Colombia Mission
February 24, 2010
Dear church family and friends,
I’m sorry for the long delay in posting. Yes, we did arrive home safe and sound on Saturday morning, about 11:30 am. The flight was similar to the one we took to get to Santa Marta. It was a six hour flight from Bogota to JFK in New York. Although we had flown this before, we still didn’t sleep much. We were very happy to be home, get a hot shower, and grab a Central New York siesta, although the 30 degree temperature and snow on the ground was a bit disappointing after all the sun and heat we had enjoyed.
The last day, Friday, in Santa Marta was a “wind up” day. We finished a few small painting jobs on the front of the house. Steve did some work on the wood on the edge of the roof. Sherry, Don, and Sue touched up around the front door. Dennis went to get some money at the local ATM.
We cleaned up at 10:00 am and had our last devotions together. This was a moving time of thanksgiving and reflection. We were aware that this was our last time together in Santa Marta.
Following this time we visited the working apartment that our hosts us to do their linguistic and translation work. It’s about 3 blocks away from the house, an easy walk, and there’s a great view from the fourth floor. This is their library, training area, and work space. Each of them have an office, and there’s a large living room that can be used for training. It was great to see copies of the material already written and printed.
This is where two of our hosts’ co-workers are staying until they find housing for themselves. Our hosts not only opened their home up to us, but also their work space for others who need accommodations. They truly have the gift of hospitality.
We had our last noon meal together with the team and thanked our Colombian cook with a small gift. She really kept us fed well.
We packed our bags and called three taxis. We were off to the airport by 2:30 pm to catch our 5:00 pm flight to Bogota. Our hosts and one assistant stayed and watched from outside the security area until we were on the plane and the plane had taken off. What wonderful hosts they were! It was our pleasure to serve them and assist in their ministry.
The important tasks were completed. The bedroom floor was tiled, and we painted the front of the house and the front gates. But there is still more work to do. The inside gates and walls all need paint, along with the read patio areas. There’s at least another week of work for another team. I’ve already had one person tell me they wanted to go on the next trip. Are you interested? Let me know!
We thank God for the blessings of serving and sharing. We thank God for the friendships with each other and our hosts. We thank God for the ministry of our hosts and the spread of the Gospel.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
The Team: Dennis, Terry, Sherry, Don, Steve, and Sue
February 18, 2010
Dear church family and friends,
It’s Thursday night and we just returned home after watching the sun set on the Carribian in Santa Marta bay. It was a bit hazy, but the air was warm and the breeze was nice. We sang our theme song “All Is Well” and prayed on the beach. After that we enjoyed some Colombian street food, a corn meal and cheese patty cooked over banana leaves. It reminded me of a large potato pancake with cheese. Then we had some ice cream and did a little shopping. This was a nice way to end a long work day.
We rose early this morning and are usually to work by 7:15 am. It’s the coolest time of the day. We worked steady until 12:30 pm for a big noon meal – today was a cracked wheat dish, with lots of brocoli and califlower, and a kind of hamberger patties. No one is complaining about the food.
Steve and Sue finished the grout in the bedroom and it really came out nice. The rest of us continued to paint the front of the house. Don was the “song man” entertaining us with his singing to his Ipod. Terry and Don finished painting most of the trim color while Dennis and Sherry tackled the front gate to the house. That was a labor producing patience, but it came out pretty nice.
Dennis visited with the local Presbyterian pastor and toured the orphanage and school that the local church sponsors. They house about 26 children and have about 80 attend the John Calvin Academy, a primary school. They have outreach programs to the local people around the buildings that reach another 300 people. The people are responsive and they are talking about building another church on the ground. It was exciting to see their vision for the whole coastal region.
We’re pleased with what we’ve been able to do, but there is so much more. Apart from the bedroom floor, we haven’t had time to do anything else inside the house. There’s enough work here to keep another team of six busy for a week.
Last night, we visited the Wednesday night prayer service at the church we attended on Sunday. There were about 60 enthusiastic people there. After some singing and prayer, we were introduced, each person shared a Scripture verse about prayer, and Dennis preached with a translator. The people were responsive and appreciative. It was good to be with the Colombians in worship again.
Tomorrow we’re going to touch up the painting, do a few smaller outside jobs on the house and quite about 10:00 am to have our closing devotions. After that we’ll visit the apartment where our hosts do more of their work. We eat our last Colombian meal at 12:30 pm, pack and leave for the airport by 2:30 pm. Our plane leaves Santa Marta at 5:00 pm to Bogota, then overnight to JFK and home by 10:30 am Saturday.
We’re still well, a little tired, but satisfied and grateful for the time we’ve had here. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
In His service,
The Team: Dennis, Sherry, Terry, Steve, Sue, and Grandpa Don.
February 17, 2010
Dear church friends and family,
We just finished our third day working on the house and it's starting to show some improvement. Steve and Sue spent the day in the bedroom finishing the tile border and beginning the grout. It's going to look very nice. They should be able to finish this job tomorrow.
The paint crew of Dennis, Sherry, and Terry continued their work on the front outside of the house. There was a lot of small green trim work done today. The large yellow walls are about finished.
Don tackled the front door casing. Termites had done some damage to part of the door frame. Don removed the door and cut out the bad piece of wood, or what was left of it. Then he hand fashioned another piece to replace the damaged wood, and re-installed the door., It was a pretty big project, but he finished by lunch. He joined the paint crew in the afternoon.
Don also managed to become a grandfather for the first time today. His daughter, Sarah, had a healthy, baby girl.
Lunch was wonderful again. Rice and beans with plantanes and fresh fruit. We want to bring this lady home with us!
Tonight we're going to the church we attended on Sunday. Dennis was asked to preach for the pastor at the Wednesday night prayer meeting. Each of the team will share a verse about prayer that they like. It will be a great time of worship and prayer with the national believers.
Last night, Dennis had a chance to meet the local Presbyterian pastor and he will be visiting the church and the school they run tomorrow.
We continue to be healthy and uninjured. We're also getting along well together, enjoying our time with our hosts, and accomplishing some very helpful work for them.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.
In His service,
The Team: Dennis, Sherry, Terry, Steve, Sue, and Grandpa Don.
February 16, 2010
Dear Friends,
We arrived safely in Santa Marta, Colombia, on time and with no schedule problems on Saturday, Feb. 13, at about 9:00 am. We flew all night from JFK and arrived in Bogata about 6:00 am. Thanks for your prayers for a safe flight. Santa Marta is in the same time zone as Syracuse, so there was no adjustment for jet lag.
Our hosts met us at the airport. They were so pleased to see us. We took taxis back to their home in Santa Marta and got settled Saturday morning. We're in groups of two, and each of us have our own room. Steve and Sue get the airconditioner, but the rest of us have fans.
After a delicious noon meal, the large meal of the day, we took a much anticipated siesta. Most people rest from 1:00-3:00 pm because it is so hot here, and it is! We can't believe it's the middle of February. It's like a hot, humid, August day, in the 90's and muggy. Santa Marta is right on the coast, so occasionally there is a nice ocean breeze, but it's still very hot.. After little sleep the night before, we were glad to take a nap. It felt great! Afterwards the ladies went grocery shopping and Don and Steve did a little planning for the time project and surveyed the rest of the work to be done.
We ate noon left overs about 6:00 pm and then spent some time talking with our hosts and our trip, the work we were going to do, and life in a foreign culture. We prayed together and went to sleep.
Sunday was also a full day in the community. We started with church at 8:30 am. We went to a church that our hosts often attend. There were about 180 people, lots of children, people of all ages, and very energetic and excited about worship. The opening music was about an hour, led by the pastor's wife. There was about another hour of mission news, offerings, announcements, and other things. Then the sermon was nearly an hour and we ended with communion. They welcomed us warming, served us cold drinks afterwards, and asked me to preach at their Wednesday evening prayer service. The pastor will be away on a local mission trip with some of his parishioners. I was humbled and honored to be asked. I've been working on a sermon about prayer. We'll all share in the service, so keep this in your prayers, too.
After church we did some touristy things – went out to eat in a nice restaurant by the beach, did some shopping, went to the beach, stepped or swam in the water, and took a wild bus ride back to the house. We had a lot of fun and it was a good way to see the city. We had a light supper, and then spent an hour sharing and praying together with our hosts.
Monday was the first work day. The birds are awake at 6:00 am when it gets light, and the weather is cooler, although not really cool. So we're rising early, eating a light breakfast, and usually working by 7:30 am. Don and Steve started laying tile in the bedroom and Sherry, Sue, and Terry tackled scraping and priming the two, rought-iron from gates on the property. All the homes are gated and the condition of your front gates is very important. Our hosts have not had time to do the proper repair and painting, so that's what we came to do. They spent the day scraping and priming, with a siets after a great lunch. Steve and Don got almost all the ceramic tile laid down. I went shopping for materials, visited the ATM for cash, and confirmed our flight reservations home.
The regular housekeeper/cook is here to cook the big noon meal everyday. She's a great cook and we're eating well. Lots of rice, fresh tropical fruits, chicken, and veggies. None of us will loose any weight because of the diet, although the heat may drain us some. We ended the evening with a liter meal and then devotions and prayer together. It's so moving to hear stories from our hosts and to share in their ministy. They are so grateful that we can do some repairs and painting in their home that is much needed. It will free them to be more involved in the ministry.
Today, Tuesday was another early rise, hot and muggy day. We're starting to adjust. We put Don in charge of the water. We drink either bottled or filtered water all the time. The tap water is for bathing only. There's no hot water unless you boil it, but a cool shower feels so good!
The girls tackled the gates and put on a first coat of white paint.. Steve went shopping to pick out some border tile for the room. Don and I opened the outside house paint, got it mixed, and started preping and painting the front of the house. There are three colors, a light yellow-gold walls, dark green trim, and white accents. After the gates, the girls wanted us to paint the front of their home. It's hadn't been done for several years. Everything is built with cement and concrete and is covered with some kind of stucco, so we're getting used to scraping and painting that kind of surface. We got a lot of the scraping done and painted most of the yellow walls today.
The highlight of the afternoon was power spraying the two front gates that the girls had prepared. It had taken them a day and a half to complete, but we sprayed the final coat in an hour and a half. What fun! Terry and Steve held up a drop cloth behind the gates, and Don used the power spayer. Sue and Sherry touched up the runs and drops after spraying and I took pictures. It was definitely one of the memorable moments of the trip.
It's time for supper now. Sorry for the delays in posting. We will show picutes and tell more stories when we return. We need to be careful about sending pictures over the internet, so you'll have to wait until Sunday.
Keep us in your prayers. There have been a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. We're all well, adjusting to the heat, and getting used to sleeping with fans.
Check again tomorrow for an update.
With our thoughts and prayers,
The Team – Dennis, Sherry, Terry, Steve, Sue, Don
The First Presbyterian Church
· 118 Arch Street ·
Chittenango, NY 13037
Church Main Line: 315-687-7355 · Prayer Line: 315-687-7729 ·
Church Second Line: 315-687-1034