| Saturday, June 25, 2005 |
| 11 days of MIJUCO... |
| MIJUCO. Wow. Not really too many words. Actually, that is a lie... I could write a novel about the last 11 days. God has been doing some CRAZY good deeds in the lives of us all here in Chinauta, Colombia... some very, very hard deeds... some easier deeds... and some in the middle deeds. I will be back in Bogotá in a few days and hope to write more then. Tomas is a funny tall strange person who is reading over my shoulder - and that is ok. Please be praying for us all as the training continues and we work towards "beating our "bodies" to submission that we may run the race Christ has set before us"... a novel thing to say, something we all at one time have said we want to do... but everyonce in a while doubt the truth behind the words. (Don't worry... Paula and Tomas do not beat us too badly...) Actually that last part is a lie. |
posted by Erica @ 2:20 p.m.  |
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| Monday, June 13, 2005 |
| The Update. |
OK. So I recognize I have been a little bit lax on the updates - or at least quality control or something. Sorry bout that, but here is my explanation: basically, since returning from Peru one week ago (it has felt like one day...) life has gotten pretty crazy. Why is what you may be wondering? Well... because I have had to make some stinking important decisions in short periods of time - and have been running to keep up with/do all the things I have to before MIJUCO begins this Wednesday. Basically, the time in Peru was heinously needed - God blessed me so so so much there... not in that it was a particularily "successful" time - I didn't get the visa - but in that I have come back to Bogotá feeling spiritually and mentally refreshed. I was able to have several tight talks with Dennis and Betty that made me realize how bleh I was becoming... to finally feel that old passion for serving again was awesome.
Upon returning the necessity to begin making decisions was obvious right from the airport. At the airport, where normally it is NO problem to get a 2 month tourist visa, I was only given 30 days. When I asked why I was told that he didn't know and I should go to DAS (Immigration type place here in Bogotá). So, off Paula and I went to DAS the other day, where I was told that there is nothing they can do right now, and I have to go back a couple days before the visa they gave me is up - this is a pain, because I will be gone for MIJUCO for the next 5 weeks, coming back to Bogotá only in between training and outreach times - so you better believe that on the one day I have in Bogotá, I will be going to DAS. There I will only be able to get a visa which will expire exactly 6 months after the date I arrived, because you CAN NOT be in Colombia longer than 6 months on a tourist visa. It was this final visit to DAS that I decided instead of throwing more money after a visa, and fighting a problem that maybe God is placing in the way for a reason, I will be returning home.
I have called and exchanged tickets, etc and will be returning to Canada Aug. 16. I have a LOT of emotions and thoughts about this - and I go between excitement at getting to come home and sadness at having to leave. Yesterday in church I most definitely was feeling the latter as I had to tell a lot of people because I will only have 3 weeks here after MIJUCO. I feel kind of rushed already - there is SO SO SO much that I have been planning on doing here in Bogotá, so many friends I wanted to get together with, so many experiences everyone told me I needed to have... and I always thought, oh I have time... and now it seems the time is flying by at a pace that is unreal. However, I know that God will take care of the details, and I know that He is planning something amazing in Canada for me to do - I do not know yet what that could be, but He does... so I will do the waiting thing.
While this is one thing I have been busy with here, another is MIJUCO work... we leave Bogotá on Wednesday for a farm-type retreat centre thing for 2 weeks of training. We had our first official meeting with most of the participants last night - Paula gracefully explained that I can in fact understand them when they speak Spanish, and asked everyone to simply speak slower to the new Canadian friend - but reassured everyone that I am not a "bobo" and in fact do have a brain. That was nice. I was really quite nervous to be with so many people that all speak Spanish and during the meeting I could definitely understand everything, which was nice, but had intense problems getting my face and brain to co-ordinate to intelligently say anything in Spanish... I am a little scared of 5 weeks of total, total Spanish... but I feel confident enough that once I know everyone a little bit better things should improve in the fried-brain area.
Welp - this is getting huge. I will be gone for the next 5 weeks or so... but will try and write a quick update on our day back in Bogotá... PLEASE oh PLEASE be praying for me and MIJUCO...
Specifics:
- Pray for the 12 participants, that God would mold and use them in this time.
- Pray for my head, that it will not blow up or fall off with all the Spanish.
- That we will all have strength and energy for the duration of the program... days start at 6 am and finish at 11 pm.
- For Tomas y Paula - leaders leaders... discernment and wisdom for the decisions they have to make.
- Pray for ECA - that they would be able to find another English teacher for the fall.
- Finally - that I would be able to serve MIJUCO and it's participants in ways that are needed. |
| posted by Erica @ 6:50 a.m. |
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| Wednesday, June 08, 2005 |
| Just a quick note... |
HI! I am home - well, here in Colombia, which is home for now!
And I just wanted to quickly write and say that everything went stunningly phenomenally! I have returned to Colombia with a new found energy and passion for what I am doing here! God is tight and He was faithful (as always) in Peru. I need to send out a better summary than this, but just wanted people to know I am here... peace! |
| posted by Erica @ 3:29 p.m. |
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| Thursday, June 02, 2005 |
| Chifles, Moto Taxis, White White Skin! |
These last few days have been AMAZING! Yesterday before leaving a BLESSED time of fellowship with Dennis and Betty in Trujillo I went to the Huanchaco beach with them and had a fun, fun day of playing in the sun and water with my buds... I was mocked for my whiteness - but at this stage in life I have come to accept that mockery as the norm. I am now my other normal shade of skin - pink. Today I am in Piura with my friend Erin, so far all of the travels have gone seriously smoothly, and I am incredibly BLESSED by this time here. We have just finished enjoying a snack of watermelon and chifles - oh my word, so very good! This afternoon we cruised around Piura in moto taxis trying to find a ticket to Lima for tomorrow night - luckily we were able to find one at a suitable time and price, but it took us awhile, so I was relieved when we finally got one. This time so far in Peru has been an INCREDIBLY needed time of rest and relaxation, along with a time of INTENSE spiritual renewal. The talks I had with Dennis and Betty especially have me very excited to go back to Colombia and serve out the time that I can have there with the passion that I once felt at the prospect. I didn't realize how much I truly love that country until I came here... not that I don't like Peru as well... but that I know that Colombia is home for the time being. I am pumped to return to my Colombian family and visit with my little Aurora (Paula's mom)... but I am also encouraged by this time here that I have learned a bit of a new-found sense of independence, feel phenomenal about the whole Spanish thing, and too have realized a lesson God has for me through this whole experience. I will write more about these realizations when I am home and have time to fully process... but for now, thank you all for your prayers - God has used this time here for His tight work! I return to Colombia on Sunday, June 5 so look for an update shortly after!
Theme verse for life right now:
Mark 12:44 - "They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." |
| posted by Erica @ 3:35 p.m. |
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Name: Erica
Home: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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