The Post recently traveled to Colombia with The Springs Church mission team. Members of the team included Matt Goehler, Pastor Barry Briggs, Cindy Mason, Cathy VanOss, Bill VanOss, former Springs Pastor Gary Cruce, Johna Alexander, Floretta Reighn and Shane Jewell.

The group traveled to Bogota, Colombia on Saturday, April 9, and then on to Medellin, Colombia on Thursday April 14. They did some painting at a church, and spent time with the girls at an orphanage called Findesin, which means “the end of without.” They also handed out the Gospel of John and tracts to people in both communities. “There were a couple of people that came to know Christ through this activity,” said Cindy Mason.

Cindy described the area around the orphanage. “There are homeless people that sleep in the median along the road of the orphanage, and people pulling around carts, picking through trash.”

She said they took the girls on a day outing. “We enjoyed the arcade and lunch with them, and then purchased each of them a new outfit. We gave them homemade new dresses, snacks from the U.S. and crocheted stuffed animals. We gave them donated backpacks and shoes. We gave the girls love. Although verbal communication was tough, we were still able to spend time with them and show them how much we all cared for them through playing, photo taking and lots of laughter. And in the end, we shared tears with them. We have no idea whether or not those same girls will be in the orphanage when we return or if they will be back with their parent(s). Therefore, the good-bye that we experienced could very well have been good-bye forever.”

Thanks so much to The Springs Church for taking us with you!

Are you going on vacation? Take the Post with you and snap some photos. Then send them to us with some info to news@cedarspringspost.com or mail them to Post travels, PO Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. We will be looking for yours!