Our first week and a half we had the lovely privilege of having a squad leader stay with us and show us how to do life out on the race. Danae, my beautiful princess, got to lead us. One thing I really noticed about Danae is that she is so intentional with every person she comes in contact with. Even if it is the van driver who only drove us for an hour. Being intentional with relationships is the biggest thing I learned while Danae was here and I’m so grateful I learned it month one.
Mama Ruth:
Ruth picked us up from the bus station in Bogota, Colombia and took us to our home for the month. She had a sign and everything when she picked us up and instantly we all loved her. Ruth stays with us at the church/school every night and she makes us breakfast most mornings. One of the first mornings I got up early to do my devotional. I went to a small room on our floor and got settled in. (There are 3 floors here. First floor is the church and office. First basement is the kitchen, eating area, office and classroom. The second basement is a classroom and the bedrooms.) I couldn’t get comfortable or focus and I just felt like I should go upstairs. I could hear Ruth upstairs in the kitchen and the only thing that was stopping me from going upstairs was I didn’t really know the level of English she spoke. It is very hard and at times frustrating to try and talk to someone who doesn’t speak the same language. At 7am I wasn’t sure if I was up for the struggle. God had something else in mind and I went upstairs. As soon as Ruth saw me she offered me coffee and I offered her my help. She didn’t accept it on that day but eventually she came and got me from the table and invited me into the kitchen.
Slowly you could see Ruth open up to the whole group. She took us to the mall one Sunday after church. We hadn’t been anywhere but the bus station in Bogota at this point and the adventure was welcomed. We spent the whole afternoon looking through the shops and market vendors. A big highlight was stopping at Crepes and Waffles for some ice cream; anyone who can, should go there.
The whole gang got back home and Ruth decided we were having a movie night. Feeling like I was 12 again I ran to my room, put on my pj’s, got my sleeping bag and ran back upstairs. Ruth put on some popcorn and we all made our way up to the church. We had beds all laid out on the ground and a few of us, the non-cuddlers, were on the stage. Projected on the the screen was probably the saddest movie I have seen in awhile. “Miss you Already” was the movie of choice. Even though the whole movie was in Spanish most of us, or just me, were bawling by the end. I couldn’t help it; I just left my home for a year, and there was a dog that looked like mine in the movie.
This and many other nights with Ruth have impacted my journey and I hope that it has impacted hers. Ruth is an amazing preacher and is so on fire for God. I’m beyond grateful for our friendship. I’m not saying the movie night wouldn’t have ever happened but other things that Ruth and I have shared definitely would not have happened if I never went upstairs that first day. Be intentional with your relationships, God put that person in your path at that time for a reason.
