This week did not look anything like what I expected, it was way way better that what I could imagine. I’ve got to admit, I was really nervous going into this week as I taught that we were going to be working one on one with women who are victims of human trafficking. But God had a different way of ministering this week with different types of human injustice than what I thought it was going to look like.
On Tuesday and Thursday we went to a community in Cartagena called “ La Boquilla”. This community is known to be very poor and we were also informed that physical abuse within the family was very common. While in La Boquilla, we partnered with a church to go door to door evangelizing and talking to people of the importance of a healthy family life. We got into a group of 4 (2 people that go to the church, a racer and a translator aka me). When I found we were going with two women who live in the community, go to church and have evangelized before my first thought was, “oh thank goodness, I will just follow their lead and translate for my teammates.” OHHH BOY WAS I WRONG. We went up to the first house and the two ladies with us walked right into the house (not knocked on the door, just walked in) told the lady of the house “here are two girls from the United States who want to share the word of God with you, do you have 15 minutes?”. Well, I guess we’re up! Talk about always having to be prepared. Before walking to each house I would pray, “God, what do you want this person to know, you speak through me.” and man did He show up.
Between Tuesday and Thursday, we went to at least 13 houses, and from those, two people stood out. When we walked into Angel’s house- a husband and father of 3 kids- I knew immediately what God had for him. Ephesians 5:21-33 came to mind. I told him that God has placed him as the head of that family for a purpose, and that he is called to love his wife in the same manner that Christ loved the church, that he is to be a husband and father that honors God first and reflected to his family. As I spoke I could tell God was working in his heart, his attentiveness was like no other. We prayed to end our time and on Thursday when I went back and was walking around the community I saw him again. He was outside playing with his daughter with the biggest smile.
Andrea was hesitant of letting us in at first because she was cooking and cleaning and didn’t feel like she was dressed accordingly to have guests- but she let us in regardless. I began asking her simple questions like how her day was going, does she live alone or does she have a family, and if she likes the community. Then out of nowhere I ask, “do you know the importance of Jesus? do you know God’s purpose is for your life?” She looked around not knowing what to answer but I reassured her that I was not looking for a right or wrong answer, I just wanted to know her honest thoughts. Then I asked her if I would be able to share with her what I believed the Bible says about who God is and what he wants from us. And she agreed with a smile.
As I began sharing the gospel with her, I asked her about her relationship with her daughter. I asked Andrea how she would feel if her daughter was simply indifferent about having conversations or spending time or even loving her mom. For the most part that is what we do with God; most people believe that God exists or just think of him when they’re in need, but don’t seek to spend time with him. After presenting the gospel, I asked her if she would like to receive Christ and welcome God into her life to build relationship with Him- she said “OF COURSE!” We got to pray together and now I have a new sister in Christ.
It was amazing to see how God works in the life of people so radically and so clearly. Both Angel and Andrea took new steps of faith. Please pray that their life continually grow closer to God. I will sure remember them as one of my highlights of Colombia.
