The Journey of A Lifetime
I just did the math, and it’s been 18 days since I bid farewell to the wonderful world of Wisconsin, which is currently the longest I’ve ever been away from home. The time has actually seemed to pass by rather quickly, but wow, being on the world race in Colombia is so much more different than anything I’ve ever done in my life. Adjustment is an understatement. After being in Colombia for a couple of weeks, I’ve got a new appreciation for the life I’ve been blessed to live these past 26 years.
I knew before signing up for the race, that there would be some pretty radical changes from my usual day to day. Things have proven to be very different on the race so far, but it has actually brought me to reflect on my past, where I’ve come from, and the way that God has spoken to me and taught me on my journey with Him thus far. I’ve heard many testimonies from others before about living lives of trouble, making mistake after mistake.. but then, at one distinct moment, they discover a relationship with the Lord and He begins to renew their lives, making them born again. I always think these testimonies are so cool and powerful, but the reality is that’s just not my story.
For me, there has never been a time in my life that I wouldn’t have considered myself a Christian. I’m so blessed to have grown up in a supportive, loving, Christian family, going to a Christian school, with such a solid church family. However, there is a vast difference in calling myself a Christian and knowing/walking with the Lord. This has been the journey I’ve found myself on in my lifetime. I certainly have not done everything by the book, but he continues to keep me, and teach me through throughout all of these experiences. I’m so thankful for His patience and love for me, even through the times in the past that I thought I had things figured out on my own.
After two weeks in Colombia, I can already tell that my journey with the Lord is so far from over. He has so many more things for me to experience, and has so many more opportunities for me to continue to learn and grow. Medellin is such a far cry from my life back home in rural Wisconsin. The people we minister to here deal with real poverty, drug abuse, crime, homelessness, and broken families. I also get to serve here with teammates that have lived different lives than me, with different gifts, strengths, and knowledge to bring to the table and learn from. I am learning to live in community with them and in a way that we may support and strengthen each other. We spend a fair amount of time in team time each day, getting to know each other, sharing and learning from one another as well. There have been so many kinds of new the past couple of weeks, but it’s all part of my journey with the Lord. I am so thankful that He remains the same from country to country and in all situations.
As far as ministry goes since the last update. My teammate Ike and myself have continued to plug in with the 20 men in the drug rehab program. We’ve been helping out with some of the daily bible classes, and probably learn as much from them as they do from us. It’s so cool to see the ways God is working in their lives. We played another soccer game with them on Thursday, so I’m at least getting some cardio in every week! It’s great going about the foundation and being greeted with a big high five/ fist pound every time I go by one of them.
Ike and I have also been able to help check the homeless men in to let them sleep on the floor of the foundations main level in the evening. The men are registered into a computer and aren’t allowed to stay if they won’t attend the Saturday evening church service for them. They are offered meals for extremely cheap, but they are asked to contribute so it’s not just a handout. The men need to be patted down and have their bags searched upon entry to ensure a safe space. It’s pretty humbling to look inside some of those backpacks and realize that it contains all that belongs to them. I did find what we were searching for on one occasion. I’m pretty oblivious to drugs, but I did manage to pull a bag of marijuana out of one backpack. The man was scolded and the product was taken away, but they still let him spend the night. In my last blog, I wrote that there were about 40 men that typically spend the night, but that number is closer to 70. Homelessness in a real thing in the metropolitan of Medellin.
This past Saturday has probably been my favorite day of ministry so far. Our whole squad went up the mountainside to the more impoverished area of Manatialles. Ciudad Refugio holds a kids camp on Saturdays at another campus up there and I would guess we had nearly 150 kids attend! The kids were split up by age and they each received the same bible story in a way that applied to them. We had activities afterwards, but the group of 6-7 year olds I was with thought that playing on the 6’5” human jungle gym was the most intriguing! I was wore out after the kids camp but it was so much fun loving on those kids, especially when you know they come from a place that isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows.
It’s wild to think that there is only a week and a half left before country number one has come and gone. I’m hoping to make the most of the time remaining here at Ciudad Refugio, but excited for the entire journey ahead at the same time. Maybe Ecuador will come with a warm shower!
Adios all my amigos,
Thanks for staying updated with me!
