Hello beautiful people! I am sure that you are curious as to where I will be going for my 11 months. Well this is the blog for you. I will explore 5 out of the 11 countries I’ll be traveling to in this blog. These first five countries are all in South America and they are all Spanish speaking countries. This is only part 1 of “Adventure Is Out There” and I will explore the final 6 counties in part 2 soon. So buckle up and get ready for take off to my first five: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
Colombia is a country rich with history, culture, and beauty. It is one of the most diverse countries ecologically because of the Andes Mountains, Amazon Rainforest, and Caribbean coastline. When I first thought of Colombia my mind immediately went to drug distribution and all the negative things I had seen in movies and from the media, but the more I did research on Colombia the more I found out about the colorful people who live there. The people of Colombia love music and dancing. They cherish family, and even families who are below the poverty line (which is a lot), family always comes first. Colombians love baseball and there are many ministries that engage kids through playing baseball and other sports in many of the big cities. Colombia is also known for its coffee. In many rural parts of Colombia there are coffee trees as far as the eye can see. My hope while I am there is that I can see and take part in many dance parties with kids, play some baseball, and see people the way Jesus sees them. Through my broken Spanish I hope to communicate the Lord’s love and even more I hope my actions speak that louder than anything else.
Ecuador which is Spanish for Equator. It is home to the highest capital city in the world which is Quito and it sits at 9,300 feet above sea level. Currently I live in Buena Vista, Colorado which sits at just about 9,000 feet above sea level. So hopefully if my team is placed there it won’t be too much of an adjustment for me. Ecuador is also home to part of the Amazon River, and Andean glacial volcanoes. It is the country that connects Central America to South America and to my surprise their currency is US Dollars. The people of Ecuador are a vibrant people who have experienced hardships and loss, but they don’t allow those things to keep them down. Although half of the population are at or below the poverty line they are resilient and happy. I am looking forward to experiencing life in Ecuador, seeing the way people live and experience life. I have read many blogs about Ecuador being the month of children’s ministry, so if that is the case for my team, I am going to be ecstatic. All of you that know me know that I love working, playing and being with kids, so my fingers are crossed and my prayers are already going up.
Peru is Country number three. Known for its ancient civilizations like Machu Pichu and deep long lasting traditions Peru is a country full of adventure and excitement. Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth because of the beautiful Andes mountains, vast coastal deserts and the tropical rainforests of the Amazon Jungle. Peruvians are made up of different indigenous people groups that blend well into a beautifully woven culture with strong traditions and values. It is also full of poverty with no foreseeable end because of the governments corruption. Brokenness is tangible, but so is the hunger of the people for a better life. They are looking for something to save them and that person is Jesus. I am excited to experience the strong traditions of the indigenous people and in return share with them the hope and restoration I have found in Jesus.
Bolivia is full of smiles, hugs and giggles of adorable children who come from strong indigenous tribes. Bolivia is home to the most indigenous population in South America. Over sixty percent of the population comes from one of thirty indigenous populations. Bolivia is also the poorest country in South America but it has the most natural resources. It is also home to La Paz which is the highest city in the world sitting at 11,913 ft above sea level and Bolivia is also home to the largest salt flat in the world. People say it looks like you are floating in the sky when you see it. I am looking forward to seeing the traditions of the people and experiencing the beauty of this country. The people of Bolivia are looking for hope and redemption, I believe that they can claim these things through knowing Jesus. Can’t wait to find out how the Lord will use my team to bring his kingdom to Bolivia.
The last country we will go to in South America is Argentina. Argentina is the 8th biggest country in the world and is like the United States in that it is a melting pot of cultures and peoples. It is a nation of immigrants and is the largest Spanish speaking country in South America. The diverseness of the people is something that bonds them together. The first thing I think of when I think of Argentina is Patagonia, and the second is Buenos Aires. I think of lots of color, flowers, adventure and beautiful landscapes. This country fills me with excitement thinking of the many colorful people we will come in contact with. I can not wait to see how the Lord challenges me to go out of my comfort zone in this country.
Overall my time in South America will hopefully be rich, and full of crazy adventures. My over all prayer for this half of my trip is for the Lord to strengthen me by making me more confident. I want to be bold with sharing the gospel and ultimately want people to just see Jesus. Stay tuned for part 2 of “Adventure Is Out There” coming at you sometime in February! Thanks for reading!
