As my time in Colombia is coming to an end, I’ve begun processing all the Lord has done, not only in me personally but through the ministry we have been serving in. Here are some highlights and things I’ve learned. 

                     First and foremost: God is way bigger than I thought He was.

     I’ve seen His bigness through breakthrough within my team, as well as breakthrough through language barriers. It’s kind of daunting walking into a country and being told you will be there for three months and realizing you don’t know a lick of the language being spoken. But I’ve quickly learned that God is way bigger than language. I have formed connections despite the language barriers. I have seen the Lord move despite the language. And I have realized the beauty in worshiping in multiple different languages. 

     A big highlight of my time in Colombia was hanging out and creating relationships with the students involved at Ciudad. Every weekend a group of students comes and stays at the Foundation. I found myself anticipating the arrival of these students. Whether we were playing soccer or just hanging out, the relationships that were created are some I’ll hold in my heart forever. We laughed a lot. We prayed, we cried, and we used a lot of google translate. But let me tell you, Colombia has some world-changing youth. I feel honored that I met and did life with these students for the two months I was there. 

     Another ministry I grew to love was Aqua Panela, a ministry that serves some of Colombia’s most vulnerable. Every Wednesday night, we would go to the streets and serve “Aqua Panela” (sugar water) and bread to the homeless living on the streets. This ministry is one that shifted my perspective BIG time. It is one that showed me the bigness of God. It showed me how God CAN and WILL use every single one of us if we allow Him to. It opened my eyes to the hurting. When I came into the race, one of my prayers was, “Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours.” Let me tell you, the first week I went out to Aqua Panela, he did just that. He broke every part of my heart. But I am so glad that He did. Because through Him breaking my heart the way He did, he began to switch my perspective towards His people. Serving at Aqua Panela taught me to love with everything I’ve got. It taught me to show up for people. It taught me that sometimes a smile could go a long way. 

     What an honor it has been to serve at Ciudad Refugio. To be a part of what they are doing in the community was such a blessing. Colombia taught me how to love. How to fight and how to show up even when it’s hard, and for that, I will be forever grateful. 

    My team and I fly out to San Jose, Costa Rica on the 11th of April. I’ll update you with more details on the ministry we will be serving with soon!!

Thank you all for your support!! You are making a difference in God’s Kingdom!