The Kids singing Happy Birthday To Vera

The French Chef Steve doing the Cupid Shuffle!

Where To Next?!

So, as of now, the BCF Missions Team has been home for two days. As for me, although I miss everyone on the team and in Colombia and I had a blast there, it's really good to be back home. I can honestly say that it was an awesome first missions trip; the best anyone could ask for. I can't wait to go on others (Even though Pastor Bruce can't disclose the next location to any of us yet. Hehe.)! By the end of the week, we saw 745 people give their hearts to God, I became closer to everyone on the team and to a few other friends, and I learned a lot about God, life, others, and myself. Although we faced a lot of illness, we never let the Devil distract us from God's plan, and it paid off. Like Pastor Bruce said, it's not the end of the missions trip; it's the beginning of a new one. Who says we can't be missionaries in Ohio?? :)

Let's Catch Up.

Hey!
Sorry I didn't post yesterday or the day before; I was too tired to stay up after church and I left my computer in the lady's bedroom. Heehee.
Wednesday was pretty awesome, like all other days here. We went to a school with about 500 kids in it from preschool to high school. The cool thing was that the school is bilingual, so with the high school kids we barely had to speak any Spanish. It was a nice break. We even did the skit in English! Then, after the program, we got to go out in the crowd and spend time with them. Boy, were they fascinated with us! They were around me in a tight circle, constantly asking me questions about America and what I like and if I like Colombia and stuff. It was like Jeopardy. Even when I'd ask them to widen the circle so I could breathe, they moved back in close within a minute. It was cute. They even recorded me and took a group picture for their school newspaper. It was great.
Yesterday we went to another school; it was fun. Everyone was asking for autographs and facebooks and emails. Then we went to a really poor area on the outskirts of Bogota. It was sad, but the kids were great. There were so many cute babies! One of them fell asleep in Jessica's arms and the other in Donna's. I was really tired all day, though. I still am trying to get over it. I feel like I could sleep all day.
So many people here are sick. We are so under attack. But like Vera said, God makes a way when there seems to be none. :)

Pictures From Day Four!

The children in the school

Me & Sara (the pastor's daughter at the school)

Our "Guide" Pastor Santiago (Santi!) in the shirt Steve gave him.

Santi and his granddaughter Amy :)

Valentina :)

Sara! She was Donna Jean's favorite. She was shy at first, but we got her sonreir (to smile)!

Samuel!

Even in the poor neighborhoods it's beautiful.

Bogota Is Another Word For Home

Today was another beautiful day just like every other. Right now I am sitting in the living room of the boy's apartment (the only available Wi-Fi) listening to Cory play his guitar (very well, may I add). I'd say it's a pretty sweet end to an amazing day.
We went to another school and foundation today, ministering to the children. I had so much fun talking to the kids and making them happy. I think that's the best part about going to schools and places with children. Seeing them smile. They are so precious. Pastor Bruce said today that the children really inspired him because children all over the world are the same; even though we all come from different places and cultures and families, we all want the same things and have the same need for love.
Three people on the team that really inspired me today were Cory, Bob, and Donna Jean.
Cory because he hasn't been feeling well and he still pushed through and came with us even though no one would have blamed him if he had stayed here at the church. And yet, he did some really powerful things and spoke life into some really amazing teens that never would have been encouraged like that had Cory not come and seen the potential in them.
Bob Morris inspires me because not only is he amazing at what he does as God in the drama and ministering to people, but he is such an amazing father figure to not only Janine, but to all of us. It's comforting to know that Bob is around to watch us and make sure everyone is okay.
Lastly, Donna Jean really touched me today (and every other day) because she really is all of our stand-in Mommy while we're 3,000 miles from home. Today during one of the programs, I looked down and all of the sudden I wiped my nose and it was bleeding! I was internally freaking out. But all I had to do was go over to Donna (I didn't even say anything), and she knew exactly what to do. She put aside everything else for like 10 minutes to take care of me. It really touched my heart. I love her and everyone else on the team. They've all become like my extended family.
Although we only have three full days left in Bogota, I know that God has even more amazing things for us. I can't wait! Colombia feels like my second home.

Pictures From Day Three!

 Annie (in the plaid) :)

 Me and Sara and Maria. :)

 We played a game called "I Want My Mummy" where we had to wrap them up in toilet paper!

 Jessica & Cindy

 The view from the back window of the Foundation!

We took tons of pictures on the way back; this is Cory's arm!

Some of the children in the school.

The community that the foundation was in was poor, but still beautiful.

Cuanto Nos Ama Dios!

Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Today we went to two sites: a school and the Children's Foundation. At the school, the children had so much fun dancing with us! I met a little girl named Annie; she was just precious. She watched me and copied me all through the dances. I think she was about four. It was really fun to talk to the little kids, because they get so excited. We were having them hold up fingers to tell us how old they were. :) After it was done, the teachers and the children prayed over us and blessed us. So beautiful.
At the foundation, we played games with them and sang songs with them, and they even did a little presentation for us about the countries of the world! Then when Donna Jean and Steve were making balloon animals for them, I spent about 15 minutes talking to this adorable group of little girls. I didn't even need a translator (for most of it)! Although I loved all of them, one girl especially touched my heart. Her name was Sara. I gave her the baby doll that I had been saving for the perfect time. The look on her face when I handed it to her was beautiful. What especially touched me is that she named the baby Maria (the Spanish version of my name) and said that it would always remind her of me. I was so moved. I'll certainly never forget her, or any of the other little ones that I met today. They all touched my heart.

“God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him"     -Hudson Taylor

Something that intrigued me was that they all were so excited to hear that we were from Los Estados Unidos (The United States). They asked me if I paid for things in dollars, if I got the doll in America, if there were swimming pools there, and if it was beautiful. I half expected it, but at the same time, it was really surprising.
All of the team members have been so inspiring this week. Everyone has completely laid down everything they have to follow God and to do His work here. I'm learning so much about all of them; they've become my extended family. I can only hope to someday have the same love for God that my team members do.
Tomorrow, we're leaving the hotel at 7 o'clock our time. That's the earliest yet! I'm definitely going to go to bed early tonight. I'm already exhausted.
The count of people who have welcomed Jesus into their hearts it roughly 220 so far. I can't believe that we are changing so many lives! And yet, I feel as though the Colombian people have changed my life even more. I've fallen in love with them and in love with this place.