I'm excited to tell you that I have officially completed the school portion of my Discipleship Training School in Cartagena, Colombia! I can hardly believe that I've been here four months!
The last two weeks were truly a blessing.
The first of the two included a pretty intense teacher who, before becoming a Christian was a guerrilla (like the FARC in Colombia) in Peru. He told us of all the horrid things he had done all the women they had raped and the people they had massacred. One day while with his companions, he found himself in a police trap. The police shot him twice as he was running away, and he could not walk any further. So, they captured him and took him to a prison and told him he would be killed the next day for his crimes. He prayed that night saying: God, if you are real please save me from being killed tomorrow morning, and I promise to serve you all the days of my life. So, the next morning the guards came to him and explained that the documents that proved he was guilty of all the crimes had been lost and he was free to go home. Needless to say this miracle got his attention, and he completely gave his life to Jesus that day. Ever since, he has been serving God with his whole life. He has some very tragic stories to tell, even ones after he became a Christian including losing his daughter, but his One True Love and Audience of One is the Living God even still. It was very encouraging to hear what he has been through and witness his love for Christ despite the hardships.
Oh and I forgot to tell you how the India night went! It was really fun! Everyone looked so beautiful dressed as Indians with all of their beautiful materials and make-up. We unfortunately didn't eat any food with curry in it, but we had some yummy sandwich type things with stew in them (all though the word 'stew' is repulsive to me, I did like this stew). We also watched some Bollywood (Hollywood India..check it out) videos and made up some dances. Lots of fun!
Then, on Thursday night Jim arrived late and brought us lots of love, hugs and food! He stayed with me at the base the first night and was able to see how every thing works there as we still had class and activities on Friday. And on Friday night we had a really beautiful prayer service with feet washing, praying for different nations, nailing letters to the cross and the like. It was really special to have him there and being a part of that. Many of the students were touched by his generosity and love. Many of the students only wish to have a wonderful dad, and I'm blessed enough to have two!! :) But anyway, Friday night we went out to dinner with Jesse and our friend Jonathan from Venezuela. Then Jesse and Jonathan went back to the base, but Jim and I stayed in our cute little hotel. Oh and the air conditioning was just so cold!!! I woke up four times in the night I was so cold! Isn't that funny? I'm used to sweating 24/7 I guess. Haha! But anyway, basically Jesse and Jim and I just lounged around all day in the hotel--just relaxing and getting some stuff accomplished before we leave on outreach. I have to say there were a couple things that were key during this weekend: a packet of doublestuff Oreos (which we later came to realize that Jesse and I ate the whole pack! Don't do it. But just between you and me, I still love them just as much as before I ate a half a pack. Oh, and try it with peanut butter.), someone doing a laundry for us, an unoccupied bathroom and ceviche (which is like seafood and other things uncooked but cooked with the acid in lemon juice or something like that) Oh my goodness, we had such a good time with him! It was at first difficult to try and mix my two lives together--Jim from home and then everything here.. But honestly, I was just amazed to watch him give and give and give. He truly came to just give us a break and to spoil us rotten--and that he did!
This past week, we had an American teacher named Dean Harvey-age 81. Wow, he had some really challenging things to say. What a knowledgeable man! He just really knew and studied the Bible. By the end of his first teaching we were all bawling. Coming with many new, deep perspectives on old teachings, he was difficult to follow at times. But all week we sat on the edge of our seats as he spoke because although many of his points were contradictory to what we had previously learned, he totally backed everything up with a thorough Biblical study.
Basically I received a new revelation of how much God's heart breaks when his loved ones die without knowing him. It gave me a new motivation to really work for God and His Kingdom during this upcoming weeks on outreach. I am sure that these weeks will have challenges and growth and difficult choices, but I have a better understanding of God's heart for the lost which encourages me to press on.
We watched the Passion of the Christ last night and took communion. Unlike most other Good Fridays, this one really touched me deeply. Normally, I want to be touched by what Jesus did for me more than I actually am, but this time God really touched my spirit. It's incredible the way He lived completely perfect and died for me--the pain he felt physically, as awful as it was, is nothing compared to the weight of all our sin on Him spiritually and emotionally. There's a song that has this verse in it: "carried to the table". It's talking about taking communion, and I just kept thinking of what a beautiful picture it is to envision Jesus suffering so much, raising from the dead and then picking me up and carrying me to the communion table to share with Him. What incredible sacrifice and love!
Well, times up again. Tonight we are saying goodbye and celebrating cowboy style! Yeehaw!! Better go fetch my lasso.
Who knows when I'll be able to write again as I will be leaving for Argentina in 3 short days! I appreciate your support and prayers while I am away, and I will update you as soon as I can!
Blessings,
Chelsie
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