This is Wednesday in Bogota! - February 18, 2026

This is Luke Tuckwell... aka Tucky

Today we went to a new school that neither Sheila or Miss Lockhart have been to so it was exciting because we didn’t know what to expect.  

When we first got there we split into 4 groups and sat outside with the grade 11s. I had a nice time listening to how curious they were about Canada and how they wished they could see snow. I also got to have a short chat about their class which was physics and found out that I would’ve failed physics in Colombia😁. I found that rather funny.   We also got to talk to the grade 10s as well.  We talked about the weather here compared to back home and safe to say I’m enjoying the nice hot weather here! (I hope the snow is treating you guys nicely back home with a dash of minus 30 as well).  To end our last hour, we  taught the grade 5s and 4s.

 At 10:30 went our merry way onwards to Barrio Egipto, which is where we spent pretty much the rest of our day.  When we got there, Elias was waiting for us and talked to us about the history surrounding the community of Barrio Egipto (the neighborhood called Egypt). He then lead us up a steep - and I mean steep- hill all the way to Buena Semilla (Good Seed) where all the kiddos go to hang out and stay for a bit to learn about Jesus, do homework and make music. 

After they fed us a delicious lunch we went out and sat in the main area and listened to some kids rap about their testimony which was awesome sauce to hear and be a part of.  Then we went out to the soccer pitch and played some games with the kids such as still waters, British bulldog, four corner, dodgeball, and soccer. 

This is where I got to meet the sweetest kid. I never got his name but while they were explaining four corners he ran up to me and jumped right into my arms. So I carried him all the way through four corners, sat with him and tossed him up in the air.  He never left my side till the end. 

Now I’m going to talk a little bit about this neighborhood we were in.  All these houses the kids lived in were just metal sheets for walls and plywood for a door and roofs were sheets of metal.   These homes are basically built from garbage scattered around and what’s worse and what is in these kids lives.  From some kids having a dad in jail and mom on drugs to one parent dead or both just living by themselves, abused by others around them. 

I’m sorry for this short and rather sad and depressing little bit but I want everyone to realize back at home how good we have it.  Those kids are going through what some will never experience in a lifetime.  We are so blessed by the Lord to have a nice house, clean water and a family who loves us. 

But anyways I’m gonna ask for some prayers for the team as Casendra has a fever right now and Bethany isn’t  feeling the greatest and Ali has a sore throat. So I ask for prayers for basically all the girls that they can recover fast for tomorrow and have energy and strength to carry them throughout the day and the rest of the trip. As well as for everyone else, that we continue to have energy and strength to face each day head on and be the light of Christ to all the people and kids here.

From Denise...

Today we visited a school, “El Encuentro” for the first time. We needed a filler for two hours this morning because we couldn’t go to the third Hogar de Paz location, the before or after school care, that we usually go to. They are starting a new location and don’t have the kids coming yet.

 I was a little nervous about how those two hours would play out, as they gave us a totally different plan than what our kids had prepared for in their teaching. However, it turned out to be a great experience. Why should I have ever doubted? God goes before us and I just need to trust! He’s already got the unexpected details taken care of! 😊      

Here is a picture of us as the team leaders with the English teacher.  at this school.