Sidewalk Chalk and Sewing Machines: God’s Work in Puerto Valdivia, Colombia
Sidewalk chalk. Rice. An oven. Beans. A quinceañera dress. Hamburgers. Sewing machines. Three years ago, the Zorras neighborhood in Puerto Valdivia, Colombia, was a small, rather desolate neighborhood in an equally desolate town, nestled in a valley of the Andes Mountains. A priest from the area had called upon our Bishop to come visit to offer canonical support. At this first visit, he and the priests who traveled with him found houses with three walls, tarps for roofs, and not much else physically… but as this area often does for those who come on mission, especially here, there was a strong spiritual pull and a sense of hope. God was calling.
Fast forward three years, and the Diocese of Quincy’s mission team, Mission Colombia, is regularly on the ground in Colombia, and the neighborhood is transformed – full of joyous children and adults, always happy to see us, in houses that are still sparse and desolate by American standards, but significantly better. We built a church at the top of the mountain, and the work God has done since then is incredible.
Who is Mission Colombia?
Mission Colombia is a completely volunteer-organized and run team in the Diocese of Quincy. Our team strives to meet basic needs while also creating moments of simple joy. In this way, we help each person know their value and feel loved, as God sees them. Through every meal served, every church gathering held, and every act of kindness extended, we share the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, bringing comfort and hope to the people of Puerto Valdivia and beyond.
After building a church and a community room, we set up a community kitchen in Zorras and have been supporting it financially for about two years, which has completely changed the outlook for this community. The children are no longer malnourished and are able to go to school with food in their stomachs, as opposed to wondering where their next meal comes from. We provided the resources, and then some of the local women pulled together to cook. But the story doesn’t stop with food. It never does. Because when God moves, He doesn’t just meet one need. He restores dignity, builds community, and invites joy back into places where it once felt distant.
Each day in Puerto Valdivia, the kitchen serves roughly 80 people, primarily children and elderly, who otherwise would have one meager meal a day, if that. What started as rice and beans has become something far greater: a place of gathering, laughter, prayer, and belonging. Volunteers serve plates, but they also serve smiles, conversations, and reminders that no one is forgotten. We have had the blessing of serving the children ourselves, seeing firsthand where every dollar, every prayer, every act of generosity goes.
It’s the Relationship
The more we become acquainted with the village, the more needs and joys we meet. These are the moments that can’t be measured in numbers. Mission Colombia is not about one-time impact. It is about relationship.
On one of my first trips, I taught the children how to use sidewalk chalk— they’d never seen it and didn’t know how to use it. A piece of sidewalk chalk placed into the hands of a child who has never had something just for play, and suddenly, the dusty ground became a canvas of color: hearts, crosses, names, dreams. Laughter filled the air. Now, we take sidewalk chalk every time, and for a moment, the weight of the world lifts, and childhood returns.
On our most recent trip, we celebrated Colombia’s holiday, Children’s Day. We brought hamburgers and fries to children who had never even heard of a hamburger. By doing this, we were able to bless a local restaurant with an order that likely surpassed a normal day (or a few days), while filling the children’s bellies with something delicious. We watched one young child eat exactly half of his hamburger and then take the rest home to his mother, who had never had a hamburger, because he wanted to share with her.
Every time we leave, we stop one more time at Zorras, where children run to say goodbye (even from their classroom, where their teachers know us too). —not “goodbye” really, but “until next time,” because they know that we will return. That consistency, that faithfulness, has become part of the ministry itself.
Stitching Faithfulness into Transformation
That relationship has opened doors to something even more powerful: a pathway toward self-sufficiency. Through partnership with the local Anglican priest, the municipality, and the Colombian department of work, we are launching a sewing school that will train 20 students over 15 months. At the end of the program, each participant will earn a certification that equips them for meaningful, stable employment.
This is where sewing machines become instruments of transformation.
They represent more than skill; they represent opportunity. They represent a mother who can provide for her children, a young woman who can step into independence, and a family that no longer has to choose between food and dignity. At the dedication we hosted in late April of this year, women wept for joy at finally having an opportunity.
God’s Bringing Hope in More than Puerto Valdivia
We have seen how quickly hope can take root when people are given the tools to build a future. And, there are more partnership opportunities to come – both in and out of Puerto Valdivia. As we’ve been there, partnering with local Anglican churches has become vital to our work. In Medellin, we regularly visit the abuelas and abuelos at the local nursing home, where the deepest need is not just physical care, but to be seen. To be remembered. To be loved. We gather for Mass, we hold hands, we listen to stories, and we are reminded that dignity has no expiration date.
In Tamalemeque, we replaced a leaking tin roof for a local Anglican church and then six months later, blessed them with the money to upgrade their dirt floor to concrete. We’re beginning to explore opportunities to help that community with their hunger needs. God continues to provide.
Why We Do What We Do
And still, even as we work toward sustainability, we never lose sight of joy. Because joy matters. Joy is healing. Joy reflects the heart of God.
That is why we celebrate.
We celebrate Christmas with gifts for more than 200 children. We send simple, thoughtful, meaningful gifts that say, “You are known.”
We celebrate quinceañeras—milestone moments that honor young women stepping into a new chapter of life. We bought a dress for a young girl for her celebration – her father had abandoned her years ago, and the young men of the village all stood in his place and danced with her in the traditional father/daughter dance. Another evening, we gathered to celebrate the birthday of a girl from Puerto Valdivia who now lives in Medellín, showing her love made visible.
We celebrate the Church.
On one unforgettable Sunday, after providing the community with a traditional Colombian meal of sancocho, we gathered for Mass. The church was overflowing; people filled every seat, lined the walls, and stood outside. That day, we witnessed three First Communions and four Confirmations. It was a glimpse of the Kingdom of God: alive, vibrant, and rooted in gratitude.
Everything we do flows from that center: giving thanks to God and sharing His love.
Because at the heart of Mission Colombia is not a program. It is not a project. It is a calling.
A calling to go. A calling to serve. A calling to love.
We have traveled winding mountain roads, visited homes with dirt floors, prayed with kitchen staff who asked for a blessing, and partnered with local leaders who are deeply committed to their communities. Everywhere we go, we see the same truth: Christ is already present. We are simply invited to join Him.
And perhaps the most powerful part of this mission is that it is not ours alone. It belongs to every person who has prayed. Every person who has given. Every person who has shared our story.
When you support Mission Colombia, you are part of every meal served. Every child who goes to school is nourished. Every elderly hand, held. Every student is trained. You are part of every celebration and story God is writing in Puerto Valdivia and beyond.
Three years ago, we saw tarps for roofs and homes missing walls. Today, we see something different.
We see a community being restored. We see children laughing and learning. We see families finding stability. We see faith growing stronger. We see hope. And the most beautiful part? We are just getting started.
To follow along with our journey, visit www.missioncolombiadoq.com and follow us on Facebook at Mission Colombia DOQ. To donate to our ministry, please visit Ways to Help.
Becky Karlowicz
Becky Karlowicz is a dedicated church volunteer and mission advocate with a deep passion for serving communities in Colombia through faith, compassion, and relationship-building. A life-long Anglican in the Diocese of Quincy (Peoria, IL), she is an active leader and supporter of Mission Colombia and has helped lead efforts focused on feeding programs, support for children and the elderly, community outreach, and sustainable initiatives such as sewing education programs designed to help families move toward self-sufficiency. Becky is married to Fr. Toby Karlowicz, Canon Theologian in the Diocese of Quincy and they have two daughters, Clara (11) and Joanna (8). She is a Human Resources executive at a Catholic health care system. They are members of Saint Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Peoria, Illinois. Known for her heart for both service and joyful ministry, Becky also volunteers with the Diocesan church camp ministry and serves on its board.
