Well, we're home! And it sure feels good. Though I am completely exhausted, I can easily say that I'm so fortunate to have been a part of this trip. I went as a part of the Grace Team. You can check out the awesome ministry of Sam Suddarth at www.graceteam.org
There were tons of potential problems that developed over the course of the week, but God had every one of them covered. One of the coolest things was that God used my stammering and stuttering and blabbering attempt at a sermon during the youth rally on our Saturday Night to connect with a young lady who had been living out of fellowship with Christ. He never ceases to amaze me.
My son was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Friday, but after a trillion different tests, nothing was found to be wrong with him. Our church family surrounded my biological family in my absence, and things turned out well.
We had prayed for it not to rain so that we could get as much work done as possible. It clouded up several times, but there appeared in the sky something like a wall that stopped the clouds from approaching the site. The lightning flashed and the thunder rolled, but the rain did not fall. Coincidence....I dont think so.
God was so good to us, and I just had to tell somebody.
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Almost ready for cement!!!
After a week of intensive labor, the sight is almost ready for cement. Because Popayan is very prone to earthquakes, building codes are much more strictly enforced. The top soil had to be removed, and then countless numbers of clay, chirt and rock had to be brought in and packed down. Today, while the Rebar Bender's Guild continued their work making materials for the baskets, the rest began to dig the footers and the holes for the floor foundations. Tomorrow, we should be able to complete all the digging as the RBG will finally be done with our work. It looks as if we will completely miss out on cement work, but who knows. We end our work early tomorrow...5-ish, so that we can return to our hotel and clean up for a banquet to be held in our honor. That should be fun, as many of us will share our testimonies and some special music. And then Friday, its back on SuperBus and up to Cali so that we can catch a plane home early Saturday morning. I love it here, and I love these people so dearly, but the thought of home just now made my heart jump a bit. Afterall, its DEER SEASON!!!!Kidding...well, it is deer season, but I miss my family. I miss yelling at the kids and the occasional dispute with me esposa. I miss the 43 trips a day out to the yard with the new puppy. I miss driving. I miss being able to communicate with words. For those of you who've ever traveled south of Miami, I miss the proper disposal of the "paper." I miss tap water. I miss the convenient things that make life better...dependable internet, cell service, air conditioning.
And in the same breath I know that as I return home I will miss not having cell service. I will miss the adventure. I will miss the simplicity that is such a fresh breath to a busy life.
The good news is...I'll be bringing another group down in January to do electrical...If you are a professional electrician who wants to do something for Jesus, and happen to be reading this...give me a call, I'll be home Saturday Night!
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Church Life in Popayan
So I said the other day I'd take a few minutes to describe church life in Popayan, so here's my attempt.
Like much of Colombia, the Payanese are very energetic and celebratory in their worship...much like the rest of their lives. One of the things that stands out to me the most is how deeply personal their worship is. Corporate prayers usually last upwards of 15 minutes...its embarrassing when us gringos cant even preach as long as the opening prayer...and you certainly don't call on a Colombian to pray before a meal!!! Much like contemporary worship in the states, repetition is a big deal. I would swear to it that we sang "Agnus Dei" in Spanish at least 25 times this morning...then we did it about 8 more in English. It was the same way with most of the songs. When the offering is collected, givers go to a designated location and place their money in a basket or some other such container. It is a much more active part of the worship. The sermon is longer....much longer than American sermons. Part of it is due to the fact that it just seems longer because you don't have a clue what's being said, the other part is that I think it takes twice as many words to say something in Spanish than it does in English.
Today, we worshipped at a mission church in a very poor village. The sanctuary was about 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. It felt like we were meeting in the back of semi trailer. But it was a great service and we were treated like VIP's. These folks who possess almost nothing lavished us with gifts and food and love. The Colombian people are the most hospitable people in all of the world, and they practice that gift to the extreme.
Following the service, we were taken to an elders home where all the furniture had been taken outside to allow room for us to eat within the house. It was a home of meager stature, but it oozed the love of Christ and we feasted on sancocho de pollo, rice with aji, and salad with 2 different kinds of very intense juice. Good stuff.
Following the meal, we got on the bus that seats 15...all 31 of us!!! I felt like the middle weenie in a can of Vienna Sausages!!!! and went into an artisan festival in the town square. It was a festival featuring the products of "Women Heads of Households" who were plying their craft skills with the hopes of selling their goods to provide for their families. I bought Miss Bert a really nice purse-thing (oops, there goes the surprise) and did not feel like bartering to lower the price, knowing that whatever profit the lady made would help feed her children today. Yesterday at the market place I was wheeling and dealing like Bob Barker, but my heart wouldn't allow it today. As we were leaving they announced over the PA system that there Americans in the city today....like that needed to be done. The city welcomed us and celebrated us like we were somebodies. Little did they know we're all just a bunch of average Joe's, most of whom drive mini-vans back in the States.
For those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, life is radically different from those who don't. Jesus is EVERYTHING. He is their focal point, their origin for all of the rest of life. I am likening it to a bicycle wheel. In this analogy, for the typical Colombian Christian, Christ is the Axle, the church is the hub and everything else radiates out from there. The addition I've made this trip to this analogy is that the tire on the wheel is the Mission of Christ. Their jobs, their hobbies, their recreational time...even their leisure time is designed ON PURPOSE to have some sort impact on the world for Jesus. In this, I think the Colombians understand the Gospel far better than most American Christians who insist on partitioning off a tiny segment of their in which to express their faith, all the while keeping the rest for themselves and their pursuits.
The element of the church being the hub is really impressive to me. When folks get off work, they go to church. Discipleship groups, small groups, planning meetings, choir and drama practice, church maintenance...everybody...every day. And everyone is smiling and humming or singing and they're genuinely glad to be there. Nobody complains about "having to do everything at church." Instead, they consider it pure joy to serve...to exhaust themselves...for the sake of Christ and His church.
Anyhow, this is just the little glimpse I can provide you of what its like here. It's wonderful. Come see for yourself.
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff
Like much of Colombia, the Payanese are very energetic and celebratory in their worship...much like the rest of their lives. One of the things that stands out to me the most is how deeply personal their worship is. Corporate prayers usually last upwards of 15 minutes...its embarrassing when us gringos cant even preach as long as the opening prayer...and you certainly don't call on a Colombian to pray before a meal!!! Much like contemporary worship in the states, repetition is a big deal. I would swear to it that we sang "Agnus Dei" in Spanish at least 25 times this morning...then we did it about 8 more in English. It was the same way with most of the songs. When the offering is collected, givers go to a designated location and place their money in a basket or some other such container. It is a much more active part of the worship. The sermon is longer....much longer than American sermons. Part of it is due to the fact that it just seems longer because you don't have a clue what's being said, the other part is that I think it takes twice as many words to say something in Spanish than it does in English.
Today, we worshipped at a mission church in a very poor village. The sanctuary was about 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. It felt like we were meeting in the back of semi trailer. But it was a great service and we were treated like VIP's. These folks who possess almost nothing lavished us with gifts and food and love. The Colombian people are the most hospitable people in all of the world, and they practice that gift to the extreme.
Following the service, we were taken to an elders home where all the furniture had been taken outside to allow room for us to eat within the house. It was a home of meager stature, but it oozed the love of Christ and we feasted on sancocho de pollo, rice with aji, and salad with 2 different kinds of very intense juice. Good stuff.
Following the meal, we got on the bus that seats 15...all 31 of us!!! I felt like the middle weenie in a can of Vienna Sausages!!!! and went into an artisan festival in the town square. It was a festival featuring the products of "Women Heads of Households" who were plying their craft skills with the hopes of selling their goods to provide for their families. I bought Miss Bert a really nice purse-thing (oops, there goes the surprise) and did not feel like bartering to lower the price, knowing that whatever profit the lady made would help feed her children today. Yesterday at the market place I was wheeling and dealing like Bob Barker, but my heart wouldn't allow it today. As we were leaving they announced over the PA system that there Americans in the city today....like that needed to be done. The city welcomed us and celebrated us like we were somebodies. Little did they know we're all just a bunch of average Joe's, most of whom drive mini-vans back in the States.
For those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, life is radically different from those who don't. Jesus is EVERYTHING. He is their focal point, their origin for all of the rest of life. I am likening it to a bicycle wheel. In this analogy, for the typical Colombian Christian, Christ is the Axle, the church is the hub and everything else radiates out from there. The addition I've made this trip to this analogy is that the tire on the wheel is the Mission of Christ. Their jobs, their hobbies, their recreational time...even their leisure time is designed ON PURPOSE to have some sort impact on the world for Jesus. In this, I think the Colombians understand the Gospel far better than most American Christians who insist on partitioning off a tiny segment of their in which to express their faith, all the while keeping the rest for themselves and their pursuits.
The element of the church being the hub is really impressive to me. When folks get off work, they go to church. Discipleship groups, small groups, planning meetings, choir and drama practice, church maintenance...everybody...every day. And everyone is smiling and humming or singing and they're genuinely glad to be there. Nobody complains about "having to do everything at church." Instead, they consider it pure joy to serve...to exhaust themselves...for the sake of Christ and His church.
Anyhow, this is just the little glimpse I can provide you of what its like here. It's wonderful. Come see for yourself.
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff
Friday, October 08, 2010
Popayan, Day 2
Today has been another good day of work here at "Jesus is the Answer" Church. We began with a good breakfast of eggs, coffee and some sort of flatbread that is out of this world good. The hotel we are staying in has a tiny cafe just next door with barely enough room to seat the 13 of us. Its a hoot. The hotel staff seems to enjoy our humor, at least everytime we look at them they are laughing...at us or with us, I'm not sure...but laughter doeth the heart good.
At the church we began with devotions and had a wonderful time of prayer for so many who are struggling and suffering back home. At 8 AM we began our work, only stopping briefly for food and beverages until 6 PM. I have become very skilled in the art of bending rebar. My right arm is going to look like Popeye's when I get home...too bad my left one will still look like it belongs on Homer Simpson.
Just after lunch, I was asked to preach at a youth rally tomorrow night. So now I'm freaking out a little. Say a prayer for me if you dont mind.
Tonight after supper, we returned to the hotel and went across the street to the Exito. It's the Colombian version of Wal-Mart. Just like I do at home, I picked the one cart in the whole fleet that has a perpetual limp to the left. We bought coffee to bring home and some snacks, as well as another pack of socks for me...I dont how I did it, but somehow I got down here with only 3 pair of socks. I'm still on my first pair, but i dont know how much longer I can keep recycling.
God has really done some neat things in our short time here already. They will make great sermons, so I wont let them out just yet. All in all, today was a day where I was once again reminded of how blessed I am. I have a 5 hour shift of rebar bending tomorrow so I will cut this short. Thank you for your prayers and support.
He Has Made Me Glad!
Jeff
At the church we began with devotions and had a wonderful time of prayer for so many who are struggling and suffering back home. At 8 AM we began our work, only stopping briefly for food and beverages until 6 PM. I have become very skilled in the art of bending rebar. My right arm is going to look like Popeye's when I get home...too bad my left one will still look like it belongs on Homer Simpson.
Just after lunch, I was asked to preach at a youth rally tomorrow night. So now I'm freaking out a little. Say a prayer for me if you dont mind.
Tonight after supper, we returned to the hotel and went across the street to the Exito. It's the Colombian version of Wal-Mart. Just like I do at home, I picked the one cart in the whole fleet that has a perpetual limp to the left. We bought coffee to bring home and some snacks, as well as another pack of socks for me...I dont how I did it, but somehow I got down here with only 3 pair of socks. I'm still on my first pair, but i dont know how much longer I can keep recycling.
God has really done some neat things in our short time here already. They will make great sermons, so I wont let them out just yet. All in all, today was a day where I was once again reminded of how blessed I am. I have a 5 hour shift of rebar bending tomorrow so I will cut this short. Thank you for your prayers and support.
He Has Made Me Glad!
Jeff
Thursday, October 07, 2010
POPAYAN!!!!!
Well friends, it go like this.
We made it into Cali, Colombia about 8 PM last night. Once we fought our way through the airport and made it out of baggage claim we were reunited with an old friend...the BUS from the Colegio Americano. Alvarez was in his place behind the wheel. Life was good.
We dropped off several of our group at the Hogar Samaria seniors home for the night. They had all worked on the project numerous times before, and....they had to have a place to sleep.
Bob and I were taken to Boyce & Beth Wallace's home where we spent a lovely, but very short night. Today is "No Driving Day" in Cali. No personal automobiles could be used between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM. That meant we had to be on our way out of town well before we were ready. I had the most awesome 4 hour sleep of my life!!!! Such a shame to have to end it so soon.
Back on the bus we headed for a final destination of Popayan. You really ought to google it. It is an amazing historic city. The road was similar to that going to el Coro...only 2 hours longer. As we came out of Cali, traffic was backed up and the policia were directing traffic. As we passed the situation, there was the body of bicyclist laying on the edge of the road dead. It was ghastly and for once, I will use some tact and not describe what we saw. It was bad.
I believe the trip was something like 87 kilometers. The bus ride was rougher than all get out, too. The good news is....I saved a fortune as I no longer think I will need the vasectomy. (I know, overshare)
We arrived in Popayan around 10, had a quick breakfast, viewed the work site and then came to the hotel to check in and drop off our luggage so that super-bus could get back to Cali and do its regular after-school route. We spent about 10 minutes at the hotel, and then went back to the church to to begin our work-eat-work-eat routine. I love this place, except for the working part. We have really made friends already here, as the people of the church are fun and thankful and generous and kind. Because Popayan is very prone to earthquakes, the codes here are very strict. That being the case, we are up to our eyeballs in rebar that must be cut and bent. I have no idea how many pieces we have worked with today, but it is a small sample of what is yet to come.
Our work was cut a little short this evening as the skies opened up and it poured like crazy. Sadly, we did not get all the dirtwork done that has to be finished before we can go much further. I'm expecting a giant mud hole tomorrow, but who knows. I am satisfied that we will eat 5 times, and that is good enough for me.
The church here is amazing and I will try on Sunday afternoon to compile what I've learned about it thus far and post it for you. Suffice it to say, there is a true hungering and thirsting for righteousness here that is seldom seen in the USA. Church is not just something you do, following Jesus is a complete way of life and from what I've seen, these folks are getting it right. 2 discipleship groups were meeting at the church tonight as we were leaving. There are 40 other small groups being led throughout the week in the homes of church leaders that average in attendance around 20 per home. Its no wonder this "young" church has over 400 in worship weekly.
As I've only slept about 7 hours in the last 50, I think I've shared all I can for today. Thanks for your prayers and support. Keep praying as we still have numerous obstacles to overcome. Be Blessed.
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff
We made it into Cali, Colombia about 8 PM last night. Once we fought our way through the airport and made it out of baggage claim we were reunited with an old friend...the BUS from the Colegio Americano. Alvarez was in his place behind the wheel. Life was good.
We dropped off several of our group at the Hogar Samaria seniors home for the night. They had all worked on the project numerous times before, and....they had to have a place to sleep.
Bob and I were taken to Boyce & Beth Wallace's home where we spent a lovely, but very short night. Today is "No Driving Day" in Cali. No personal automobiles could be used between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM. That meant we had to be on our way out of town well before we were ready. I had the most awesome 4 hour sleep of my life!!!! Such a shame to have to end it so soon.
Back on the bus we headed for a final destination of Popayan. You really ought to google it. It is an amazing historic city. The road was similar to that going to el Coro...only 2 hours longer. As we came out of Cali, traffic was backed up and the policia were directing traffic. As we passed the situation, there was the body of bicyclist laying on the edge of the road dead. It was ghastly and for once, I will use some tact and not describe what we saw. It was bad.
I believe the trip was something like 87 kilometers. The bus ride was rougher than all get out, too. The good news is....I saved a fortune as I no longer think I will need the vasectomy. (I know, overshare)
We arrived in Popayan around 10, had a quick breakfast, viewed the work site and then came to the hotel to check in and drop off our luggage so that super-bus could get back to Cali and do its regular after-school route. We spent about 10 minutes at the hotel, and then went back to the church to to begin our work-eat-work-eat routine. I love this place, except for the working part. We have really made friends already here, as the people of the church are fun and thankful and generous and kind. Because Popayan is very prone to earthquakes, the codes here are very strict. That being the case, we are up to our eyeballs in rebar that must be cut and bent. I have no idea how many pieces we have worked with today, but it is a small sample of what is yet to come.
Our work was cut a little short this evening as the skies opened up and it poured like crazy. Sadly, we did not get all the dirtwork done that has to be finished before we can go much further. I'm expecting a giant mud hole tomorrow, but who knows. I am satisfied that we will eat 5 times, and that is good enough for me.
The church here is amazing and I will try on Sunday afternoon to compile what I've learned about it thus far and post it for you. Suffice it to say, there is a true hungering and thirsting for righteousness here that is seldom seen in the USA. Church is not just something you do, following Jesus is a complete way of life and from what I've seen, these folks are getting it right. 2 discipleship groups were meeting at the church tonight as we were leaving. There are 40 other small groups being led throughout the week in the homes of church leaders that average in attendance around 20 per home. Its no wonder this "young" church has over 400 in worship weekly.
As I've only slept about 7 hours in the last 50, I think I've shared all I can for today. Thanks for your prayers and support. Keep praying as we still have numerous obstacles to overcome. Be Blessed.
He Has Made Me Glad!
jeff
Monday, October 04, 2010
Going to try this again..........
OK, So I'm going back to Colombia again and I'm going to try blogging my journey once I get there. Unlike last time, I have left the so called "experts" at Verizon out of the loop. I've decided that I can serve as my own technical adviser, I know I can do at least as crummy as they did last time.
Hopefully, if all the info I've been given is accurate, I will have internet at my place of lodging as well as at the church. I'm taking my laptop, the new smart phone, as well as Bert's itouch thingy. With any luck one of these devices should be able to get me online. Who knows. Worst case scenario...I get a 10 day sabbatical from all the electronic junk that I dont know how to use but cant seem to live without.
Our group is going to the city of Popayan, Colombia to do some concrete and block work. Hopefully, you all will be able to follow along on our adventures. Pray for us daily...that we will be good witnesses for Christ...and pray for our families too. I know mine could use it.
Keep checking back...I hope there's more to come.
blessings
Hopefully, if all the info I've been given is accurate, I will have internet at my place of lodging as well as at the church. I'm taking my laptop, the new smart phone, as well as Bert's itouch thingy. With any luck one of these devices should be able to get me online. Who knows. Worst case scenario...I get a 10 day sabbatical from all the electronic junk that I dont know how to use but cant seem to live without.
Our group is going to the city of Popayan, Colombia to do some concrete and block work. Hopefully, you all will be able to follow along on our adventures. Pray for us daily...that we will be good witnesses for Christ...and pray for our families too. I know mine could use it.
Keep checking back...I hope there's more to come.
blessings
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