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
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Family Day at New Hope
As always...WE HAD A BLAST! Special thanks goes out to Kym Woley for eating the last hot dog...to Forrest Burchard for rapping...to God for homemade ice cream...to Bert for SPITTING...to the whole clan for a great day. Thanks for keeping around. I love you guys.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
