Corazón Colombiano

~I have now been in Ecuador for just over a week, and it is amazing, but I want to write one more post about Colombia to wrap it up.~

One of the most amazing things about Colombia was how the people were so generous and loving towards us all of the time. During the last week, our pastor was taking us somewhere for lunch or dinner every day because everyone in his congregation wanted to cook for us, host us, or take us out to dinner before we left. When we were just going to a house for “business”, it was impossible to leave without being offered coffee or some type of food. Even the drug/rehab center that we visited made us sit down and eat with them, despite the fact that they are working on a limited budget. We worked with 3 of our pastor’s different churches over our month there and every single time we entered one of them, we were met with a lot of hugs and excitement over us being there. The Colombian people made us feel incredibly special and I learned a lot from them!

I have always been a pretty distant person except to the close group of friends/family that I keep. I am perfectly happy saying hello to someone I know and moving on without much other interaction, probably not unlike most Americans. Seeing the way that the Colombians treated not only my team and I, but each other, has challenged me to try to serve others better and love others better. Even something as simple as hugging, instead of shaking hands, allowed me to connect with the Colombians in a simple, but loving way that transcended the language barrier. When I began hugging the Colombians instead of shaking their hands (well really it wasn’t my choice, they began hugging me so I had to hug them back or it would have been weird) it was a brief moment of vulnerability allowing a stranger to be close to me, at least from a physical standpoint.

Through the process of sharing my testimony with my squad and the Colombians, I have realized the power of just simply sharing your story. Sharing my testimony with the Colombians was very important because it allowed them to understand where I was coming from and what events in my life had brought me to where I was. Again, it was about being vulnerable with them so that they could grow closer to me, although this time it was spiritually. It is so incredibly powerful and important to share your story or hear another’s story so that you can truly understand who they are and what they have been through. Even with people you think you know, it is important to hear what they have to say about what has shaped them so that you don’t let your own perceptions/biases cloud who they really are. It is very easy for me to form my own opinion of who someone is, but ultimately I need to see them as they see themselves, and as God sees them in order to effectively serve them and love them.

Overall, the Colombian people taught me a lot about loving others and my own shortcomings in this area. It is definitely something that is a work in progress! However, it truly was amazing the power of a hug and allowing someone to know who you truly are. In addition, I learned that it is just about taking the time to prioritize others. I have realized I cannot truly love someone and get to know them if I’m not willing to spend some time with them and be vulnerable with them. Thank you to Pastor William Diaz and Pastora Cristina Diaz for loving us so well (like their own children, really) and to all of the Colombians that I met who showed me how to love others better! I will always remember Colombia and its people for the many things they taught me, and I will always remember los córazones de los Colombianos (the hearts of the Colombians)!