We have had an amazing time serving in the village and at the Women of Influence Retreat was phenomenal! Thank you for supporting our efforts to empower families and indigenous leadership in Palenque.  During our time in Colombia we had  8 people come to  faith in Christ Jesus!  26 Women leaders were gathered together for a 2 day encounter with God and each other. The women from Palenque went back refreshed , focused, and committed to be intentional with their influence in the community. 

While in the village we visited homes and prayed for those that were sick and in need.  Invested in the schools and teachers. Shared quality time with volunteer team!  God truly graced our time there and many lives were touched.  The following are some of the highlights team members and volunteers have identified!

HOME VISITS: BREAKTHROUGHS

On our first night in the village , we were asked by one of our  old neighbors to come and pray for her daughter  who was being tormented by evil spirits.  Jesus said when we go  in His name– signs and wonders will follow for His namesake.  We witnessed His loving touch and the power of the name of Jesus release this young woman , saver her and fill her with His presence and peace. Grandmother, Aunt,  Mother, Daughter all came to Christ that night and the peace of God came over the family!  We taught them some verses, songs and connected them with some of our  local volunteers .  It was a precious time.
 
INVESTING IN CHILDREN & EDUCATION

Students of Colombia are now expected to have a basic level of English in order to pass their university entrance exams. HCL volunteers and staff along with other organizations are  strengthening the English language learning by empowering the teachers and modelling teaching methods.
The 2017 team helped to reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation on this outreach in the preschool and secondary schools. 
Some of the volunteers also helped give some after school  academic support by helping students finish their homework. Donors from HCl network gave some pencils and  sweets to encourage the children.
The doors also opened for us to go into the preschool for the first time! We shared in each of six classrooms and spoke with  school Coordinator for future involvement. After seeing  the conditions of the classrooms, a generous donation of six fans was given to the preschool rooms by one of our team members!
Thank you for investing and supporting the preschool, primary, and secondary education in Palenque.
 
 INVESTING IN WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: ‘FOOD FOR THE SOUL’

HCL and Fundaraiz volunteers partnered to host a conference & retreat in order to invest the lives of 15 women in leadership of Palenque. Thank you to all those who gave to make this possible. We gathered women representing diverse spheres of influence in village life: Education, Health, Politics, Community, Family, Church, and more for a weekend of learning and growing together.
Speakers shared about topics including: Identity & Relationship with God, Positioning for Influence, Integrity of Our Story and more! Together we learned the power of our words and of true fellowship.
Caring for the well being and quality of life of the women in the village as an objective requires intentionality and relationship building. More than an event this was a consolidation of years of building trust and safety. The women were able to open their hearts and minds, refreshing themselves in the Word of God, the testimony of fellow sisters and fun fellowship.  Follow up activities will be held throughout the upcoming year. Our goal is to have more women attend next year’s conference!

WHAT PEOPLE SAID

“ I came back filled and refreshed,  I think it is so important for women to come together. Let’s just say this conference was food for the soul! We need to gather more women for times like these…”
- Basilia Perez, School Administrator

NEW HCL VOLUNTEERS
 
I am Jasmine Mendez, I am 30 years old.  I am half Nicaraguan and half Puerto Rican. I currently live in Louisiana, USA.  I am an elementary school teacher and certified ESL teacher. I decided to commit to working with HCL because my purpose in life is to touch lives the same way God has touched me over the years. God put people in my life to guide me and advise me in love. I want to pay that forward and bring joy, peace, hope, and help to someone else.  Education is my passion and I love the nations. I look forward to serving with my talents and skills.
 
JASMINE, ESL Coordinator
 
 
I am Egla Rudolf Jiménez, I am 22 years old. I am Colombian from a town in the north of the country called Ciénaga – Magdalena.  For several years, I have been working in missions either full time or part time, focusing on Afro-descendant populations especially the children, youth and women.  I decided to commit to working with Healing Community Life because they are an arm that extends God's love to the most needy, invisible and silenced, giving voice and including them in the processes of empowerment.
EGLA,  Women of Influence Outreach Coordinator