Workin'it out in Fusagasuga, Colombia

 Where else could a team of laymen have a mud fight, eat incredible Colombian food, and finish a HUGE rerouting of a sewage system project in less than two weeks?  Well, in Fusagasuga you can if you are the Blue team. Yes!, the five of us embarked on this massive project with our baby soft hands and frail backs only to complete the project as burly Russian like work women and man who conquered the tough Colombian terrain.     

    It all started with the dream of rerouting the sewage system of a camp owned by New Tribe Missions (NTM).  Unearthing existing piping and creating an addition of another passageway for the black water, we started digging. Through sun and even rain and in strangely cold weather we worked. The more we worked the more determined we worked and the more it seemed to rain. Mud was created. This resulted in mudslides back into our trenches, heavier mud to be dug out of holes, and water infringing on our progress. BUT, we prevailed. We did not give in, we shovelled harder and with more brute strength than could ever be imagined. Some of us wised up and got rain boots, while the more “hard core” people of the group braved the treacherous sludge barefoot.  Through team work and perseverance we found victory in the end. After filling in the holes we spent two weeks digging in only 2 days, placing pipes in strategic positions, and building cement drainage boxes, huge satisfaction was found amongst the group members. The icing on the cake of this whole experience was seeing the black water flow successfully through the new and improved system without delay!

     For our team, it was a great experience to get to serve NTM in this way, but for us the real privilege was spending time with each other. Now an excerpt from a testimony of Helen (aka “HELGA SCULLIKINS”) about her time in Fusagasuga, Colombia: “It was great to be able to work hard during the day, slowly seeing things get done but also learning from and sharing life with the southbound team, as well as the missionary couples that stayed with us. We were really confined to the camp and each other’s company, so through this I learnt more about the freedom that comes in allowing other people into my life and sharing the weight of each other’s burden.. As well as realising again that when we focus on God rather than ourselves, we will be able to see how small our problems are compared to how massive our God is.”

  From our southbound leader and Honorary blue team member during our time in Colombia , Hanalie (AKA “Bertha Roodt”): “I think for me  the most amazing thing was to see how clever God was in putting us in a camp where we could not got out and we had to bond together as a team and get to know each other. The two times we could go out of the camp, however, was an amazing experience! We saw the market, bought some boots, and experienced Colombian culture. Did you know that in Colombian culture it is very rude to give any Colombian dish without a drink? (and that does not include water)  That includes Hot Chocolate with cheese, juice made fresh fruits, and liquefied oats…and also a Maizena drink.  I loved how the food was always perfect for the weather. We always had soup on the coldest days!

      Ït was a wonderful experience working with the blue team. It was good get to know them and see their spirits always high.. there is something about getting to know someone when you are all manlike and dirty… that’s when you see the real side of people! ( Don’t worry, it was a good side!) And if it wasn’t for Heather’s “magic boots,” then nothing would have been successful.”

    So as you can see we had a great experience in Colombia. We took Colombia by storm, but it took over our hearts. As we worked and got to know each other, we prayed for this country. As we prayed, we began to see God’s heart for this country. As we heard the stories of the missionaries here, we became reassured of the hope there is for this nation and the furthering of God’s kingdom here. Tonight we had a final farewell dinner with all of our newfound Colombian family members.  Even as as we head off to Peru, we will keep in mind all the things that God taught us through the people and challenges that we faced in Fusagasuga, Colombia at the NTM camp.