Help Venezuelan families

When I got stuck in Bogota for an extra two days, it gave me an opportunity to meet with someone I’ve known for about nine months I think. The mother’s name is Carolina Gutiérrez. The four children are from largest to smallest, Valeria, Joshua, Daniel, and Abraham. Joshua is the one clowning with the carton of juice in the front. (He is clearly the leader of the pack). I nicknamed him little joker. And the little one in my lap is Abraham. I nicknamed him frank smiley because the entire time we sat at the table he kept waving at me and would fall over laughing when I would wave back. Carolina is originally from Venezuela. Like 5 million other people she has left Venezuela because of the crisis there. Shortages of food, clean water and other necessities we don’t normally think twice about are making life unbearable. I have seen photos of people who gain weight over time after leaving Venezuela. In 2018 Carolina took a bus to the border of Colombia and got off in Cúcuta, Colombia. She then walked with four kids for a week to Bogota, Colombia. There were 15-20 other people who did this with her on foot. Venezuelans will often travel in a group like this for security purposes. When I told her I was in Bogota she inmediately asked to meet with me. I sent her money for a taxi and we sat in the bakery you can see in the photos. (Bogota has a lot bakeries. There were two on that street.) the first thing I noticed was that they didn’t have shoes. They were all wearing the $2 or $3 Sandals we wear to the beach for a day and then they get lost in the garage. Sandals with socks. And it rains a lot in Bogota. The second thing I noticed was how tired she was. She said she pays to get on a bus in the morning and sells mints all day until she sells out. I don’t know where the mints are coming from. Sometimes words translate oddly in the translator apps. I didn’t ask. But I have found myself getting dizzy just thinking about trying to feed my children and take care of them with what I have seen some of these people are trying to make a living off of. And the third thing I noticed in the twenty to thirty minutes we sat together was how well behaved these children were. There weren’t awkward moments because of unruly behavior. The kids were getting a little energetic because of the cookies I bought them, but as much is to be expected. Carolina is a soldier. Though I would see fit to fight for many, it seems like I fight along side Carolina. In the time I have known her she has never complained. She is always calm, even when she tells me that the only thing her kids ate on a particular day was bread. She never flirted with me and I still haven’t seen her do anything suggestive. She makes no excuses given her circumstances but gets up and does the best she can for her four kids and her character leaves me no doubt that she has a heart for God. I asked her about doing this post for her and she agreed. The least anyone could is pray for her. Pray for an improvement for her and her children in this crisis. But if you want to do more than pray, maybe skip an Amazon purchase or even skip a vacation so you can help Carolina and these kids with their necessities please contact me so I can show you how to help. The photos of the apartment are where they live now.