My wife, Kay and I were teaching at the American school in Bogota in 1996 and met Steve Bartel in a bank when he offered assistance with our Spanish. We soon found out that this good Samaritan did much more than assist as a translator. Over the year we visited the Farm on several occasions and met other staff and volunteers working in the StreetKids organization. While I know that Steetkids can only help a small portion of those I saw in need, I saw that they were able to completely change the lives of the children they did assist. It was not a short term, "here is a meal and here is a Bible" approach. It was a long term and substantial commitment that transformed lives forever. I hope that you are considering working with the StreetKids program; they could never have too much help, and the experience of working around the kids will change your life too. Please write if we might possibly assist you with further information.

Doug, Kay Jackson

djackson99@aol.com

Mesa, Arizona, USA