There have been several moments this month where I am reminded of how strange it is to be here.
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It’s surreal to find myself sitting in the back of a rickety bus on the winding roads of Colombia. I felt it all, the chill of the rainy air, every.single.bump. in the road, and a sensation of ‘what the heck is happening’. In these moments I am fully contemplating whether or not I am dreaming, I hope that the rest of my life feels the same.
I’ve spent the last few days in a state of awe. The beauty of this place is overwhelming and I don’t know what to do with it all. It gives me a better understanding of the saying “the picture doesn’t do it justice.”
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As cliche as that saying feels to me, it’s true. I’ve been dreaming of a way to capture the feeling of a place. The warmth, the awareness of how small you are, the fullness of the mountains rolling into one another. My eyes are filled with tears at the thought. It’s incredible.
This week, we have been talking through the idea of heaven meeting Earth and what that looks, feels and sounds like. As a baby child, I can vividly remember sitting in the yard at my Grams house, the sight of the fields, the warmth of the sun and the sound of my family around me. To this day, this is still one of my favorite pieces of heaven.
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Here in Colombia, we’ve been attending a church in a city called Armenia. The people of this church are vibrant, hospitable and so kind. The church is a small space with white walls, there are pieces of the heart of the congregation in the simple artwork and the comfort of the room. This has been a beautiful example of how simple church is intended to be.
One of my favorite parts of the service is when whoever is in front begins to pray. Once they start, the whole room erupts in individual prayers with them. The first time I heard the sound I couldn’t help but weep, it sounded like heaven singing in my ears. There are few things that compare to a room full of people thanking and praising their Heavenly Father in unison. 10/10 recommend.
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I see heaven in the eyes of the children here. There is something so pure and raw about the love of a child. They exude warmth, innocence and joy.
The other day we spent time playing in the park. I took a step back from playing and watched these sweet babies totally engulfed in a game of soccer. Again, I cried. I felt joy in their big smiles and couldn’t help but watch the Holy Spirit on display. It was such a simple moment, I found myself crying and then laughing at this precious scene. It’s funny to me to recognize the way that God is shaping my heart. Prior to this, there had never been a time in my life that I’d gotten emo at a soccer game. But hey, the Lord works in mysterious ways.
The next time I was emo at a soccer game wasn’t long after this instance. There is this sweet, sassy boy named Jhonan that totally rocks my socks. He is easily recognized by his bold, playful spirit and is usually found amidst shenanigans. An 8 year old lad after my own heart.
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An intense game of soccer was happening and Jhonan was right in the middle of it. He was playing as a defender against one of the older boys; it wasn’t long before the ball had been kicked in his face and he stood covering his eye and holding back the tears. A bright young boy turned into a sad sunflower in a matter of minutes. Eyson (one of our amazing hosts) let him be for a minute, then walked over and swooped him up. He carried him away from the game and held him on the sidelines. I don’t know what he said to him, but I felt the love from across the field. It was such a clear depiction of the father’s heart for his kids. The craziest part is that’s how He takes care of you and I. He gives us a moment, then gently picks us up and speaks words of love to us.
As we approach the end of the month, my heart aches at the thought of leaving this place and I’m thankful that it does. The Lord has shown me so much of himself here and has given me such a heart for the people. It is such a blessing to me to be able to leave pieces of my heart everywhere I go.
Thanks for loving me. Thanks for reading my thoughts.
Love y’all deeply,
Allie
