The kitchen table. The place where relationships are formed and memories are made. Here is where my teammates and I become friends. This is the place where we forge deep relationships with Pastor Willie and Mama Cristina, as we like to call them. The kitchen table is what the Kingdom of God is going to look like.
I have spent countless hour sitting with these two at the kitchen table, learning and growing. I wake up early and stay up late, just to have more time with them.
Mama Cristina, where can I start with her? We have known her for a total of a week and she has taken us in like her children (she has four sons and no daughters). She freely gives us her heart, takes care of us at any hour of the days, and fiercely fights for our safety and happiness. Language barrier and all, we understand each other, she teases me and I say how much I love her. She says “Brook, come make the Arepas” and I run downstairs even if I have other things to do. She spends her days cooking for us, showing us her city, and teaching us Spanish. She speaks slowly and clearly so we can understand and learn. She spends countless hours on her feet shuttling us around Medellin. And, boy oh boy, does she cooked the best meals. I do not even miss American food. Arepas, bananos, papas reinos, she lays out the red carpet for us. She exemplifies grace, servanthood, and power in a whole new way that I have never seen before. She works tirelessly for the people that she loves. She says her calling is hospitality and, man oh man, does she do it well. She furthers the kingdom daily and shows us what exactly it looks like to be like Jesus.
Pastor Willie, what a powerful man of God! His hour-long prayers bring the whole team to tears, although maybe two people understand more than 23% of the prayer. He has a powerful story; a powerful call to the Colombian people on his life. Although I cannot really make out what words his deep, Hispanic voice is saying to me, I feel so connected to and loved by this man. He cares deeply for my teammate and I and our stories. He wants to get to know us for who we are, and he wants his church to know us as well. He reminds us that our stories are important. Continuing, His dedication to the faith is a complete inspiration. For instance, he prays that the Lord would wake him up at any time of the night whenever He might want to spend time with him. This means he is usually up at 2am. Yeah, what a committed man.
These two people are a gift from God. We share the commonality of being a part of the human race saved by Jesus. And that’s enough. Seriously, I cannot even comprehend why we get the chance to known these beautiful Colombian people.
That said, we are having a wonderful time here in Colombia. Thank you, thank you for your prayers and support. I thank God every morning for this wild, crazy gift of an opportunity to serve and work alongside of the people of Colombia. It’s really crazy how blessed I am getting to do life with such amazing men and women of God. It’s really wild how lucky I am to sit around the kitchen table.
Video:
https://youtu.be/7JsFQRKM2ck
