Just so u know I’m writing this sitting on a rooftop ledge on a hillside overlooking the whole city it’s a view that will never get old) Colombia has been a pleasant surprise! After getting to our host and meeting them and settling in, Colombia feels like home! I find myself really surprised to say that! I thought it would take me a couple weeks to get fully adjusted. It’s day 4 and I feel like I’ve been here for months, in a good way! The people are so welcoming, friendly and bring you in as family almost immediately.
On our second day our host (Pastor Willie and his wife Cristina) took us on the public transit system so we could start to learn our way around Medillion. ( Medillion is know for its most innovative public transit city in the world I mean they use a gondola for public transit!) it was probably one of my fav days so far. When we started our day I was a little tired (this altitude stuff is real…. we are about 1500’ above Denver) but after a bus, a gondola, and multiple trains we reached Medillion and got a chance to walk around and go to Pastor Willies sister house to take a bathroom break! ( no public restrooms here) They were sooo welcoming they bought liters of coke to serve all of us (14 people) coke. We also met their parrot Gordo, he talked!!! It was really cool! They took a million pictures with us and laughed and hugged on us it was amazing. On our walk back to the train we stopped for ice cream…. HOLD THE PHONE BEST. ICE CREAM. EVER!!! We didn’t know the flavors so we just randomly chose stuff. Lol if u know me that probably sounds crazy, but I did it lol! Then we got out transportation cards and took the gondola to the bus. This bus ride was Literally like 40 ppl crammed in a bus most ppl standing and some in the doorway. Going up son like 45 degree hills and being absolutely terrified, but laughing so hard at the same time!
These 4 days have been challenging in many different aspects. Sometimes i find myself thinking about home and being sad that I won’t b back there for 11 months. Then I have times where I swear I’m never going back. (Except to get Sam!)
the night before I left Atlanta I finally took some time to sit down and talk to God about how to deal with everything that happened with Amber. It was the first time I took it to God. I spent much of those 3 days just being mad and hurt and asking God why he didn’t fight for her like he did me, and thinking of everything she is never going to get to experience. But I wasn’t ready to talk to God about it yet. I knew I was going to have so many challenges with coming to Colombia and I knew I needed to deal with it. So Monday night before we left I sat with God and He told me that in that moment I needed to grieve and then process when I’m settled in Colombia. So I’ve taken this time to grieve and accept that she’s gone. But processing hasn’t started yet because i haven’t felt connected to God like at all! Cami and I talked about it this morning and she broke it down in a great way for me and told me it’s like when I’m mad a friend but I never confront them so there is this tension and maybe that’s why I’m not connecting with God right now because I’m avoiding the tensions (totally mind blown when she said that, I have never thought of it like that) So connecting with God has been a struggle.
But it’s hard not to thank God every morning when ur waking up to an amazing view and serving the most amazing ppl! Colombia is going to change me in so many ways and I am so looking forward to that, and already dreading saying good bye to momma Cristina and Pastor Willie.
