I am writing this from the back of a very small bus and the road is very bumpy on this five hour drive from Medellin to Menzales, so typing is a bit difficult, but I have to take advantage of this huge chunk of time. (I literally caught air just now cause we hit a pothole…). We have been in Medellin for a little more than two weeks now, (and pause again cause I just slid across the seat into the wall), anyways (…oh, and there I go into the other wall) anyways, been here a while. The first two weeks were our training camp, the 29 of us shared a house while we went over logistical, biblical, and spiritual lessons. It was an incredible two weeks, and I saw and heard and felt God more than I ever have before. (…My teammates are looking a bit nautious now…). God did amazing things both in us, in our team as a whole, and in the community that we were blessed to be in. (Sorry, hold up a sec. I almost crushed one of my teammates.). After camp, we split into small groups of 4-5 people; my team is an all girl team of five. We stayed in Medellin a couple extra days because one of my teammates has a connection here, but she didn’t have enough room for all of us. So we ended up staying two nights with a very friendly couple who didn’t speak English, had no idea who we were, and the wife was eight months pregnant, but they opened their home to us nonetheless and fed us too. (Dang it we slowed way down and the roads got better, this is no fun). Anyways, Cristian and Paola were absolutely amazing, I was sick the first night and they were super sweet and concerned about me. They gave me some kind of medicine… Not gonna lie I have no idea what it was cause I don’t speak Spanish, but it helped! (Ok this is more like it, it almost looks like we are gonna drive off the edge of the mountain now). Turns out Cristian and Paola are the heads of the missions board at their church and everyone in their whole apartment complex is Christian. We couldn’t have picked a better or safer place to stay if we had tried. God is so good! We got a chance to spend time with them and another family there as well, to visit their church this morning, and I made a new friend! His name is Matteo, he is four years old, and he is absolutely adorable. (… and now I’m back into the wall again). I’m not sure what God has in store for us in this next phase of the journey but I am excited to see.
While we were at Cristian and Paola’s house a woman told me that God was telling me to not be afraid, that I am his child and He wants to take care of me but also to push me to do more. (…I have actually crushed my teammate now…poor Melo). Anyways, that was a huge encouragement to me, because (dang, now I’m starting to get a little motion sick, lots of twisty roads going up the mountain right now), because one of the things I really struggle with (holy cow, that’s a steep incline, my ears are popping. Why are we on the wrong side of the road???) One of the things I really struggle with is self esteem. (and now we are going down… Dang this is steep. I think Melo is going to be sick). I tend to think that God can’t use me or that I am not equipped and so I shut down or don’t try. It took me a while to realize how selfish of a concept that was. (Woah, we are high up). One of the things God has been impressing on my heart lately is the concept of living in freedom. (Getting dizzy now). I’ve been learning what it means to get outside of my self and my own wants and fears and desires, and to just live free (omg, the view is amazing right now as long as you don’t look down and see how close you are to the edge…). Right, so abbreviated version cause I’m starting to get motion sick, living free means letting go of self and that is my prayer for myself and my team for this year. That we learn to let go and live free for Christ.
Thank you all for your support and prayers! Please pray for boldness for us, (and for my small group to survive this bus trip… Still four and a half hours to go and Melo is looking pretty pale), and for sensitivity to the Lord’s leading.
Dios Bendiga!
P.S – I had coffee for the first time in my life yesterday… And I do not understand why so many people are addicted to hot bitter bean water. I’m praying for all of you!!!
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P.P.S – I actually couldn’t send this out the other day due to lack of service, just want to let you know that we all did survive and no one got sick (though some came close) and that we are all mentally preparing for the 12 hour bus ride we are gonna have when it’s time to leave Cali. Yay for adventure!
