In 2009, ten youth and five adults from Ascension journeyed to Colombia to build relationships with the students at the Hogar Llanero Brisas del Canada, a residence for children of the plains to live in while attending secondary school in Paz de Ariporo. While there, the group assisted in building a multipurpose gazebo at the residence. It was beautiful to watch the youth of Canada and Colombia engage in communication by whatever means possible. Despite the limits of a language barrier, fast friends were made.  The group also visited social programs of the IELCO (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia), as well as some of the schools run by the IELCO. Our group was touched deeply by individuals we met on our journey and the struggles they shared with us. 

We experienced incredibly gracious hospitality of the Colombian people who treated us like family.