We arrived in Bogota on Feb 17 and moved into a small apt on Feb 24. One of the single missionaries left early so we are completing her lease. It is one bedroom and although she left some things we have been busy buying what was lacking to make this home for us for the next few months(we keep thinking of things like- oh we need a butter dish and salt and pepper shakers, ets). It is one bedrooom,1 1/2 baths, and an open kitchen,LR and dining area. Also has a very small laundry. There is a lot of road noise during the day but there is a nice view, most necessities are in walking distance and is about in the middle as could be to church, church leaders and missionaries (since Gary for now is the council leader for Colombia). It has taken me a little longer to get used to the altitude than before so I have been taking short naps every day. We walk a lot here but it is on cement or hard tile floor so my legs scream at me now and then.
Tonight we are part of a marriage ministry kick-off led by one of the elders and his wife. Colombia has one of the lowest rates of marriage in the world. Gerardo and Vilma have been doing this for many years and we are praying that this will be a means of helping this church plant grow steadily.
Gary is doing a preaching seminar tomorrow and next week we will be in full swing of Bible Studies, discipleship, Ladie’s outreach, helping with the music of the church(Gary teaching drums and encouraging the Colombians with music ability to develop their skills), and unifying the mission team and training the one new missionary couple going to Mexico. Last fall we realize we hardly took a day off and we hope to remedy that this time.
One of the Bible Studies is in the home of a couple where the wife is a Christian and the husband is not. His mother just died and even though he is angry with God, he also seemed more willing to converse this Sunday. His mother was a Christian. The new missionary couple are friends with them and the missionary wife just lost her mother last fall. We ask prayer for their comfort and for the salvation of the non Christian.
Although things are going well there are situations that need to be dealt with carefully and probably won’t be much fun so we ask prayer for that too.
Miss you all.
We have an small apt in Bogota
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Thanks for the update and we are praying as God leads and guides both your immediate and next steps.
Thanks for the update, Mom! How did the marriage thing, Café Romántico, go?
Praying!
At the marriage kick-off there were 8 couples that were contacts of church people which is really encouraging. In addition there were 6 couples of the church leaders. I don’t know right now how many signed up for the 6 sessions–I know at least 1 did. Gerardo and Vilma did a good job organizing and presenting the ministry. It was fun and Dad and I actually did a little dancing before the meeting started. Sandra lip-synched a song to Javier putting a rose behind her ear and using the remote to the TV as a microphone. Vilma was trying to get us to think of romantic songs and we could only think of some words to some songs so I asked Dad and he remembered the song “Eres Tu” by Mocedades that we heard at the Marriage Encounter in Chile. So Dad had David look it up on YouTube and picked a version that showed the letra on screen so we all sang it. Thanks for your prayers. Keep praying that people will sign up and then be able to find a time to get together to do it.
Sounds like the marriage seminar was fun! Thanks for the update. I pray for you regularly.
Cool!