Colombia: Through my eyes (Day 1)

This is the beginning of a 7-day recap of my recent mission trip with JoyFM and Compassion International to Colombia. After I have posted all my journal entries I'll get back to my regular blogging. Hopefully you enjoy reading about my adventures and looking at the pictures!

July 23, 2011

Barranquilla, Colombia

The first thing I did when I got to the airport at 3:30 am this morning was pass out rubber bands. These bands will serve a reminder to be flexible and trust in the Lord’s plan, even when things don’t go well. Good thing, too. Less than 15 minutes later, exactly 2 ½ hours before our scheduled takeoff, we ran into our first minor problem.

Our problem never did really get resolved, but this is how you know God is on your side: 30 minutes after our scheduled departure time, as we were still waiting for ½ of our team to make it through security, the pilot announced there was a mechanical issue that needed to be resolved, and that was what delayed our take-off.

So we all arrived safely in Charlotte, NC, even though we only had 10 minutes to board our next flight. By the time we made it to Miami, things we back on schedule. And when we landed in Cartagena after 3 plane rides, boy were we ready to be on land again!

I had my 1^st Spanish conversation as soon as I got off the plane. It consisted mostly of me saying “repite por favor” and “despacio”, but eventually I started putting two and two together.

After we made it through customs, we were greeted outside by a handful of children from one of the Compassion projects. They were in traditional Colombian attire and danced and sang and played several songs for us. We felt so welcome…and it was so fun to watch. The drive from the airport to Barranquilla was beautiful, but it was hard to keep up with how quickly our surroundings changed. A city with fancy resorts became run-down, crowded houses, which turned into beachfront, then jungle-like, then flat countryside with a few cows and horses and sparse homes. Then just forest, then beach, then jungle again. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

When we got to our hotel, we were greeted by more dancing, singing kids, a big banner, and lots of Compassion staff unloading our bags. It was so touching, how we were here to serve them, and here they were, serving us. Dinner was good. I still don’t know what I ate, but it was muy bueno so I didn’t ask.

Our room is nice. Small, but definitely bigger than I expected. We don’t have hot water, but I didn’t expect that, either. And it comes out in a straight stream…it’s like standing under a garden hose. Hopefully I’ll sleep well tonight. I am so looking forward to tomorrow!

from Jess, with love

always