It’s crazy for me to think that I left home less than two weeks ago. It really has felt like a lifetime already. Leading up to leaving was so bittersweet. I received lots of long hugs, many sweet words, and so much support from my home community. My “peace out party” was one of the best nights of my life, just because of all the love being DUMPED on me. I couldn’t fall asleep that night because I couldn’t stop smiling. I was just over the top overwhelmed with gratefulness. I still am.
But leaving wasn’t without it’s dark moments. I cried A LOT and I cried HARD. I spent a long time on and off grieving the coming loss of the only life I knew. The life I loved. The people I loved. The city I loved. I couldn’t help feel a little terrified to leave all these things for 9 months, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to come home at all, and that my communication with the people I love depended on when I could find wifi (or when I’d be allowed to go find it, I’m finding out). My shoulders were literally wet from the tears of my friends the night of my going away party, and it’s honestly really hard to leave people like that. I didn’t want anyone to cry when saying goodbye because it just made me remember that I wouldn’t be able to be there for them through the ups and downs the same way I’ve been able to all my life.
I didn’t sleep the night before I left (mostly because I didn’t start packing till then–yikes). But finally–after two years of waiting–I left.
We spent a few days in Atlanta for further training and preparation, and some final time with our parents, which was so sweet. During launch, God gave me such an overwhelming sense of peace about leaving my home for 9 months. I’m so thankful for that because I was a little worried I would be a mess, but I found complete peace knowing that God is right by my side EVERY moment, and that peace is still with me.
We ran into quite a few complications before getting to Colombia. Little miss Irma (the hurricane, that is) decided to ruin our travel plans (#irmaggedon). Our flight was canceled and following that was: being locking in a gym for two nights while the storm raged on outside, our first bus smoking so bad that my lungs hurt the rest of the day, then 24 (I repeat—24!!!) hours in greyhound buses and bus stations to get to Washinton D.C., some subways and trains and more bus rides to get to the airport, and we BARELY made it to our flight. I’m gonna add that the only thing I had to eat this day was a handful of cheerios. I feel like that’s important. Then I turned off my cell service for 9 months and we flew away from the USA. We had a layover in El Salvador, then one more flight, and WE FINALLY MADE IT TO COLOMBIA! God’s provision was seriously so evident throughout these hectic travel days.
I instantly fell in love with Colombia and the ministry we’re involved with here. We’re staying in the city of Medellin, but the majority of what we’re doing is in the community of Manantiales about 30 minutes away. Manantiales contains the second largest group of displaced people in Colombia. It’s high up on a mountain and the view is probably the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen (I’ve yet to get a picture of it). We stay in an absolutely beautiful compound a few days a week that God has truly blessed the ministry with. While there, we do house visits with mothers, and invite kids from the area into the compound to play with them and love on them. I acquired a little tribe of five girls all about age eleven, and we walk around in a line holding hands and play catch with fruit we pick off trees. I talk with them as much as I’m able, and teach them some English. Their faces light up when I tell them they’re speaking it well.
The first day with the kids, we sat with them through a teaching on sexual abuse. They wanted to make the kids aware that it’s NOT okay, and that they can speak out about it and get help. It’s such a normal thing, and lots of times it’s all the kids know. That BREAKS. MY. HEART. My little tribe of girls snuggled up against me while they were being talked to about this, and I was just looking at their sweet little faces, my heart breaking as I realized that at least a couple of them have probably had to walk through this all alone. I cried when I had to leave them even though I still have a couple more weeks with them.
The first day I asked God to give me His heart for the community of Manantiales. What I didn’t think about was that His heart is breaking for them, and now I’m feeling that. But the heart ache is not in vain, for there’s also such an overwhelming love, and God is present, working in this community. At the end of the month we’re here, there will be a concert and baptisms held in Manantiales. His light is breaking through to these people, and our hope is that the month we have here will build up momentum in the community so that the concert and baptisms will be so fruitful.
Man, I’m so excited and so grateful to be here!!!! I’m starting off the Race real well.
