Colombia Day 6

Post by Dave Stephenson

My priorities were really in order earlier this month when I started spending my lunchtime at work on the Internet searching for how to spend our off day in Barranquilla tomorrow, when our work in the mission field was completed. Mud vulcano? Beach? Trip into Cartegena?

God had other plans, and for many of us. Our work in the mission field may be complete, but we absolutely love these people. During my testimony at our service this afternoon (at our new church plant), I spoke about our mission in Colombia ... to share the love of Jesus. So many Colombians are lacking Jesus, but the love they show and are extending us is unbelievable. They are teaching us how to love strangers in ways unimaginable back at home.

Because of the relationships we have forged in the past week, many of us are choosing to spend our off day back in our communities, encouraging the new brothers and sisters in Christ to get on the bus at their church and to attend our victory service. I'm two days removed from the first community we penetrated on Monday and Tuesday, so I'm headed back there with team member Doug Schmidt to pop in dozens of homes, grab some hugs, and play the role of encourager.

E-mail blasts don't work in these communities.

Matt is doing the same in the village he led his team into on Monday and Tuesday, and they're bringing in an eye doctor to lend his services to anyone needing assistance.

We're going to be a mess back at Firewheel on Sunday morning after our return Saturday night. "Our people" will be a continent away and not a $10 taxi ride outside the city limits.

That's where faith shows its true color -- trusting in the Holy Spirit to take these newborns into lights in their communities.