Ahhh.. Hello there! Finally got on some wifi!
It’s been about two weeks since we’ve arrived in Colombia (even though it seems like three months) and I’m still alive and well, so that’s good!
This is my team, Sweet Heat.
Me, Kelsey, Jess, Susan, Lila, and Candace.
We’re working alongside YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Cartagena for this month while in Colombia. They are another missions organization and have bases all over the world. My days have been long… I wish I could write down every single story & moment I’ve experienced within these two weeks… But it would take a while. Instead, I’ve created a mini photo series with captions that cover some moments from the past two weeks.
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Week 1
On our first full day here in Cartagena, we did street evangelism and handed out free lemonade as a conversation starter. I partnered up with Laura, one of the girls from YWAM. We met a girl named Jessica and she shared with us how the night before one of her good friends passed away. She also mentioned how it wasn’t a coincidence that we met her that day. In that moment, I found myself identifying with her because this past December one of my good friends passed away as well. I shared with her how holding onto Jesus as my source of peace was the best thing for me. You could see in her eyes that she was looking for something to cling to and she was receptive to what we shared with her. Talking with Jessica made me realize that everyone we meet has a story and often times they just want to be heard and seen. She was right. It wasn’t a coincidence that we met her. It was a divine appointment.
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Raychel and I helped cook lunch at the YWAM base, but it wasn’t just a meal for a couple of people. No. We served food for 120 people. I had so much fun helping. For anyone who works in the kitchen, I have much respect for you.
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Week 2
We rode on a crazy, packed bus in the heat of Saturday afternoon to San Palenque, a community outside of Cartagena, where we stayed for the week. We served the community through children’s ministry, street evangelism, school outreaches, and participating in church services through worship and testimonies.
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Palenque was the first civilization to be freed from slavery in the Americas. They still speak their native language along with Spanish and have remained traditional in their ways of living. I had no idea this community of Afro-Colombians had so much history embedded in its roots.
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There were two choices for showers. The river, as shown below or bucket showers.
Or wet wipes…
This is when I knew it would be a rough week.
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This was the patio of our host’s house. Many meals were cooked here and community was lived out on these grounds. We ate lots of arepas (yum!), meat, rice, and fruit. Oh, and cow heart and cow stomach. Let’s just say, my stomach didn’t tolerate every meal…
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We had the honor of teaching 6th grade, 8th grade, and 11th grade in one of the schools in Palenque. We went around the classroom and had each student share their dream to the class and then write down a few ways on how they could achieve that dream. In a community where dreams are not often encouraged or even talked about, it was neat to hear about the potential that the future generation of Palenque has. These students are bright and intelligent and it fueled my passion to work with students. It was probably my favorite part of ministry this past week.
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I met this beautiful, little girl while we were cleaning outside one afternoon. She couldn’t do the monkey bars on her own, so I held her as she made her way across. She knew she needed help and didn’t refuse it when I offered.
I’m reminded of how we often times need a helping hand in our walk with God, yet we refuse to give up our control in exchange for His hand.
In the same way that this little girl joyfully received my offer to help her, I am learning to also joyfully accept Jesus’ helping hand when I need it (which is…always).
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There were so many moments that I didn’t capture in a picture, including my moments of complaining.
It was hot.
I felt so dirty all week.
We didn’t have enough water to drink sometimes.
We woke up a couple days at 4:30am for intercessory prayer and worship and I was tired.
Mosquitos bit me all week.
My brain was working twice as hard because I had to translate to Spanish (my team only has 2 Spanish speakers).
BUT. I’m glad that this week happened.
I did not commit to the World Race to live comfortably.
The mission field isn’t glamorous and the Lord has been breaking me of my “diva” tendencies. Amen.
However, here is a smile from the bus ride back to Cartagena after spending this past week in Palenque.
Because I survived.
Thank you, Palenque, for breaking me down.
This is just the beginning of a wild ride.
