Adulam take 2!

This weekend, 8 of us went back to Adulam to play with the kids and help out in any way that we could. We ended up constructing a volleyball court and playing A LOT with the kids. It was really neat going back to Adulam with a smaller group of people. It gave us a chance not only to play with the kids on a more individual basis, but I also got to know a few of the parents that were around. Two mothers in particular, Alexandra and Isabella, were very helpful and hospitable to us staying there. After the first 5 hours of playing non-stop with the kids, they came and rescued us with cookies and dulce de leche! We were able to get to know them better which was really neat. Alexandra told us that she came to Adulam over 12 years ago, when her husband was addicted to drugs. They wanted to get out of the city but didn't have a place to go, so they found Pastor Omar (the founder/creator of Adulam) and have lived there ever since. Their love for the Lord shines brightly through them and it is so inspiring.

In my last post about Adulam, I didn't really know much about the place. After this weekend, I learned that families go there if they have no where else to go, and they learn to sell leather goods and plants and food from their garden, in order to receive money to pay for food and other necessities. The also receive donations that goes toward helping the community as a whole.

me and my friend Cameron with some of the kids!

They have also taken in some children who have parents that can't take care of them. My friend Blaire and I stayed in a house with 15 other people, and at least two of the kids didn't have parents, so the other parents at Adulam have taken them in as their own. Being there in with a smaller group also showed me that while Adulam is indeed a place with lots of joy and happiness despite what little they have, there still is a lot of poverty and sadness that lingers around. One of the mothers in particular made me realize that. I didn't get a chance to talk to her at all, but she was clearly a recovering drug addict that had come there to escape her addiction. It was so sad to watch her struggle with the stress of living with her 2 children in a tiny room, while also trying to stray away from drugs. It was comforting to know that she was able to come to a place where other people could support and encourage her.

This weekend was yet another reminder of how blessed I am to be an American studying in Buenos Aires. I too often take that for granted, but Adulam has taught me to count my blessings and to know that no matter how rich or poor you are, God is present in each and everyones lives. How cool is that? :)



Besos y abrazos para todos!