Colombia Journal

Journal Entry 8 by Mission Trip Day 6 on 2/26/2010
	Well our journey in Bogota, Colombia has came to an end. We are happy to go home but yet we are all sad to leave our new friends. Today was our last day together and we gathered at IELCO. We had an evaluation and they also shared more information about Bogota, Colombia. It is a wonderful place with wonderful people. We made a lot of new friends and we are praying we all keep in touch. The group would like to thank Pastor Greg, Pastor Natanael, Bishop Sigifredo and his wife Maritza, Martha, Eber, Estela, and all the youth would chaperoned throughout the trip. This is a journey that we will never forget and will take back home all the memories! *Correction for yesterdays blog: We went to VILLA DE LEYVA in COLOMBIA "NOT" Villa De Playa which is in Mexico!!! :) We promise we never left Colombia!! See you all soon!

Journal Entry 7 by Colombia Mission Trip at Tunja on 2/24/2010
	Hello Everyone! We apologize for not posting a blog on Wednesday. We were at Villa De Leyva ang had no internet access but here it is. The picture we have posted is of kids performing for us at at church named Prince of Peace in Tunja. We were greeted by many wonderful people. The church is very old but that does not stop them from having their services on Sundays. We ate, sang, danced and we had such a good time. We spent about 3 hours there then headed out to Villa De Leyva. We stayed a very nice resort/spa. We also went out to the village and many of us did lots of shopping! The resort we stayed at was very elegant. We will post Thursdays blog to inform you of our activities for the day!

Journal Entry 6 by Mission Trip-Day 5 on 2/25/2010
	Today was a more leisurely day. After leaving the hotel, we spent the morning in Villa de Playa, shopping or looking at the church there. They have a very scenic town square. Our highlight today was our visit to the Salt Cathedral. The Cathedral is situated in what was originally a salt mine. Carved into it are the stations of the cross, a beautiful nativity (which is the picture today), and a worship area. There is also an area dedicated to miners who lost their lives working in the mine. It is one of the most famous landmarks in Colombia and is very beautiful.

Journal Entry 5 by Mission Trip-Day 3 on 2/23/2010
	Greetings! Today we visited the elders at the Senior Center in Soacha. We enjoyed a blessed day with the seniors and shared a lot of hugs and kisses. The GSS supported center serves 31 elders who receive a meal 5 days a week and various handiwork classes and activities. After giving us a short program about Soacha, a group of seniors did a traditional Colombian dance for us and then we all danced together and shared lots of laughs! We gave the seniors the bags we packed for them and there were smiles and many gracies all around, from the elders as well as us. After sharing lunch together, we visited different homes of elders. Although the homes are modest, all of the seniors are very proud of their homes. They work hard to help support their families and many lived with extended family, with some very small homes housing up to 8 people. A little bit about Soacha: Soacha has 400,000 inhabitants, of which 19,000 are displaced people from other parts of Colombia, including some of the seniors we have met this week. In their home states, they often still own land and homes, but cannot return at this time because of the violence, gangs, and drugs that make living there too dangerous. Many of the people who live in Soacha do not legally own the land and homes that they live in and as such the government is not able to install running water and sewage systems. Most have electricity and receive water 2 days per week which they store in barrels. Life there is very different from our life in the US, but the people are happy for what they have and thank and worship God daily. They have a faith that is an example for all of us.

Journal Entry 4 by Colombia Mission Trip on 2/21/2010
	Here is the picture for yesterdays blog! We figured it out today how to post it! :) Here it is...

Journal Entry 3 by Mission Trip day 2 on 2/22/2010
	Hello Everyone! Today was quite an experience. We visited a town called Caracoli where we took bags to the kids and the women with various goodies and everyone was extremely happy. Caracoli is a very underdeveloped area and the women take workshop classes were they have learned to make childrens clothing and purses to sell. Thanks to Good Samaritan, they were able to buy two sewing machines and those are the ones being used by women to sew clothing and purses. We also visited a couple of houses and that was an eye opener which really made us appreciate what we have back home. The picture is of the kids receiving the goodie bags and as you can see they are very happy. Tomorrow we will be traveling to Soacha to visit with the seniors and we will be doing some painting. We are all looking forward to it. We will be sure to take a picture and post it tomorrow!

Journal Entry 2 by Colombia Mission Trip on 2/21/2010
Greetings from Colombia! All group members arrived safely and began our journey today. We visited the Good Samaritan Society sponsored Senior Center. We had a worship service with the seniors with Bishop Sigifredo leading the service. The seniors shared lunch of squash soup, vegetable meat dish, sweet plantain and guave juice. After many good byes, the group went site seeing around Bogota with the highlight being Monserrate. After supper, we unpacked all the items we brought with to give to the women, children, and elders and then re-packed them into bags for each person. We will deliver these bags over the next 2 days. Thank you to everyone who gave things!

Journal Entry 1 by Gail Deckert on 2/4/2010
Iglesia Evangelica Luterana De Colombia Vista Groupo Del Buen Samaritano (Vice President Rev. Greg Wilcox and Rev. Natanael Lizarazo) Agenda - February 20 - 27, 2010 Saturday 20th of February 9:34 P.M. Group arrives at El Dorado Airport Transported to the Casa de Encuentros "San Pedro Claver" Street 114 Mo. 55-60 Sunday 21st of February 9:00 A.M. Depart to Congregations 1:00 P.M. Lunch 3:00 P.M. Possible site seeing - around the outskirts of Bogotá 5:00 P.M. Back to Retreat Center 6:30 P.M. Supper and Rest Monday 22nd of February 8:00 A.M. Travel to Caracoli Visit the Support Center and also families at their homes casas de familia 6:30 P.M. Supper and Rest Tuesday 23rd of February 9:00 A.M. Mission Project in and visit to Senior Citizens at Soacha 5:00 P.M. Return from Soacha to Convent 6:30 P.M. Supper and Rest Wednesday 24th of February 9:00 A.M. Depart for Tunja Congregation Prince of Peace 1:00 P.M. Lunch in Tunja Devotional & Program at Chrch Tunja Travel to Villa de Leyva Overnight stay Villa de Leyva Thursday 25^th of February Rest in Villa de Leyva Shopping Return trip to Bogota - Salt Cathedral Tour Return to Convent Friday 26^th of February 8:00 A.M. Evaluation of the visit at headquarters of IELCO Free time and homemade pizza and walk at the Ciudad Montes Park Supper as Group and with People from IELCO Saturday 28^th of February Return to USA Iglesia Evangelica Luterana De Colombia Vista Groupo Del Buen Samaritano (Vice President Rev. Greg Wilcox and Rev. Natanael Lizarazo) Prayer Agenda February 20 - 27, 2010 Saturday 20^thof February Pray for safe travel for all Mission Trip Participants and minimal culture shock for those who have never been out of the United States Sunday 21^st of February Pray for meaningful worship experiences and warm relationships with sisters and brothers in Christ Monday 22^ndof February Pray for connections with the seniors in Soacha and Good Samaritan's partnership ministry with the Lutheran Church in Colombia Tuesday 23^rdof February Pray for the groups growing awareness of and sensitivity to people living in poverty Wednesday 24^thof February Pray for deepening relationships with Colombian sisters and brothers in Christ Thursday 25^th of February Pray for group member's openness to change and new perspectives while traveling in-country Friday 26^th of February Pray for the work of the church in Colombia and the spread of the good news of God's love in Christ Saturday 27^th of February Pray for safe travel home and for group member's opportunities to share their mission trip experiences