Greetings from Columbia
What we been up to:
We got into Columbia by walking from Tabatinga (in Brazil) to Leticia (in Columbia), since it is actually just one town spread across the border there is no real border control. Our passports only got stamped at the airport. We spent most of the day in the Leticia airport and there were not a lot going on in there, there is not even an ATM or place to exchange money, but the man at the cafe (the only open store) allowed us to pay in Brazilian Real. The flight was good and we got introduced to arequipe , a Colombian sweet that is like a caramel fudge with caramel treat inside, it was so good. We were picked up at Bogota airport by 2 people from the New Horizons base where we are staying for most of our time in Columbia. Me, Arthur and Jaco (the 3 boys on the expedition) got to experience the public transport as we took a bus to Fusagasuga. The base is a missionary training institute for New Tribe Missions and it is in Fusagasuga about 50km south of Bogota. New Tribe Missions is a world wide organization that sends missionaries to tribes to reach the unreached, translate the Bible in languages it is not in, Their goal is to reach all the groups even if it is only a tribe of 50 with their own unique language. We were warmly welcomed at the based and fed some amazing chicken and platanas, platanas is like big bananas that they fry in oil, it is good. The welcome was only the start, the people on the base has been so open and friendly and inviting, we all feel so welcome it even made me miss home (Cape Town)
Most of our time on the base are spent working, the biggest part of what we are working on is building and repairing the fence round the base for security, helping to finish the playground that they are building for the kids and I have been spending a few days digging in what will be a lake round an island. Security is still a problem for them since they reopened the base at the start of last year, but it is minor theft and not comparable to when it closed in 1994 because of missionaries got kidnapped by guerilla soldiers over time in other places in the area and most of them got killed. Time at the base has been so good since even though we are working we are also learning so much from the people here at the base, it is so good to hear from people that has been doing this for 30 or more years and has spent years living in a tribe in the middle of the jungle, stayed in a country through danger when they had the choice to leave and still managed to raised families through it all. We are also learning what it really means to be a missionary, spending 2-8 years in a tribe just learn the language and the culture before you can begin speaking about the gospel and the translating the Bible and teaching people to read ect. They are also spending time to teach us more of the Truth, giving us insight into seeing the amazing story of God that is told in the old and new testaments.
We are also eating good since food is so cheap here in Columbia. Makes me happy, except that I think I am getting fat.
Team stories
On the boat and the first few days in Columbia there were a few of the team that were sick, really sick, but that lead to some amazing healing and breakthroughs. On the boat Kasia had all the symptoms of malaria, flu, fever, nausea, the works and since we were eaten alive by mozzies in Manaus it is likely that she had malaria. But after a long session of praying God revealed some things to her and she got out of her hammock and stood up, fever broken, symptoms gone and had lunch with us, this was after she look so bad that morning that half the boat had a look to see what was wrong and 2 people tried to give us remedies to break the fever, what testimony on the boat. In the first few days we saw a few more physical healings of team members. There has also been some major breakthroughs and healing of the more emotional and spiritual kind. God has been really busy with all of us and has taken us not only through healing of multiple kinds, but also into a time of learning. Working together has also been good for most of us and our relationships. On the other side, 3 days after we got here there was a small soccer indecent and Charlotte broke her arm/wrist, she had to go to hospital and get surgery to get it back in place and put some “steel reinforcing” in there, the miracle was the cost involved, in the end the bill got to about only 30% of what they said it would cost before the surgery.
So what been happening with me?
I have been in a bit of a learning overload in the 2 weeks here. I have been challenged about so much of what I believed about missions work and what missionaries do and what it means for my life. Bits and pieces has also been revealed about my future, but very loose and vague, just enough to make me go “errrr what??”. Thought it best to just write those down and try to forget for now. Doing some physical work has also been good for me, none of the Manaus frustrations of missing work due to admin. I have also been on a journey of what does the Gospel really say, what is difference between Grace and Mercy what does the words like salvation, righteousness, faith, ect really mean and how it should be used. Also the importance of the words we use when we speak and what we are trying to communicate is important since if we use the wrong words in the wrong context it completely changes your message and confuse people even if you think you are saying the right thing. My eyes have also been opened to the prophetic part of David, that he was not only just king, poet and “a man after God's own hart”, but that he was also prophet and that he really stood in relationship with God and understood some of God's heart. But how much more should we that have the Holy Spirit of God living in us that creates an open channel to God through Jesus have the same understanding and relationship with the Father? Also challenged about what it means to love your “brothers” and that it is only possible through the love of the Father in you, and just how much God loves us there is just no place left for pride or doing anything out of your own power. Did you know God LOVES you, yes you. He LOVES us very very much, so much that I don't have the words to explain how much so I will close with this. God LOVES all of us lots and lots and lots....
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