Colombia Mission Trip 1-2013 Day 2

Another wonderful day today, Monday January 21, 2013, started early as we picked up Pastor Timothy Vowell at the airport at 5:30 am. I am so happy to be cooperating together on this trip.

I had a wonderful surprise when my precious goddaughter, Ginary, showed up to have breakfast with us. She has grown into such a sweet young woman. Brooke and I were so blessed to get to spend some time with her yesterday and then again today. She aged out of the orphanage last month and we are working on a long-term plan to help her in life. Please pray with us that God will send the resources and opportunities as she moves into adulthood. We will see her again on Sunday.

We headed over to see our new friends at Colombia Chiquita again today. I had noticed yesterday that they had a little church next door called Iglesia Misionera Santa Sion but I didn’t realize it was their own church and not actually next door but was a part of their house.

As soon as we walked in the door Esperanza said, “You are sharing the word in the church today.” I looked at Oscar and said, “You ready to preach?” They opened up the church which has a garage door which opens onto the sidewalk and they set up chairs all the way out to the curb. Pretty soon people came from everywhere including the children and filled up the little church out onto the sidewalk. We sang and sang and prayed and prayed and then Oscar and I preached. It was awesome. I shared that John 1:2 He was in the beginning with God, though a small verse tells the story of the reason for the existence of the universe, relationship. The blessed Trinity was in a beautiful, loving, harmonious, joyful, loving relationship before the world began and they created the world and us so they could share that beautiful relationship with us. God came and walked in the garden with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. We were created for relationship with God and nothing in this world can satisfy that need but Him. We try to substitute drugs and sex and alcohol and money and position and accomplishment and many other things in place of the real thing we need, the only true ultimate satisfaction, which is found in a genuine relationship with Christ. God blessed us with His presence and it was a delight to see the smiles and the nods and the Amens from many in the crowd. One teen girl in particular who came to the foundation in a lot of trouble a year ago and is now a sold out Jesus girl was very touched.

After the message headed out to the park to play soccer and the little kids played on the playground. I sat in the shade and enjoyed a steady stream of young people who came by to talk to share with me about their life and I was able to encourage and minister to each one. The other team members made friends and ministered too. Brooke had a long and deep conversation with one of the young workers there and I know they were both blessed.

We came back to the house and ate lunch and then we sat around the table and talked kingdom strategy for most of the afternoon. We had arepas, an amazing Colombian delicacy made with corn meal, white cheese, and butter. And of course we had lots of Colombian coffee. Esperanza and Colombia Chiquita have a big vision for a ministry center someday and we even pulled out the blueprints and prayed over them. As we talked and prayed Esperanza said, “I have to introduce you to my pastor! He is the president of a national pastor’s association here in Colombia.” She picked up her phone and called him and set up a breakfast meeting with him for Wednesday. It will be exciting to get to meet with him and some of the other leaders of their association. She also invited us to speak at a national pastor’s congress in November. I am excited about the ministry that we will do together, God willing.

Their most desperate need is for child sponsors to help them feed, clothe, and house these precious children who otherwise would be on the street but who are now being discipled into men and women of God. Esperanza told me that she needs 30 sponsors right now at $45.00 a month.

I made so many little friends and my heart was stolen once again for the children of Colombia as they lined up to hug my neck as we were leaving. What a delightful mission and people. Thank you Lord. Help us to help them.