What a great weekend! This weekend I was at a youth retreat with the La Mesa youth as well as youth from churches in Cachipay, Madrid and Facatativa. This weekend God did some amazing things in the lives of these youth as well as in me. For several years I have felt that God has been calling me to help fight spiritual warfare through prayer but I have always held back because I was to worried about what people would think of me. However last Sunday night I let that all go and the results were amazing.
Backing up to the beginning of May (when this all started), I was at a day long youth meeting with the youth from church and at one point the Holy Spirit moved so strongly that some of the youth fell to the floor and started crying. I grabbed my journal and started writing down prayers. I couldn´t write fast enough! I sensed that God wanted me to pray for some of the youth but again I held back. While talking with Nanen a few days later about this experience he encouraged to completely let go the next time I feel that way and act upon what I am feeling. So this weekend I did and the results were awesome.
After a concert by a local Christian rock band, there was a prayer time and the Holy Spirit really started moving. It appeared that some of the youth were being spiritual attacked as they were crying, screaming and shaking. As I knelt to pray for one of the girls she took hold of my hand as she continued crying. I had no idea beforehand what I was gonna pray but as I started praying I heard these words come from my mouth...
.....Lord in your name we declare peace in this girl´s life, we declare victory for her. Lord we know that by the power of your blood we know that we have the power to say ¨Satan away from us¨ We know that your word says that neither life nor death, nor angels nor demons, nor the present nor future, nor the powers of heaven or hell can separate us from the love of God. Lord in your name we have the power to say to this spirit ¨Depart from us¨ We know that no weapon that is formed against us can be used against us. In your name we declare this.....
As I moved from person to person these words or similar words came from my mouth for each person. What an amazing feeling to allow God to use me like that.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
hello from Colombia
Wow, time has really flown by and already we are coming to an end with only 3 more weeks left of our time in Colombia. Overall, my time here has been enjoyable. I have really enjoyed getting to know the Guevara family and seeing what all really goes into running a church. I used to think it would be cool to be so involved in church but now I find that it tires me out and I lose motivation to go to church so I need a balance between church and non church activities. I have also strengthened my own opinions on several issues and have become OK with having my own thoughts and beliefs even if others around me don´t always agree and I have become OK with making decisions based on what I believe to be true versus what others think. That is a very freeing for me. This time apart has also strengthened Nanen and I´s relationship and brought us closer together. I have also enjoyed the friendships that I have made here as well as the things I have been able to learn from the Colombians. I have also enjoyed getting to know my teamates more. Melina (one of the girls on my team)and I took on another project this month of teaching English in a school in a nearby town. We will be finishing up these classes this week as well as the music classes at the children´s home.
Plans for June include a youth retreat this weekend, my parents visiting for 4 days as well as the school semester ending the 23rd and returning to the states the 24th. Then there is a re-entry retreat at the end of June.
Plans for June include a youth retreat this weekend, my parents visiting for 4 days as well as the school semester ending the 23rd and returning to the states the 24th. Then there is a re-entry retreat at the end of June.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Thoughts on sermon
Last night at our weekly meeting with Aaron and Laura Kauffman we listened to a sermon by Rob Bell from Mars Hill Community Church in Michigan. The sermon was on the resurrection and it was one that I found really intriguing. Rob asked the question of why is the resurrection so key in the Christian faith? I am going to write on what it means to me.
The resurrection for me shows several things; it shows just how great God`s grace really is, it is a cornerstone on which to build my faith. Just like a house has four cornerstones the resurrection is one on which I build my house of faith. It also shows that the new kingdom that was profecied in the old testament has already begun to be fulfilled through one man-Jesus and it also gives me a reason to believe in miracles.
Starting with the idea of grace. The resurrection shows how much God really loves this world. He loves it so much that he doesn`t give up. The idea of repenting is not just something we do to feel good or because it is required but rather it is a chance for God`s grace to shine through, a chance to show once again that God loves us. To quote Rob Bell " Resurrection is the opposite of dispair. No matter how bad it gets, no matter how dark it is things will get better. God has not given up." No matter what we go through both good and bad God`s grace is always there. It is so big that even the worst people in history can still receive God`s grace.
So when people ask "How can you really believe in the resurrection? What significance does it really have?" My response would be to take a look at the gospels. Matt. 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20 all say that the first ones to see an empty tomb were women and the first people that Jesus appeared to were women. Some would respond "So? What does that have to do with anything?" Well if a person takes a look at the culture of that time, women were not considered credible sources so then why did the writers of bible times risk their own credibility to use women as the first witnesses if the resurrection had not actually happened and if it had not drastically changed something. A writer of that time would have to have been 100% sure of what he is writing about to use women as witnesses, especially first witnesses. Also in my study of human culture I have found the following quote to be true. " Anthropological perspective says that it takes many years and dialogues to change a massive group of people's beliefs unless there was a great event like the resurrection."-Rob Bell Mars Hill Community Church, Michigan
The resurrection for me shows several things; it shows just how great God`s grace really is, it is a cornerstone on which to build my faith. Just like a house has four cornerstones the resurrection is one on which I build my house of faith. It also shows that the new kingdom that was profecied in the old testament has already begun to be fulfilled through one man-Jesus and it also gives me a reason to believe in miracles.
Starting with the idea of grace. The resurrection shows how much God really loves this world. He loves it so much that he doesn`t give up. The idea of repenting is not just something we do to feel good or because it is required but rather it is a chance for God`s grace to shine through, a chance to show once again that God loves us. To quote Rob Bell " Resurrection is the opposite of dispair. No matter how bad it gets, no matter how dark it is things will get better. God has not given up." No matter what we go through both good and bad God`s grace is always there. It is so big that even the worst people in history can still receive God`s grace.
So when people ask "How can you really believe in the resurrection? What significance does it really have?" My response would be to take a look at the gospels. Matt. 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20 all say that the first ones to see an empty tomb were women and the first people that Jesus appeared to were women. Some would respond "So? What does that have to do with anything?" Well if a person takes a look at the culture of that time, women were not considered credible sources so then why did the writers of bible times risk their own credibility to use women as the first witnesses if the resurrection had not actually happened and if it had not drastically changed something. A writer of that time would have to have been 100% sure of what he is writing about to use women as witnesses, especially first witnesses. Also in my study of human culture I have found the following quote to be true. " Anthropological perspective says that it takes many years and dialogues to change a massive group of people's beliefs unless there was a great event like the resurrection."-Rob Bell Mars Hill Community Church, Michigan
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Singing, Library, and new project
This weekend was a busy but fun filled weekend. It started out with the sleep over that included my host mom, 2 other ladies from the church, several of the youth group girls, and the North American girls that live in La Mesa. ( my team members and another missionary women)We were up until 4 am talking, playing games, eating and watching a movie. Then Saturday afternoon my teammates and I accompanied Martin and Elsy (the pastors working in Anapoima)to a potluck lunch in Anapoima. Saturday evening we had practice with the worship band from another town called Anolaima. We were invited to join the worship band there the following day. So Sunday we boarded a bus at 7am and traveled about an hour and a half to Anolaima to sing in their worship service and then we stayed in Anolaima for the rest of the day.
I have really discovered how much I enjoy singing as we do plenty of it here. Our group often gets asked to sing and/or play at various churches and functions.
Our library project is going quite well. We have finally finished organizing all the books into Microsoft Excel and stickered them and shelved them according to subject and category. We are now ready for the students to check out the books and many students have done so quite happily and the library is full of excitement during the 45 minute break that the students have. We still have some work to do before we are completely done but we are coming along well.
We also recently started a new project. We teach music at a childrens home here in La Mesa. We teach music classes 2 times a week. The children at this home are from families that can´t take care of them. It isn´t an orphanage but rather a group foster home. It has been such a blessing working with these children as they are so affectionate and long to show that affection.
I have really discovered how much I enjoy singing as we do plenty of it here. Our group often gets asked to sing and/or play at various churches and functions.
Our library project is going quite well. We have finally finished organizing all the books into Microsoft Excel and stickered them and shelved them according to subject and category. We are now ready for the students to check out the books and many students have done so quite happily and the library is full of excitement during the 45 minute break that the students have. We still have some work to do before we are completely done but we are coming along well.
We also recently started a new project. We teach music at a childrens home here in La Mesa. We teach music classes 2 times a week. The children at this home are from families that can´t take care of them. It isn´t an orphanage but rather a group foster home. It has been such a blessing working with these children as they are so affectionate and long to show that affection.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Hope, Joy and Beauty
One of the things I find most encouraging in my time in Colombia is to see hope in a country that has such a violent reputation. I see the hope daily in the smiling faces of the students at the Colegio Menno Americano ( American Mennonite School), I see hope in the daily conversations with my host family, I see hope in the expressions of thanks that we recieve from the teachers at the school when they come into the library in search of a book that they are easily able to find now that after 3 months of organizing the library, there is some sense of order to it and I could fill this whole blog with examples.
Another thing I find alot here is joy. A person once told me that ¨Happiness comes and goes but joy is a choice that lasts a lifetime¨ I see joy in the way the people worship in the churches, I find joy in the smiles of the people that I work with in Anapoima. It is encouraging to see that even though they live in absolute poverty they still greet us with a smile and offer us something to drink. I see joy in the eyes of my pre-first to second graders when I go into the classrooms to teach English. Again my list could go on.
I find beauty in the green that fills the jungle filled mountains that surround me. A sunset over the Andes mountains brings a peaceful feeling to me as the sky fills with the beauty of pinks, orange, and yellows. the reflection of the sun on the clouds, the conversations with my teammates and Colombian friends that takes place on a daily basis and more. It would take pages to write all the examples of Hope, joy and beauty that I see in Colombia so I will just leave you with these examples for mow.
Another thing I find alot here is joy. A person once told me that ¨Happiness comes and goes but joy is a choice that lasts a lifetime¨ I see joy in the way the people worship in the churches, I find joy in the smiles of the people that I work with in Anapoima. It is encouraging to see that even though they live in absolute poverty they still greet us with a smile and offer us something to drink. I see joy in the eyes of my pre-first to second graders when I go into the classrooms to teach English. Again my list could go on.
I find beauty in the green that fills the jungle filled mountains that surround me. A sunset over the Andes mountains brings a peaceful feeling to me as the sky fills with the beauty of pinks, orange, and yellows. the reflection of the sun on the clouds, the conversations with my teammates and Colombian friends that takes place on a daily basis and more. It would take pages to write all the examples of Hope, joy and beauty that I see in Colombia so I will just leave you with these examples for mow.
Friday, March 21, 2008
MT 28:1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first `day' of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
MT 28:1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first `day' of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
MT 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.
MT 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
MT 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.
MT 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.
MT 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
MT 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
latest CNN report
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Envoys huddling in Washington believe they can "reach an acceptable solution" to the developing rift between Colombia and its neighbors, a leader of the diplomatic group said.
Organization of American States diplomats meet Wednesday in Washington.
1 of 3 Delegates made progress during nine hours of meetings that ended around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, said Cornelius A. Smith, president of the permanent council of the Organization of American States.
Diplomats from Ecuador and Colombia discussed forming a commission to investigate a Colombian attack inside Ecuador on Saturday that killed 22 members of a Colombian rebel group, including the organization's second in command.
They made no decision and plan to resume talks at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Organization of American States in Washington. Watch nations exchange threats »
"We are confident that we will reach an acceptable solution," said Smith, of the Bahamas.
The Colombian police and military crossed the Ecuadoran border Saturday and killed Raul Reyes, the No. 2 leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Ecuador cut diplomatic relations with Colombia after the attack and sent troops toward the border. Venezuela also has moved troops closer to its border
Presidents Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela share leftist political philosophies with FARC, but Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe is a rightist who receives backing from the United States to fight drug traffickers. Learn more about the countries »
Colombia says it recovered evidence after the strike suggesting that a senior Ecuadoran official made recent overtures toward FARC, which has fought to overthrow the Colombian government for more than 40 years.
In addition, Colombia says it obtained evidence after the strike that Chavez funneled money to FARC, which holds an estimated 750 hostages in the South American jungle.
Colombian officials have apologized for taking their attack against FARC into Ecuador, but Correa has said the apology isn't enough.
President Bush weighed in from the White House on Tuesday, saying that he told Uribe "that America fully supports Colombia's democracy, and that we firmly oppose any acts of aggression that could destabilize the region."
"I told him that America will continue to stand with Colombia as it confronts violence and terror and fights drug traffickers," Bush said.
J. Robert Manzanares, the U.S. envoy to the OAS, called for a full investigation into Saturday's events.
"It is imperative that we obtain all the facts, so that the full context of this issue is understood by all," he said, adding that the matter should be dealt with by the countries most affected.
Organization of American States diplomats meet Wednesday in Washington.
1 of 3 Delegates made progress during nine hours of meetings that ended around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, said Cornelius A. Smith, president of the permanent council of the Organization of American States.
Diplomats from Ecuador and Colombia discussed forming a commission to investigate a Colombian attack inside Ecuador on Saturday that killed 22 members of a Colombian rebel group, including the organization's second in command.
They made no decision and plan to resume talks at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Organization of American States in Washington. Watch nations exchange threats »
"We are confident that we will reach an acceptable solution," said Smith, of the Bahamas.
The Colombian police and military crossed the Ecuadoran border Saturday and killed Raul Reyes, the No. 2 leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Ecuador cut diplomatic relations with Colombia after the attack and sent troops toward the border. Venezuela also has moved troops closer to its border
Presidents Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela share leftist political philosophies with FARC, but Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe is a rightist who receives backing from the United States to fight drug traffickers. Learn more about the countries »
Colombia says it recovered evidence after the strike suggesting that a senior Ecuadoran official made recent overtures toward FARC, which has fought to overthrow the Colombian government for more than 40 years.
In addition, Colombia says it obtained evidence after the strike that Chavez funneled money to FARC, which holds an estimated 750 hostages in the South American jungle.
Colombian officials have apologized for taking their attack against FARC into Ecuador, but Correa has said the apology isn't enough.
President Bush weighed in from the White House on Tuesday, saying that he told Uribe "that America fully supports Colombia's democracy, and that we firmly oppose any acts of aggression that could destabilize the region."
"I told him that America will continue to stand with Colombia as it confronts violence and terror and fights drug traffickers," Bush said.
J. Robert Manzanares, the U.S. envoy to the OAS, called for a full investigation into Saturday's events.
"It is imperative that we obtain all the facts, so that the full context of this issue is understood by all," he said, adding that the matter should be dealt with by the countries most affected.
Friday, February 22, 2008
prision ministry
As February comes to an end I realize that I am halfway through my time here and things just now seem to be getting busy. I am teaching English 3 hours a week at the Colegio Menno Americano school to the primary level. I teach levels Pre first grade to second grade. It is quite challenging as I have very energetic students. I also am continuing to work with the rest of my team to organize the school library which has become a bigger project then we anticipated. I am also contimue to go twice a week to another town called Anapoima to work with the poorer communities there.
I got involved in the prison ministry after my host dad (who is the pastor at the La Mesa Mennonite Church) came home after one of his weekly visits to the jail and mentioned that there is a North American inmate there. He then told me that this person does not speak much Spanish and would be interested in someone who spoke English to come and talk to him. So after much thought about who he was going to ask, my host dad decided to ask me. Of course I responded with a yes. So once every week ( on Thursdays) I am accompanying a group of men and women to an all mens jail. We have a time of worship and then a lesson and some time to talk individually with the inmates. During this time another women accompanies me as I share the gospel with the North American inmate in English. After some time of sharing I then pray for him. I am there for an hour and a half each Thursday. The group of people that go include a pastor from Bogota as well as some members from his church, my host dad, some people from my church and myself.
Being a female in an all mens prison is a challenge in itself. When I first entered the jail I was nervous because I had never done anything like that before. However I soon relaxed and was able to interact with the inmates. As I listened to the story of the North American inmate I realized that he knew quite alot about Christianity as he had grown up in a Catholic School. The more we talked the more he told me his story, he admitted that he needed to change his life but did not know where, when or how he was going to accomplish that change. A highlight was getting to meet him and sharing the truth in English. One of the biggest things I have learned through this is that prison inmates are not bad people but rather people who have made bad choices in life and are recieving the consequences of their actions.
I got involved in the prison ministry after my host dad (who is the pastor at the La Mesa Mennonite Church) came home after one of his weekly visits to the jail and mentioned that there is a North American inmate there. He then told me that this person does not speak much Spanish and would be interested in someone who spoke English to come and talk to him. So after much thought about who he was going to ask, my host dad decided to ask me. Of course I responded with a yes. So once every week ( on Thursdays) I am accompanying a group of men and women to an all mens jail. We have a time of worship and then a lesson and some time to talk individually with the inmates. During this time another women accompanies me as I share the gospel with the North American inmate in English. After some time of sharing I then pray for him. I am there for an hour and a half each Thursday. The group of people that go include a pastor from Bogota as well as some members from his church, my host dad, some people from my church and myself.
Being a female in an all mens prison is a challenge in itself. When I first entered the jail I was nervous because I had never done anything like that before. However I soon relaxed and was able to interact with the inmates. As I listened to the story of the North American inmate I realized that he knew quite alot about Christianity as he had grown up in a Catholic School. The more we talked the more he told me his story, he admitted that he needed to change his life but did not know where, when or how he was going to accomplish that change. A highlight was getting to meet him and sharing the truth in English. One of the biggest things I have learned through this is that prison inmates are not bad people but rather people who have made bad choices in life and are recieving the consequences of their actions.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
I have seen this passage lived in so many ways through the lives the of the Colombian people. I realized this when I was visiting Barranquilla with my host family. While there we were hosted by friends and family who so graciously opened up their homes to us. The first morning we were their we awoke to a breakfast buffet of plantains, whole fish (head, tail, eyes, fins and everything else), a meat ball like thing, yuca, cheese, freshly squeezed orange juice and bread. Then later on in the day as we went to various houses to visit we were offered something to eat or drink and sometimes both. This went on the whole 2 weeks we were their as it is part of the Latina culture. Also another example I saw of this was when a women by the name of Martha offered to host me for several nights even though she had just met me that day. She had lived in the US for awhile and using her knowledge that Americans eat vegetables and fruit she graciously offered me a lot of it which I happily accepted since I could feel myself lacking in the nutriants from vegtables ( Colombians don´t really eat vegetables) since I had not eaten anything but rice, meat, plantains and potatoes for three days prior to that. Another example is I was invited to spend the night at my host mom´s sister´s home and having not brought any extra clothes with me she lent me some of hers to sleep in.
The church in La Mesa offers a comedor (or soup kitchen) to children ages 7-14 five days a week during the school year. They serve them lunch as well as a bible lesson. Their is also a group of people who go to the local jail once a week to give a devotional and visit with the immates. My host parents have also invited many people into our home for meals and just to chat.
I really enjoy seeing this being lived out and hope to continue with this kind of hospitality throughout my own life.
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
I have seen this passage lived in so many ways through the lives the of the Colombian people. I realized this when I was visiting Barranquilla with my host family. While there we were hosted by friends and family who so graciously opened up their homes to us. The first morning we were their we awoke to a breakfast buffet of plantains, whole fish (head, tail, eyes, fins and everything else), a meat ball like thing, yuca, cheese, freshly squeezed orange juice and bread. Then later on in the day as we went to various houses to visit we were offered something to eat or drink and sometimes both. This went on the whole 2 weeks we were their as it is part of the Latina culture. Also another example I saw of this was when a women by the name of Martha offered to host me for several nights even though she had just met me that day. She had lived in the US for awhile and using her knowledge that Americans eat vegetables and fruit she graciously offered me a lot of it which I happily accepted since I could feel myself lacking in the nutriants from vegtables ( Colombians don´t really eat vegetables) since I had not eaten anything but rice, meat, plantains and potatoes for three days prior to that. Another example is I was invited to spend the night at my host mom´s sister´s home and having not brought any extra clothes with me she lent me some of hers to sleep in.
The church in La Mesa offers a comedor (or soup kitchen) to children ages 7-14 five days a week during the school year. They serve them lunch as well as a bible lesson. Their is also a group of people who go to the local jail once a week to give a devotional and visit with the immates. My host parents have also invited many people into our home for meals and just to chat.
I really enjoy seeing this being lived out and hope to continue with this kind of hospitality throughout my own life.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Barranquilla
As I stated in my last post I have been invited to go with my host family to the city of Barranquilla which is along the Carribean coast of Colombia. So here I am sitting in my host mom's sister's apartment feeling the breeze of Barranquilla. How is Barranquilla? Well let me start by saying it is a decent sized city that is hot but has an ocean breeze. It is full of life especially now that they are in their carnaval season and the city is decorated for the carnaval as well and there are people selling anything from fruit to car parts to other odds and ends from stands along the street. There is also carts being pulled by donkeys that share the streets with cars and buses. I have also seen women walking through the streets carrying whatever they are selling on their heads (usually it is something sweet that they have made).
My host family seem to know everyone here (ok maybe not everyone but a lot of people)and it seems like everyday I am meeting someone new and seeing a new place. I finally realized today that even an extroverted person like me needs to allow for their introverted side to come out and breathe sometimes. So today when my host mom asked me if I wanted to go with them to visit someone else or stay in her sister's apartment I chose to stay behind and get caught up on sleep (as I have been going to bed at midnight or later since coming here), journaling, letter writing and other things that I have been putting off doing.
The drive here was very beautiful and it was nice to see different scenery other than mountains. We drove through areas that are as flat as Kansas and you could see far into the distance. There were areas full of palm trees where they harvested cooking oil, areas that looked very dry and you could see many cactuses, areas that were mountanous as well as rivers that we crossed. We also saw fields of banana trees as well as other fruit trees. The houses looked different as well. Most were cement with thatched roofs but we did see houses made from bamboo, dirt and a thatched roof. My host dad told me that the thatched roofs help keep the houses cool on the hot days.
We also went to the beach for a day which was alot of fun and we might be going to one called Santa Marta which I hear has the best beaches in Colombia. :)
My host family seem to know everyone here (ok maybe not everyone but a lot of people)and it seems like everyday I am meeting someone new and seeing a new place. I finally realized today that even an extroverted person like me needs to allow for their introverted side to come out and breathe sometimes. So today when my host mom asked me if I wanted to go with them to visit someone else or stay in her sister's apartment I chose to stay behind and get caught up on sleep (as I have been going to bed at midnight or later since coming here), journaling, letter writing and other things that I have been putting off doing.
The drive here was very beautiful and it was nice to see different scenery other than mountains. We drove through areas that are as flat as Kansas and you could see far into the distance. There were areas full of palm trees where they harvested cooking oil, areas that looked very dry and you could see many cactuses, areas that were mountanous as well as rivers that we crossed. We also saw fields of banana trees as well as other fruit trees. The houses looked different as well. Most were cement with thatched roofs but we did see houses made from bamboo, dirt and a thatched roof. My host dad told me that the thatched roofs help keep the houses cool on the hot days.
We also went to the beach for a day which was alot of fun and we might be going to one called Santa Marta which I hear has the best beaches in Colombia. :)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
2008
Happy New Year to all. I hope this year has started out well for everyone. The Mennonite Church here had an end of the year supper for the whole church and Amy and I baked bread for the meal. I also helped with many other preparations for that supper. I am looking forward to seeing what 2008 has in store for me. Somethings that I already know are in a week and a half my host family and I will be traveling 20 hours by car to the city of Barranquilla where my host family is originally from. (They moved to La Mesa last February). Barranquilla is a city on the Carribbean coast. We will be spending 2 weeks there with their family and friends as well as at the beach. Then when I get back school will be starting and my role as a teacher will begin. I am also going to continue to be involved in teaching sunday school, youth group and in the Anapoima project. Also I mentioned in my last blog that I have a new ministry opportunity so I guess I will explain that more. Starting in February I will be helping with the prision ministry that the Mennonite Church has here. The story behind that is that apparently there is a North American in the jail here and my host dad asked him if he would like someone to translate the preaching and share the gospel in English and the inmate said yes he would so I will be translating and sharing the gospel with him. I am really excited about that. So that is what I will be doing with the remainder of my time here. Some year long goals that I would like to see accomplished for 2008 are the things I mentioned above, then after RAD I would like to get a job and find my own apartment and live on my own again since I really enjoyed that before. Those are some goals for this year.
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