Fantastic Friday!

Today started with a bang for the Gang of Four (Rick, Gerald, Eleanor and Jen). They had to be up early for an early start to their last day at the Four Squares Church in Sabaneta. Here they were teaching a group of about 20 young missionaries some English (ESL). They had a wonderful time with this enthusiastic group and was treated with a big lunch at the end of the morning. Fruitful relationships were built here and we pray that this will grow into the future.
The Four Squares Church is an existing Evangelical church here in Sabaneta. El Redil is now planting a new church here as well, and this week long ESL session was sort of a gift from El Redil to Four Squares, in the hope of maintaining good relationships and cooperation.

The rest of the team spent most of the morning in prayer at the Commercial Center in Sabaneta. Some of us continued to help with drywall sanding and mudding in the new office for El Redil Sur (south).

This afternoon most of us went out into the streets of Sabaneta to meet people, hand out flyers and talk to them, inviting them to Vive el Ingles (Live the English), which is the ESL that we are presenting here at the Commercial Center starting next week Monday. It is amazing to notice the difference between Canadians and Colombians when it come to accepting flyers. Here almost 90% of people accept the flyer gladly and would even say thank you! I guess we got so used to be bombarded with flyers and junk-mail in Canada that we just don't want to see any more. We even had one person sign on for the ESL right on the street. He wanted to pay right there and then and we took his name and money and he is now registered!

We had some more feedback from last nights ESL today. The session went very well and the students are building great relationships with the teachers at the tables as well as with each other.

There was also more detailed feedback from the Conference about The Five Love Languages from last night. The confirmed number of attendees was 85. Of these, Diego tells us, about half were unbelievers. Like we mentioned i1n yesterday's report, almost 90% of the total number stood up to pray when we did a prayer of salvation! Many also came forward afterwards for further counseling and prayer.

Rick was feeling better today, thanks to everybody's prayers and is almost back to full energy (Hughh! Now we have to give him something again to make him sick again... just kidding!)
Nicole was feeling a bit better today, but she spent the day at her home to continue to recover.

Tonight Rick is preaching at the Poblado church. They have a regular Friday service. Tonight's service will be translated. Some of the team member are there with him, the rest are trying to have an early night, as we are all up again and out to ESL at about 6AM tomorrow. We have a double session tomorrow. In the afternoon the group will split in two, with one half visiting El Pacifico, a center for poor children in one of the poor barrios in the hills around the city. This is also the first area where El Redil is starting to build houses using plastic bottles. The first house is going to a house mother who will be taking care of a number of orphan children. Visit: http://menosbasura.org/ to find out more. Tania Cardona (Diego's daughter), and Claudia Cardona (Diego's wife) has been taking the lead on this for some time. The other half will go to Brazos Abierto (Open Arms), an orphanage.

Prayer Requests:
1. Continue to pray for Nicole, for healing and full energy. Continue to pray for the health of the whole team.
2. For our double session of ESL on Saturday.
3. For our visits to the orphanage and Pacifico, pray that we can in some way touch the hearts of the children with God's Message for them.
4. Continue to pray for Sunday, when the team will divide into three groups to visit different churches of El Redil (Envigado, La Mota and Treinta y Tres) to preach and worship with the locals.

Brenda enjoying a traditional Colombian meal

Diego Cardona

Christine having a House Salad

Ensalada de la Casa

One of the missionary-in-training ESL students drew this

Jennifer Alsina, Jairo's wife handing out flyers

Walking the streets of Sabaneta handing out flyers

Thankful Thursday

Today we had a really busy day! We started again with a short devotion for the team this morning. We were all very tired last night, and were therfor allowed to sleep in for about 30min to an hour, depending how far we live from the Aves Maria Center, where we meet every morning.

Rick, Gerald, Eleanor and Jen continued today to give English lessons at the Four Squares Church in Sabaneta. This is in the morning from 10AM to Noon. During this time Dries and Dianne continued to prepare for the conference on relationships that happened tonight at 7PM. The rest of the team spent some time in prayer and then helped with drywalling, mudding and painting and other office work in the new church office here in the center, with Luc and Joe leading the charge.

At about 4PM the group left for Poblado to do the ESL there, starting at 7PM. Dries and Dianne stayed behind to present the Four Languages of Love conference in the Conference Center, at the Aves Maria mall here in Sabaneta. This went really well, with about 60-70 attendees. The speaking touched on the Five Languages of Love, but really focused more on a personal relationship with Jesus, and how that is essential for helping us to have good relationships with people. At the end of the conference about two thirds of the people stood up for prayer. Several individuals were counseled afterwards and prayed for. Praise God for answered prayers, He really was working through His Spirit.

Rick and Nicole did not join us tonight for any of the events as they were not feeling well, therefor our ESL team in Poblado was stretched thin.

1. Please pray for Rick and Nicole for healing and for them to feel better tomorrow. Pray that God will keep illness away from the rest of the team.
2. Pray that the whole team will get good sleep and enough rest.
3. Pray for the people who gave their hearts to Jesus at the conference tonight. Pray for those that are on the verge, or who are still searching.
4. Pray for the four person team who will teach a double session of ESL tomorrow at the Four Square Church in the morning. We will also do a double session on Saturday at Poblado.
5. Pray for Rick, Gerald and Dries. All three have been asked to preach at three different church locations on Sunday. With little time to prepare they will really need God's Spirit to work through and speak through them.

Below are some pictures of last night's ESL session at Poblado. It really went well and we are starting to build good relationships.

Wednesday's Workday

Today started much like yesterday. We met at Adrianna's coffee shop for devotions, led by Joe, and prayed.  The group of four headed off to the Four Square Church to work with the missionaries.  The lessons went very well.  The missionaries appeared more at home with the four, and participation was excellent.  Dries and Dianne continued on preparing for their conference, and have made some significant progress.  On to the refining stage. The rest of the team members prayed, splitting into two groups: Spanish and English.

We had lunch at the Botanical Gardens, and enjoyed a slower afternoon gazing at the beautiful plants and creatures. The weather was perfect: warm sunshine with a slight breeze.  A relaxing well deserved break before we're back to work this evening.

After enjoying the gardens, we all headed back to the church for dinner and are presently preparing for tonight's ESL lesson.  Please pray for the teams as we strive to reach the goals Diego set out for us during our time here are:

1. To build relationships and to love and interact with people in the community.
2. To pray for the new church, El Redil Sur.
3. To teach English and reach new people.
4. To Encourage Jairo and Jennifer, Diego and Claudia.

Carlos, Janeth, Sofia, Juanita. The pastor family at El Redil Poblado where we are doing ESL this week.

Dianne van der Putten from Ottawa with a traditional meal

Tamal

Iguana at botanical garden

Unique flower at botanical garden

The whole group

Tuesday's Teaching

Today was a full day filled with new opportunities and experiences.  The Canadian teams met this morning for devotions and prayer early at Adrianas casa monarca coffee shop.  Rick, Eleanor, Gerald, and Jen then headed off to the Four Squares Church to present the first ESL lesson to the young missionaries in training.  Diane and Dreas prepared for the Five Love Languages conference for Thursday while the rest of us prayed with the Colombian team.  It was exciting to see some new Colombian's join us for the prayer time! 

After lunch there was some down time.  Most of us used this time to take in the culture of the city with a member of the Colombian team.  By 4:00, we were heading back to the Redil Chuch in Poblado to have dinner and prepare for ESL.  Between 65 and 70 Colombians attended.  With the help of may Colombian translators, it was incredibly successful.  Rick and Gerald led the evening, with David translating.  Luke shared his testimony, which brought much discussion within the small groups.

Prayer requests
Please pray for:
1. Rick, Eleanor, Gerald, and Jen as they continue to work with the Four Squares church.  They plan to meet each morning between 10:00 and 12:00.
2. Dreas and Dianne as they prepare for their conference.
3. Ina as she shares her testimony on Wednesday.
4. A continual increase in registration, as word spreads.
5. Building of relationships.
6. Encouragement for Diego and Claudia.

Majestic Monday

Today we started with a large planning meeting, the first meeting of the Revelstokians and Ottawa teams together. We were able to do a good and long devotion and then went through the first day's lessons for ESL. This was very good and we now feel as if we are one team.

In the afternoon we were invited by the people of the new church that is being planted, El Redil Sur, in Sabaneta, for a tradional Colombian meal. This was held at the house of one of the new members, Jorge. The meal consisted of fried plantains, chicharron (which is fried pork -very, very tasty) and a tradional soup called Sancocho, with lots of good stuff in, like chicken, potatoes, beef, plantains and more. This was really great! We enjoyed a wonderful time sharing with many of the local people.

This afternoon we had a meeting with the Colombian Facilitators/Translators who will help us with our ESL lessons. This was good as we got to know them and went through our first day of ESL again. Now we feel much better prepared.

Right now, as we are writing this we are having a meeting with Diego. He is going through the planning for the next two weeks.

Please pray for:

1. The start of ESL on Tuesday. Pray for the students. Pray for us as teachers and the translators. Pray for open hearts on both sides as the week progresses.
2. Please pray for good sleep for each member. We are all tired. Mostly still from the travel and the first couple of nights made for short nights. Tonight we all should be able to get a longer sleep.
3. Also for the El Redil church as they plant this new church, and is also involved in a number of other projects, like serving the children in El Pacifico, helping other, poorer churches, even from different denominations.

Rick and Gerald "hanging" out in the Metro yesterday

Riding the Metro-Cable yesterday

Riding the Metro-Cable yesterday

Riding the Metro-Cable yesterday

Poor area of Medellin seen from cable car

City of Medellin

Poor area of Medellin seen from cable car

Dianne from Ottawa getting to know two police ladies

The Christmas lights last night

The Christmas lights last night - and the group

The Christmas lights last night

Part of the lights - water fountain show

Our traditional meal today - the chicharron

Preparing the Sanchocho

Sunny Sunday

Most of us got up this morning between 6:00 and 7:00 am.  Not bad for a late night.  It was sure nice sleeping laying flat  :)  Breakfast was anything from fresh fruit and juice, toast and cereal, and arapeas and eggs and cheese.  There was no shortage of food.  We went to church in El Pablado and met the Ottawa team for the first time.  There were two services, one at 9:00 and one at 11:00, which Rick led, and was translated by Phil Webb, who has been in Columbia for 28 years.  It was wonderful to reconnect with old friends from last year.  (music)

We then had a late lunch after which we went on a walk to the Metro Station to take the Metro Train for a ride through the city, and ride with the Metro-Cable, which is a cable car that serves on of the poorer barios  high up against and over the mountain.

Tonight was also the last night of the Festival of Lights. We took a walk through the streets to see the wonderful Christmas lights that is put up for the season. It is nothing short of amazing. The most lights you will ever see. We will post some pictures tomorrow once we have all the photos downloaded.

Tomorrow we start early with a general meeting to plan for ESL, which will then start on Tuesday. We will also meet the Colombian people who will help us with the ESL lessons and have a meeting and training session with them.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for the meetings tomorrow. Pray that our Father will provide the final insights and ideas needed to make ESL a great success. Keep in mind that we are trying to build bridges, encourage relationships, and that these may eventually lead to live saving knowledge of Christ.
2. Also pray for the Colombian team joining us for ESL and that we will relate to them easily and that the teams will become one in Christ.
3. Also pray for Nicole, one of our team and from Ottawa Green Belt. She has been sick on not feeling well.

Hussled Through Houston, Panting in Panama and Finally Made it to Medellin

Just a short update for the morning. We had a long travel with over 32 hours of travel, if the layovers are counted in. We are all very tired and finally at our host families. We are very grateful for safe travels and just for being here. The people here have already embraced us and received us with their usual friendliness.

Tomorrow morning we shall be up early, likely around 6 AM for most of us, so that we can be at El Poblado church for the first of two morning services. Please pray for Rick as he has been asked to do the sermon at both services. He had little time to prepare, and is, like the rest of us, very tired.

We will write a longer update tomorrow. Now it is time for bed.