Why Colombia? Why the most dangerous country in the world? Why the drugs capital? Are you going on your own? Will you know people there? Your so young, why go now? London needs Jesus as well as Colombia so why not stay? Are you going back? When are you going? How long will you be going for?
Since I went to Colombia in 2015 I have had these and many more questions. I have always asked God to be able to lead me in the direction that he wants me to be able to go and in 2015 he lead me to Colombia. I prayed and cried a lot about why God wanted me to go there but I believed that He had a special job for me and that He wanted me to go have a good witness there. I talked to so many different people and had so many things to sort out.
I didn’t think that I was that great at anything but God showed and directed me in the way that he wanted me to go. I knew that I had always wanted to go to Colombia but God guided me and He helped me to be able to see the direction he was pointing me in. I also know that I was weak and God was strong and He will you use me in a way that I never thought he would. I knew that God would provide but it wasn’t until I got there that God really did provide. He helped me in every way and things were sorted before I even Had time to worry.
I want to answer some of those questions.
Why Colombia? London needs Jesus as well as Colombia so why not stay? Are you going on your own? Will you know people there?
When I first went to Colombia in 2006 I had this question asked so many times that I would be a millionaire if I got a pound everytime. My feeling is that so many people like to stay in their comfort zone but I was guided out of mine. I prayed long and hard about why I wanted to go and to make sure that it wasn’t just for my sack but because God wanted me to go there. I knew that I wanted to go abroad and that I wanted to go to Colombia at some point so I thought that now would be the best time. I knew I had the support from all of my family and I knew people out there and I had been friends with them for so long that I thought that this was the best place for me. I was heading out there on my own for 6 months but didn’t realise that these would be the best 6 months of my life.
Your so young, why go now?
When I was 19 it was the best thing that I could have ever done. I was young and so didn’t really think about the dangers before I went but was just really excited. I knew that I would have teams come in and they would be somewhat my own age which would be great. The main reason that I went so young was that I had just finished college and so it was a gap between college and the real work. I would have gone a lot earlier but I din’t have the money and mainly I hadn’t finished my education which I knew that was what I needed to do. When I was in Colombia I was young enough to relate with the children but old enough for them to know that I was there for them and they were able to look up to me. At the end of the day God guided my way and he will continue to guide me.
Why the most dangerous country in the world? Why the drugs capital?
I feel like I have touched on this already but I wanted to go to Colombia because they need Jesus just as much as any other city/ country in the world. Yes, it was the drugs capital at the time at which I went but believed that my tiny bit of work would make big work and so many people would see that I and the organisation that I was working for would be different. Working in one of the most dangerous countries in the world came with its challenges but I loved the thrill of walking out of the front door and not knowing what would really happen. Because Bogota was the drugs capital at that time there were so many people and children that needed our help. So many children were out of education because of their parents on drugs but we could give them an education. So many children didn’t have a home so we gave them a home. So many children didn’t have a family so we gave them a family. So many children didn’t have medical supplies so we gave them medical supplies. So many children didn’t know love so we gave them love. This was all because of the drugs and so we made a child’s future brighter and more happier. Each and every child’s life is important.
Are you going back? When are you going? How long will you be going for?
My inital short answer would be yes, soon and I don’t know. At this time I am not able to say when I will be going but I am hoping to be able to go soon and that I will be able to go for a very long time. I will be doing what I was doing before and helping with the marketing and photography side of things. I know that I would be able to go for a short time but depending what happens I am looking at going for a longer time than 6 months. I am prepared for it and I hope that I will be able to serve God in a place that is close to my heart and that will be able to help others as I do so. I have promised that I will be going back to Colombia and I hope very soon in the near future I will be able to go. I am saving up to be able to go and I have chosen a time that I am going but at this time I am not able to say for sure. Whatever happens watch this space!
I have said that I would love to go back and I have chosen a time but it all depends on what happens in the next year. God has a plan for me and He knows best. I don’t but He does and I am relying and trusting on him.
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