A lot has changed since my last blog. The biggest change perhaps being that I am no longer a World Racer and am now a full time Volunteer at Cuidad Refugio. Here’s how it happened…
Ever since I arrived here in Colombia I have fallen completely in love with this foundation. I have felt so at home and have seen God working in ways that I had never seen before. As we were approaching our last few weeks here, I was almost praying that something would happen that would allow us to stay here for longer.
Two weeks ago, at our debrief while I was paragliding – yes, I went paragliding – I was looking out over the beautiful city of Medellín praying to God that he would give it to me, that he would one day bring me back here. And he reminded me of Luke 11; Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened. So, I asked. Lord, will you bring me back here? And the rest of that 20-minute flight looking down on the city became a spiritual journey full of God’s promise. First, he showed me the birds of the sky and reminded me of how he provides for them. And he reminded me of Psalm 23, that he will lead me to green pastures, that he is my home.
The following Sunday my team received the heartbreaking news that we would all be flown home due to the Coronavirus crisis that was rapidly getting worse. The team was given no notice, flights had to be booked that night. We were, however, given the option to not get on a flight if we wanted and to sign a contract that relieved Adventures in Missions of any responsibility for us. We had 20 minutes to pray about it and make a decision. Throughout this whole evening, I felt so sure that I was not leaving. That I was not yet finished here. That this is where I was meant to be. What if I stayed? Even though I had no idea what that would look like, or if the foundation would even let me stay. I opened my bible – purposely not trying to open it on one of those conveniently encouraging chapters of the New Testament – and I was brought straight to Luke 11.
Although far sooner than I had ever imagined, God was inviting me to stay in Colombia and to trust completely in him like I never had before that he would provide for me and that he would lead me to pastures green. So, I told my team that I would not be getting on a flight. I had no idea where I would be living, how I would be serving, how long I would be staying, but I was filled with a complete confidence and a peace that this is where God wants me and that I would be safe.
One week later I’m still here! I have said goodbye to all my teammates. I talked to the leadership of the foundation who have welcomed me with open arms and have allowed me to stay on as a volunteer – which, turns out, they really need at the moment with many of their volunteers having left because of this virus. And I am SO HAPPY! I feel so honoured to be here. That in the midst of all this craziness God would call me. That he would give me the desires he placed on my heart and allow me to serve in a place that really needs it. That he would use my years-old desire to go to Peru, my recent failures, my Semesters journey, my love for Ciudad Refugio, to call me to Colombia for such a time as this. Praise God!
