Welcome to my first blog from Colombia!
Have you ever been to someone’s birthday party where they’re the only person you know and they’re off with all their other friends? And you’re thinking, “what am I even doing here”? That’s how The Race has been for me, so far. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret choosing The Race but the adjustments have been more than a little difficult.
I love everyone I have met and served with here, but I’m still faced with the question: am I actually doing anything?
I’ve been serving with a men’s program here along with some other guys from S squad at the foundation we’re at and I fell in love with every guy the second I met them. Jesus is so evident within every single one of them. It’s crazy hearing their stories and seeing how Jesus pulled them out of the craziest situations/lifestyles. It was the most amazing thing because we all had a bible study together and then went out to play soccer. Was I the best? Nope! But I loved just being with them. I also had the opportunity to serve inside a displacement village. It was a place for people with nowhere else to go. But, have I added anything to these people’s lives or am I just another World Racer?
Well, let’s look a little more in depth, shall we?
There isn’t a moment the men from the group aren’t happy to see us. We’re all greeted with hugs, high fives, smiles, jokes, laughs, and a genuine sense that they all want us there. We sit and open up about where we are in life and where we’re struggling. I sit and see their eyes light up when I say “thank you” after they share. It doesn’t seem that big of a thing but it is for them. Shame runs everything here. You don’t talk or do anything that would bring shame upon you or your family. So, when a man is sharing about his broken/shameful past to someone who genuinely cares and says “thank you for sharing” afterwards is a incredibly freeing thing.
I never understood when people say “I left part of my heart in [insert location]”. But, now I do. Not a single person that was in the group with me at the village wanted to leave. All of use said, “I’d be more than okay if that was our ministry for the entire month”. The kids I met have taken my heart. I loved playing with the boys and seeing them beam after telling them “tu es fuerte (you are strong)” and telling them about the One that created them. I loved seeing the little girls smiles when I said their name and smile was beautiful (bonita). I can’t explain everything that happened but I can say that I’ve never felt more joy than I did playing games with them in the middle of a dirt street.
We were constantly surrounded by kids but I had one that stuck with me the entire time I was there. Medellin is built on and around a vast array of mountains so you have walk up some pretty steep steps just to get around. The villages walk ways basically went straight up which is already hard to walk but my little buddy insisted on being carried. Needless to say, there were times I was out of breathe. The best part is, my little buddy would blow on my face and try to fan me down.
I forgot to mention that we were mainly in that village to reach out to the families who are already in the foundation’s program. But it wasn’t too long after arriving that kids from all over came running out to meet us. So we were with people who never heard the name of Jesus before.
So, am I needed? All I know is I have an amazing relationship with the men and I got to tell people who never heard of Jesus about Him and His love. I may be the only Christ follower those kids will ever come in contact with. For some, I may be the only man who looked them in the eyes and say “you are loved”. The amazing thing is, people don’t need Caleb. They need the One who lives within him.
